10 Best Uganda National Parks for safari
Have you ever wondered what 10 best Uganda national parks for safari are? Uganda has 10 best national parks for safari that travelers visit because of its abundant wildlife and landscapes. Uganda offers full packed packages, from primate tracking to sightseeing of wildlife in Ugandan savannah parks. Uganda is a top notch for visiting the big five animals that roam freely in their natural habitats.
How to book a trip to the 10 Best Uganda National parks for safari
For a tailor made and successful organized safari to Uganda, book with Bujuku Eco Tours and Travel ltd as the best Tour Agency in Uganda.
What to pack for your visit to the 10 Best Uganda National parks for safari
The right packing list for a safari to Uganda leads to a successful and enjoyable trip. The following should be on your packing list; camera, binoculars, power bank, walking poles, insect repellant, sunscreen, sunglasses, sturdy hiking boots, rain jackets, water pants, gaiters, long sleeved shirts, hat, headlamp, mountain first aid kit, sleeping bag and warm sweaters.
Below are the 10 best Uganda national parks for safari that serves as a testament to conserving nature for sustainability, future generations and for adventure seekers to visit.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth national park is uganda’s famous national park Renamed after the visit of the queen of England the second in 1954. Queen Elizabeth national park is a safari destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. It is located in the western part of Uganda where the equator line marks latitude 00. It is the second largest national park out of the 10 parks that covers 1,978 square kilometers. It is a home to over 600 bird species, over 35 reptile species, 10 primate species and over 95 mammal species.
What activities are done in queen Elizabeth national park?
Game drives
On your visit to queen Elizabeth national park, you will embark on a morning game drive in the kasenyi plains to track lions, leopards and large herds of Uganda kobs, a Uganda kob is a unique animal in Uganda and used on the Uganda national flag that represents abundant wildlife and rich biodiversity. Other common animals you won’t miss on your game drive are the African elephants, buffalos and many more.
Boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
After the morning game drive, you easily join an afternoon boat ride on the Kazinga channel refreshing yourself with the fresh air from Lake George while viewing crocodiles, elephants and other animals quenching their thirsty at the waters of Kazinga channel.
Best time to visit queen Elizabeth national park
The best time to visit queen Elizabeth national park for wildlife viewing is during the month of June to August and December to February when there are clear views of seeing animals.
Accomodations near queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth national park has many different accommodations/lodges that are close to nature for travelers stay from budget to luxury lodges. these include Mweya safari lodge at the mweya peninsula, Acacia wilderness lodge, queen Elizabeth bush lodge, song bird lodge, Engiri game lodge, buffalo safari lodge.
Murchison Falls National Park
This is uganda’s largest national park located in the northern Uganda covering 3,840 square kilometers with wonders of lake albert and Nile. It is a savanna park with woodland and tropical forests. The park harbors a variety of wildlife with over 144 mammal species and over 556 bird species like the shoebill stork that is spotted at the Albert delta.
Activities that take place at Murchison falls national park
Waterfalls viewing
At the heart of the park is Murchison Falls, one of Africa’s most powerful waterfalls where the mighty Victoria Nile is forced through a narrow 8-meter-wide gorge, before plunging 45 meters into the Devil’s Cauldron below, sending up a thunderous roar and a permanent rainbow mist. This breathtaking natural wonder marks the final act in an 80km stretch of rapids, after which the river calms into a broad, tranquil flow as it meanders towards Lake Albert. A must visit for every tourist!
Boat cruise
A Boat cruise on the Nile takes 3 hours of wildlife viewing, viewing the gorge and animals like the hippos.
Accomodations near Murchison falls national park.
There are several lodges and these include; sambiya river lodge, paraa safari lodge, fort Murchison lodge, elephant oasis lodge, Entikko safari lodge and many others.
When to visit Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park is located in a region that experiences the highest temperatures, so visiting Murchison at any time of the year is a big deal because wildlife is viewed anytime at the water sources.
Kidepo valley national park
This is Uganda’s most remote and least explored national park that borders South Sudan and Kenya. The national park was established in 1962, located in semi-arid valleys of Karamoja. it features over 476 bird species and over mammal species.
Attractions in kidepo valley national park
Mountain hiking
A rocky hiking trail taking you to stand at the lomej hills where there are spectacular views of the park. At the hill top, you experience sun rise and look down at the shadow views reflecting the wildlife on the savannah land.
Wildlife viewing at Narus valley
This is one of the spots to view wildlife during the dry season, the valley offers a reliable water source that attracts large concentration of wildlife.
Cultural encounters
A visit to kidepo valley national park, you interact with Karimojong communities with a unique dressing culture and the 1k people who are the hunter gatherer tribe, listen to their stories and their survival techniques.
Accomodations near kidepo valley national park
The park provides a range of lodging options and these include Apoka safari lodge, kidepo savanna lodge and Nga’Moru lodge.
Kibale Forest National Park
This national park is found in western Uganda covering a park size of 321 square kilometers with an elevation of 1,100 meters to 1,600 meters above sea level. The park is known for chimpanzee tracking with the most recorded big number of chimpanzees in the whole world calling it the primate capital of the world.
What to do in Kibale Forest national park
Chimpanzee tracking
There are two tracking sessions in Kibale that starts at 08:00 am and 02:00pm every day at kanyanchu visitor Center. Most visitors choose the morning tracking sessions; the tracking takes between 2 to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are. Visitors will spend one hour with the chimpanzees, taking pictures and watching how they feed and play.
Type of vegetation and when to visit Kibale Forest National Park.
Kibale is a tropical rain forest that experiences rain falls every year and the best time to visit with less rains and dry trail is during the month of June, July, August, September, December, January and February.
Accomodations in Kibale Forest national park
Kibale has a wide range of accommodations from budget to luxury lodges and these include Kibale Forest camp, isunga lodge, chimpundu lodge, chimpanzee forest guest house, Kibale safari lodge, Kibale primate lodge, kanyanchu river camp, crater safari lodge and many more lodges.
Lake Mburo national park
This is uganda’s smallest national park, located in kiruhura district in western part of Uganda. lake mburo national park is uganda’s compact gem that is rich in biodiversity, scenic beauty and cultural significance covering a size of 370 square kilometers. Lake mburo national park offers an immersive safari experience for nature lovers and birdwatchers.
Activities in lake mburo national park
Game drives
Lake mburo national park as a must visit park, you will enjoy a close encounter with a variety of wildlife that includes giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas, buffalos, bushbucks and many more not forgetting the nocturnal animals to see during the night game drives like the leopards.
Lake mburo offers day game drives and night game drives, visitors choose any depending on their best preferences for their safari experience.
Cultural encounters
Lake mburo national park holds a deep cultural significance of the lake with in the park where the name lake mburo were derived from, you will visit the cattle keepers and learn about their tradition of Ankole culture.
Accomodations in lake mburo national park
Lake mburo will offer best Accomodations with scenic views of the park that includes Rwonyo rest camp, mihingo lodge, leopard rest camp, mburo Eagle’s nest, Rwaboko Rock lodge, Mburo safari lodge, kigambira safari lodge and many more.
Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a rainforest park found in southwestern Uganda in kisoro district near the border of Rwanda and congo. This national park covers 321 square kilometers size and stands at an altitude of 1,160 m – 2,607 m above sea level. Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home to mountain gorillas making it a pioneering mountain gorilla destination in Uganda. the park has got four sectors where gorilla trekking takes place and these are Rushaga, Ruhija, Nkuringo and Buhoma sector.
Activities and when to visit bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is known for mountain gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural visits. Bwindi is a misty forest, the best time to visit when the trails are dry is during the month of June to August and December to February.
Accomodations in bwindi impenetrable forest national park
Bwindi has a range of luxury lodges and homestays with scenic views of the forest and these include gorilla leisure lodge, bwindi forest lodge, silverback lodge, Rushaga gorilla lodge, bwindi guest house, Nkuringo gorilla lodge, four Gorillas lodge, Buhoma lodge, bakiga lodge, ichumbi Gorilla lodge and many more.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori mountains national park is a mountaineering destination in Uganda located in western Uganda near the border of congo. The mountain has got snow capped peaks and its ranges that includes Mount Stanley, mount speke, mount Baker, Mount Emin, Mount Gessi and Mount Luigi di Savoia. The national park was established in 1991 and a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994.
Attractions and activities in Rwenzori mountains National Park
The mountain has got more than three trekking routes where climbers take their climbing expeditions from. The most used trails are the Central circuit trail, Kilembe trail and Bukurungu trail. the activities include hiking to mahoma lake, nature walks, birdwatching and mountain climbing.
When to visit Rwenzori mountains national park
Rwenzori mountains national park is visited all year round but the best time when the trails are dry for trekking is during June to August and December to February. During this time there are clear views of the mountain peaks.
Accomodations in Rwenzori mountains national park
Rwenzori mountains have the best budget lodges and luxury lodges for climbers, they include Ruboni community camp, snow heights lodge, Sandton lodge, margherita hotel, ngabu hotel, kanamba invent hotel, Bwiranda hotel and others.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla national park is located in Virunga mountains at the border of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of congo. This park is home to three volcanoes; Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga. Mgahinga national park is the smallest out of the 10 national parks in Uganda with a size of 33.7 square kilometers and with elevation of 4,127 m above sea level. The park boasts over 76 mammals and over 180 species of birds.
Activities in mgahinga gorilla national park
Some of the activities done in mgahinga national park are hiking to the 3 volcanic mountains of muhabura, sabinyo and Gahinga, guided nature walks, gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking and batwa community visits.
Accomodations
Mgahinga offers good lodges near the starting point for your activities, they include; mount Gahinga lodge, mgahinga gorilla triangle lodge, and gorilla volcanoes hotel.
Semuliki National Park
Semuliki national park is located in Bundibugyo district covering 220 square kilometers in size standing on an elevation of 670 m to 760 m above sea level. This park is uganda’s lowland tropical rainforest, designated as a national park in 1993. The park creates a swamp during wet season after the flooded rivers around the park.
Activities done in semuliki national park
Semuliki national park boasts over 435 bird species making it a haven for birds and for birdwatchers. The park also attracts guided nature walks.
Hot springs
Sempeya hot springs is one of the famous attractions in semuliki national park, where boiling water bubbles up from deep underground due to geological processes/formation that occurred 14 million years ago. A visit to this geological wonder is worthy an adventure to witness boiling waters with temperatures that boil eggs.
Best time to visit semuliki national park
Visiting semuliki at anytime of year is a big deal to spot birds, but the best months is between June to August and December to February.
Mount Elgon national park
Mount Elgon National Park is located at the Uganda and kenya border in mbale district. The mountain was formed after the volcanic eruptions that occurred about 24 million years ago. It stands out as the only mountain that was once Africa’s highest mountain above Kilimanjaro but reduced to 4,321 meters above sea level because of the volcanic eruption.
Activities in mount Elgon national park
Some of the activities in mount Elgon are hiking to its highest peak of 4,321m, waterfall viewing, hot springs and volcanic craters.
Accomodations in mount Elgon
Mount Elgon has accommodations for easy access to the park gate and these are Sipi River lodge, Lacam lodge, Crow’s nest Rest camp, wash and wills lodge and Elgon palace hotel.
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