MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park. It is located in the Murchison Conservation Area, 305 kilometers north of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. The incredible Bugungu and Karuma wildlife reserves are located in the Murchison Conservation Area. Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge, is well-known. It is located in northwest Uganda on the shores of Lake Albert. Murchison Falls National Park is accessible by road and air. By road, it takes about 5 hours on tarmac roads, with a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary along the way, and by air, you can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Pakuba Airfield, where a guide will pick you up and take you to the park. Murchison Falls National Park is home to primates such as baboons and monkeys, 450 bird species, 23 of which are endemic to the Albertine rift, such as the rare shoebill stork, 76 mammal species such as bush bucks, Uganda kobs, water bucks, warthogs, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles found along the Nile River, and many others.

Activities in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park has a variety of activities that visitors can participate in while on safari.

Another perfect Uganda adventure is a Nile launch cruise (Boat Cruise): This is one of the activities in Murchison National Park where you take a ride on a boat to see wildlife. The boat cruise departs from Paraa and travels 17 kilometers to the bottom of Murchison Falls. The morning cruise departs at 9:00 a.m. and the afternoon cruise departs at 14:00 p.m. daily. The journey from Paraa to the Delta and back takes 28 kilometers and 4-5 hours, and visitors can see various bird species such as herons, bee-eaters, cormorants, fish eagles, king fishers, and shoebills, among others. You will also see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, water bucks, buffaloes, and other animals on the river’s banks.

Sport fishing: Murchison Falls National Park, along with Lake Mburo National Park, is one of the national parks in Uganda that allows visitors to participate in sport fishing, making for an exciting experience. Sport fishing is practiced along the Nile River and at the base of the falls. Among the fish caught are Nile perch, tilapia, tiger fish, and mud fish. Sport fishing can be done all year, but it is best done when the water levels are clear, which is from January to April.

Game drives: This is an activity in which you ride a safari vehicle through Murchison Falls National Park, following park tracks to see various wildlife. A morning game drive begins around 7:00 a.m. or 6:00 a.m. and lasts 2 hours or more. The afternoon game drive, which starts around 16:00 p.m. and lasts an hour, and the night or nocturnal game drive, which starts after dinner and lasts two hours within the park. Murchison National Park game drives require a trained guide, particularly for nocturnal game drives, where they will carry spotlights to allow for proper viewing of nocturnal animals such as hyenas, serval cats, and lions.

Nature walks / hiking: Murchison falls national park offers an opportunity to the visitors on a safari to walk on foot with the guides to take you to different destinations within the park for example in Rabongo forest, Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo forest, swamp walk to the Nile delta which takes 2-4 hours and the top of the falls walk to explore the landscapes, Murchison falls, the surrounding areas and many others to view different primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, pottos, red tailed monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, animals and birds at a close range like the shoebill stork, yellow manted weaver, little green sunbird, dusky long tailed cuckoo, grey long bill among others.

Bird watching: Murchison Falls National Park is home to approximately 450 bird species and is a birder’s paradise for those who enjoy bird watching from safari vehicles during game drives, boat cruises, or on foot during nature walks. Birds in Murchison Falls National Park include the African darter, long-toed plover, grey-headed kingfisher, veracious dove, martial eagle, African fish eagle, black-headed lapwing, giant kingfisher, shoebill, rock pratincole, goliath heron, yellow-billed stork, white-faced whistling duck, secretary bird, greater flamingo, papyrus gonolek.

The top of the falls trail: this is an incredible experience in Murchison Falls National Park that takes you around the top of the falls and the water’s edge and lasts between 15 and 45 minutes. The hike from the boat landing to the top of the falls allows you to get close to the narrow gorge through which the water explodes into the falls, and there are camping sites, picnic areas, and walking safaris to make your safari Murchison falls memorable and interesting.

Cultural encounters. This is an interesting activity in Murchison Falls National Park in that it allows you to make cultural visits to remote areas in different villages to interact with the people in the communities and learn more about their lifestyles, cultures, such as traditional dishes, and so on. For example, the Boomu women’s group offers community tours to the Banyoro community, has a craft shop with traditional crafts such as baskets, and so on.

Other activities available on your safari in Murchison Falls National Park include the hot air balloon safari experience, which is only available in Murchison and Queen Elizabeth national parks in Uganda. While on a safari, Murchison Falls National Park provides a variety of luxury and budget accommodation options, including Chobe Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Bakers Lodge, Red Chilli Rest Camp, Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, Budongo Eco Lodge, Kalalo Cottages Inn, and New Court View Hotel, among others. Murchison Falls National Park is open all year, but the best months to visit are December to February and June to September..

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s second-largest and most visited national park, located in the western region in the districts of Kasese in the park’s northeastern edge, Rubirizi in the park’s southeastern edge, Kamwenge, and Rukungiri. This park also makes an amazing uganda safari/ Uganda tour/Uganda adventure/ African safari destination. It has a total land area of 1978 square kilometers, an altitude range of 900 meters to 1845 meters, and is located approximately 400 kilometers southwest of Kampala by road. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is well known for its wildlife and is home to primates such as the most common, chimps, 95 mammal species, including the big five mammals, African elephants, African cape buffaloes, hippos, leopards, and tree climbing lions, which are found in the Ishasha sector of the park, other animals such as waterbucks, warthogs, topi, antelopes, and others, and over 600 bird species, including papyrus canary, martial eagle, yellow-throated cuckoo, African skimmer, and many others. The park also contains volcanic features such as volcanic cones and three major crater lakes: Bunyaruguru crater, Ndali-kasenda crater near Kibale national park, and Lake Katwe, a salt lake.

Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Ishasha sector of the park is home to 95 mammal species, including the big five mammals, African elephants, African cape buffaloes, hippos, leopards, and tree climbing lions, as well as other animals such as waterbucks, warthogs, topi, antelopes, and others, and over 600 bird species, including the papyrus canary, martial eagle, yellow-throated cuckoo, African skimmer, and many others There are also volcanic cones and three major crater lakes in the park: Bunyaruguru crater, Ndali-kasenda crater near Kibale national park, and Lake Katwe, a salt lake.

Bird watching: Queen Elizabeth National Park is known as a birder’s paradise for visitors who enjoy bird watching on an African safari, which is typically done very early in the morning to see many birds still in their nests. The Kazinga channel with aquatic birds like fish eagle, yellow-backed weavers, open-billed stork, black crake, knob-billed ducks, squacco heron, white-backed pelican, swamp fly-catcher, shoebill, martial eagle, white-winged terns, white-winged warbler, among others, Kasenyi, Maramagambo forest with bird species like hairy breasted barbet,.

Boat cruise: The boat cruise lasts about 2 hours and is one of the most exciting activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It takes place on the Kazinga channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During the activity, you will be able to see various wildlife species such as herds of hippos numbering in the thousands, elephants, Nile crocodiles basking on the water’s edge, buffaloes, monitor lizards, aquatic birds such as pied kingfishers, fish eagles, pink and white-backed pelicans, white-faced whistling, spur-winged plover, African jacana, and others, and visitors cruise meters.

Lion research tracking: This is an experiential and learning activity that allows you to see lions at a closer range than a regular game drive and is only available in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lion tracking takes place every morning and late afternoon and lasts about 1-3 hours; it is done with researchers and a small number of visitors to protect the lions. During the lion tracking drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, researchers are allowed to go off the tracks to get close to the lions regardless of where they are found in the park, giving visitors a great view for photos, and they track lions with attached radio collars.

Tree climbing lions of Ishasha: This is a popular and must-do activity in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can see lions lying, sleeping, and hanging out in the acacia and fig tree branches, staring at their prey, Uganda kobs and tree-climbing lions. Tree climbing lions can also be found in other East African national parks, such as Lake Manyara in Tanzania, in addition to Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other animals seen in Ishasha include buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, antelopes, and the rare shoebill stork, among others, making the safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park a memorable experience.

Chimpanzee trekking: The Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to ten primate species, the most popular of which is the endangered chimp. Chimpanzee trekking takes place in the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth’s northeastern region, also known as the Valley of the Apes. Chimpanzee family in Kyambura is habituated carried out twice a day with a maximum of 6 people per day, allowing visitors to interact with and learn more about the chimps. Chimpanzee trekking permits in Queen Elizabeth National Park are $50, as opposed to $150 for chimp trekking permits in Kibale National Park and Budongo Forest, allowing visitors to participate in the chimp trekking experience. During the chimp trekking, you will cross rivers and pass through dense forests where you will see other primates such as black and white monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons, and birds such as bee-eaters, falcons, flycatchers, and fin foot African birds.

Nature walks /hiking: You can follow different walk trails in Queen Elizabeth including the guided Kyambura gorge trail where you will get to see the chimpanzees and other primates like monkeys, baboons, butterflies, birds and a number of animals going to drink water, the guided Maramagambo forest trail where you will see beautiful civets, and many more. This is an interesting and lesser-known activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park that takes about 1-3 hours and can be done with a guide and researchers. You will see other wildlife like birds, animals, and hiking along the Ishasha river where you will spot savannah and forest vegetation and also get close to animals like hippos, elephants, water bucks, and many others, giving you a memorable, thrilling, and interesting safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Cultural encounters: This is an activity in which visitors get to see how different communities around the park live, and Queen Elizabeth National Park offers the best cultural encounters in Uganda, including the Kikorongo women’s community, the Nyanzibiri cave community, and the Katwe tourism information center, among others. Visitors will be able to visit volcanic crater lakes, historic caves, cultural museums, how people survive on Katwe salt lake, mining process, traditional art and craft like baskets, bowls, beads, cultural performances like songs, dances, and also visit fishing villages along the Kazinga channel and Lake George and participate in sport fishing, boat racing, and can also order for a fish snack while at the lake, among many other activities that provide a visitor with a memorable experience.

There are a number of luxury, budget, and camping lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park that can make your safari more comfortable in terms of beautiful scenery, good ambiance, delicious meals, and good relaxation after a safari, among others, and they include Mweya safari lodge, Park View Safari Lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp, Elephant Hab Lodge, Kyambura Uganda safari, Ishasha Bandas, Maramagambo Camp, and many others. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is open all year, but the best months to visit are March to May and August to December, when the environment is at its most beautiful.

LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK

Lake Mburo National Park is located in western Uganda’s Mbarara district, on a highway that connects Kampala Capital City to the park. It is Uganda’s smallest park, measuring 260 square kilometers and located 228 kilometers from Kampala by road, with a stopover at Mpambire Trading Centre, where they sell traditional drums and Kayabwe at the EquatorLake Mburo National Park is unique in Uganda because it is the only park with an entire lake within it (Lake Mburo), and it is located in the shadow areas between Lake Victoria and Mount Rwenzori, so it experiences both the dry and rain seasons all year. The landscapes of Lake Mburo National Park include dry hills, rocky outcrops, acacia trees, bushes, thickets, open and wooded savannah forests, swamps, lakes, and a favorable climate for wildlife. It is home to over 70 mammal species, including Burchell’s zebras, which are only found in Uganda’s Lake Mburo and Kidepo national parks. Other animals include waterbucks, impala, Topi, warthogs, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, monkeys, predators such as leopards, side striped jackals, and white mongooses, as well as over 350 bird species such as the brown parrot, crested francolin, African grey hornbill, and southern red bishop, among others.

Activities in Lake Mburo National Park

Bicycling, bird watching, nature walks, horse riding, sport fishing, game drives, cultural encounters, and boat cruises are among the activities available to safari visitors at Lake Mburo National Park.  

Game Drive: This is an activity that entails driving a safari vehicle through the park to various areas while following the park tracks. Game drives are conducted in savannah landscapes, which include a number of tracks such as the zebra track, which connects to the Ruroko track junction through thick acacia woodland with euphorbia species, olive trees, and the wetland, where you will see a variety of birds and animal species such as zebras, eland, bushbucks, Oribi, Topi, and reedbucks, among others. You will have the opportunity to see primates such as monkeys. The Kazuma track, which passes through grasslands with wood species and allows you to see bird species such as the black-billed bustard, lakeside tracks that allow you to see the swamps surrounding Lake Mburo, aquatic bird species, and the game drive to Kazuma hill, which allows you to explore the park’s five lakes. Lake Mburo National Park offers day game drives, which are best done in the morning to see animals and birds in their habitats and late afternoon to see animals returning to their resting habitats, as well as nocturnal game drives, which take about 1-2 hours and allow visitors to spot nocturnal animals such as leopards, bush babies, and porcupines. Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park are available all year, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, when animals such as buffaloes, hippos, elands, zebras, Topi, Oribi, antelopes, warthogs, impala, bushbucks, waterbucks, and giraffes congregate along the roadside like monkeys and around water bodies and swamps to drink water.

Bird watching: Lake Mburo National Park is a birding destination with 350 bird species including migratory, rare, and resident birds that can be found in areas such as Warokiri swamps with birds such as papyrus gonolek, blue-headed coucal, Miriti along Rwonyo, and Rubanga forest, among others. The shoebill stork, white-winged warbler, crested francolin, brown parrot, and other birds will be seen. Bird watching in Lake Mburo is possible all year and begins in the morning. It takes about 1-2 hours, and the best time to see migratory birds is from June to July and November to April.

Boat cruise: Lake Mburo National Park has calm waters and a swamp that surrounds it. It has a variety of animals, birds, and plant species, allowing visitors to cruise close to the animals, birds, and also clearly spot them in their habitats, such as crocodiles, hippos, zebras, antelopes, which will be found on the water banks drinking water, and bird species such as pelicans, herons, fish eagles, hammer kop, cormorants, among others. The boats depart from Rwonyo Jetty, and the activity is led by Uganda Wildlife Authority and lasts approximately 2 hours.

Nature walks / hiking: This is an activity in Lake Mburo National Park that allows visitors to move around the park on foot with an armed guide and get a closer look at the animals. The nature walk begins around 7:00 a.m. and lasts about two hours. Trails taken include a walk to the salt lick, where you will see animals that come to drink the saltwater. The walk to Kazuma hill, where they get a beautiful panoramic view of the hills, Precambrian rocks, savannah vegetation, acacia vegetation, and lakes where they will see animals such as hippos, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, elands, Topi, bird species, and butterflies.

Sport Fishing: Apart from Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park is one of the parks in Uganda that allows visitors to engage in sport fishing. Lake Mburo National Park contains five lakes, and sport fishing is popular on the Mazinga shores of Lake Mburo. Visitors who want to participate in sport fishing are authorized by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and bring their own fishing equipment such as hooks. During the sport fishing, visitors will be able to catch six different types of fish, including lungfish, tilapia, and mudfish, among others.

Horse riding: Horse riding is one of the unique activities available only in Lake Mburo National Park, where you can ride your horse through the park and see various wildlife such as vegetation, primates, and animals. Mihingo Safari Lodge organizes horseback riding activities that allow visitors to get up close and personal with the animals and last between 1-3 hours. The lodge also offers an overnight horseback ride with tents for shelter and meals. Animals can be seen at a closer range than in safari vehicles during game drives, making it an exciting activity to partake in while on safari in Lake Mburo National Park.

Cultural encounters: The Banyankore, who are well known as cattle keepers and have traditional long-horned cattle, are one of the communities visited around the park. They teach visitors about various traditional activities such as traditional hand milking, treating sick cows, brushing cows, grazing cows, giving cows water to drink, meat roasting and smoking, and cleaning milk pots, among others. They are also known for farming with banana plantations and carrying out various activities such as weeding, cropping, harvesting, cooking of bananas for food, and carrying out performances such as traditional songs and dances from the Enyemebwa cultural center to entertain visitors during the encounter that is carried out in the peoples’ homesteads.

Lake Mburo National Park provides visitors with a variety of luxury, moderate, and budget accommodation options, including Mihingo Safari Lodge, Mantana Tented Camp, Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Mpogo Safari Lodge, and many others. Lake Mburo National Park is open all year, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from June to August and December to February, because that is when the animals congregate along the roadside and can be seen during the game drive, as well as around the lake and water sources.

RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK

Rwenzori National Park is located in south western Uganda in the East African rift valley in the districts of Kabarole, Kasese, and Bundibudyo, making it an ideal location for Uganda hiking safaris and tours. Virunga National Park shares a border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwenzori Mountain is Africa’s third highest peak, rising more than 16,700 feet above sea level, and its highest peaks are always snow-capped. The journey from Kampala to Kasese takes 6 hours, with a stopover in Fort Portal town. Rwenzori National Park is home to 70 mammal species, 217 bird species, including 17 Albertine rift endemics, and is known for its beautiful waterfalls, glaciers, plant life, and unique mountains, among other things.

Activities in Rwenzori National Park

Mountain climbing: This is one of the activities available in the Rwenzori National Park that allows you to explore or view the beautiful scenery of vegetation cover, lakes, and rivers, among other things. The three peaks can be reached in 9-10 days. Mountain climbing in Rwenzori national park is possible in the foothills, where you can see plant life such as farmlands with crops such as coffee, which is one of Uganda’s cash crops. The Rwenzori national park has two hiking trails, one of which is the central circuit trail, which takes about 7 days to complete. The Kilembe trail, which begins in Kilembe and takes approximately 5 days to reach the top and the top of Margharita, provides an opportunity to view the snow-capped peaks, alpine vegetation, farmlands, Virunga ranges, and Queen Elizabeth national park.

Nature walks / hiking: this is an activity that novice hikers can participate in by hiking on mountain slopes, foothills of Rwenzori forests, and so on, for example, using the circuit zone. Nature walks take you up to Lake Mahoma and into the Buraro chimp forest, which includes walking through the communities of Kichumba-Karangura and hiking to Bundibudyo via Bwamba, Ruboni, and Turaco. The communities offer guided forest walks outside the park, and visitors can see snow-capped Margherita peak, horned chameleons in the forest, squirrels, vervet monkeys, birds like Rwenzori turaco, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, tiny sunbird, and others, as well as participate in activities like fishing along the streams.

Bird watching: The Rwenzori national park is home to 217 different bird species. 17 of them are only found in Rwenzori national park, making it a popular destination for birders. Bird watching begins in the morning and takes place in forest areas and near bodies of water. Western green tinker bird, long-eared owl, bee-eaters, golden-winged sunbird, flycatchers, Rwenzori batis, blue-headed sunbird, barbets, long-tailed cuckoo, crimson wings, montane sooty boubou, purple breasted sunbirds, stripe breast tit, and other bird species can be seen.

Cultural encounters: Cultural encounters in the Rwenzori national park allow visitors to see local communities at the mountain’s foothills performing various cultural activities such as dances and others. There are many villages to visit, including the Rwenzori Turaco view camp, which is located in Muhunga near the Rwenzori snow-capped peaks. The Bakonzo people live in the Rwenzori Turaco view camp and have done so for many years. They provide various demonstrations by traditional healers whose herbs are thought to cure many diseases, traditional dances by schools, and the Bakonzo pilgrimage in September to remember their great king because he offered protection from oppression by the Batooro.

Ruboni village home visit: Visitors walk with the villagers who live on the mountain’s foothills as they demonstrate their daily activities such as farming, local dishes, traditional crafts, dance performances, storytellers, and so on. The Bulimba-Ihandiro cultural trail takes about 6-7 hours to complete, and visitors pass through the Kamusonge river, whose waterbus is said to be sweet and thirst-quenching. Visitors will see traditional dresses, historical objects, and equipment used during the Rwenzururu struggle, among other things, at the museum, which is traditionally built in Kanzo style.

Visitors on safari can stay at the Rwenzori National Park’s various accommodations, which include the Hotel Margherita, Rwenzori International Hotel, and Kataraa Lodge, among others. These provide high-quality services to ensure that visitors’ safaris are comfortable and memorable. The Rwenzori National Park is open all year, with a short dry season from June to August and December to February, which is the best time to visit because the roads are passable and it is a great time for trekking.

KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the Kaabong district of northeastern Uganda and is approximately 1442 square kilometers in size and approximately 700 kilometers by road from Kampala. Moroto is the largest town in the subregion, and the park serves as another unexplored Uganda safaris and Uganda tours destination. Kidepo valley national park can be reached by road (12 hours) or by air (charter flights from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi to Lomeja). By road, you can take the Kampala through Mbale route or the Kampala through Karuma route, both of which lead to Kidepo valley national park. Kidepo Valley National Park was ranked the third best national park in Africa and is home to extinct wildlife species that cannot be found in any other national park in Uganda, including over 75 mammal species such as cape buffaloes, Rothschild giraffes, side-stripped jackals, lions, leopards, bat-eared foxes, and others, over 470 bird species, and 5 primate species. The Kidepo Valley National Park is made up of open tree savannah vegetation, mountain forest in the high areas, the Lorupei River, which supports an acacia Geradi forest, and a semi-arid climate with one rainy season per year from April to September. The park is served by two seasonal rivers, the Narus and Kidepo.

Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a popular viewing destination with a diverse range of wildlife that can be seen during the safari, including buffalos, Oryx, lions, zebras, leopards, elephants, giraffes, elands, antelopes, reedbucks, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, duikers, and Oribi. During a game drive in Kidepo National Park, you may see endemic species such as striped hyenas, bat-eared foxes, jackals, cheetahs, wild pigs, and hunting dogs. Game drives begin at 6:00 a.m. in the morning and 4:00 p.m. in the evening, and it is best to go with a guide for proper sightings of animals, primates such as the endemic bush baby, tatalas monkeys, black and white monkeys, and different bird species, giving you an opportunity to enjoy the interesting grasslands and savannah vegetation in Kidepo National Park.

Nature walks / hiking: Kidepo National Park features distinct landscapes, such as flat plains that provide a scenic view of the wildlife species that have spread into the grasslands. Nature walks with a Uganda Wildlife Authority park ranger begin at 7:00 a.m. at Apoka camp and can be done at any time of day. It is possible to do it in a variety of areas throughout Kidepo, including the new 25-kilometer Lonyiri nature walk through the shrubs to Napusmur, which takes about 8 hours with a guide. It allows you to observe nature and animals that can be seen through a microscope. The Konyiri nature walk provides rest stops along the hike as well as views of the national park and animal species such as buffalos, elephants, baboons, and lions, among others. The two-hour walk in the southern Narus valley is a great spot for birding such as the unique Karamoja apalis, black-breasted barbet, yellow-billed hoopoe, Nubian woodpecker, little weaver, red-cheeked cordon, superb starling, vinaceous dove, and others, as well as viewing animals drinking water such as elephants, zebras, lions, and buffalos. Hiking in the Morungole Mountains to visit the IK people, one of Uganda’s smallest ethnic groups. The Karamajong settlements and hiking on Idi Amin’s unfinished dream lodge, which he never finished while still president of Uganda.

Bird watching: Apart from Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park has the highest number of bird species. Kidepo National Park is home to over 450 bird species, 56 birds of prey, and 14 endemic species in the Karamoja region, including ostriches, pygmy falcon, Verreaux’s eagle, Kori bustard, yellow-billed hornbill, Egyptian vulture, Karamoja apalis, and Jackson’s hornbill, among others. Bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park begins at any time of day, and the best viewing points are Apoka rest camp and the park headquarters, which overlook the southern Narus valley and Namamukweny valley and are home to a variety of bird species such as Ruppels, superb starlings, silver birds, yellow-billed hornbills, Vinaceous doves, Jackson’s hornbills, Kori bustards, pygmy falcons, Egyptian vulture, Karamoja apalis, and other species provide birders with a memorable safari experience in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Cultural encounter: Visitors can visit neighboring communities in Kidepo National Park, including the Karamojong village, which has an interesting group of people who are warrior nomads who engage in subsistence farming and cattle rearing. They live in an arid region, so they must walk long distances to get water, and there have been floods in the area at times. Karamojong people are related to Maasai people in that they have large herds of cattle and migrate with them in search of water and pasture. They build temporary structures everywhere they go, have traditional knives and stools, a dress code, arrows, beads, spears, art, and much more. The IK people visit, which takes approximately 8 hours to reach the community, necessitates an early morning walk up into the Morungole mountains to visit the IK people, who are one of the original tribes in the northeast of Kidepo Valley National Park. Kidepo Valley National Park can be visited all year, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from September to March. The park has a few accommodation options for visitors, including Apoka Rest Camp, Nga Moru Wildlife Camp, Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas, and Apoka Safari Lodge, among others, for visitors’ relaxation and clear views while on safari in Kidepo Valley National Park.

MOUNT ELGON NATIONAL PARK

Mount Elgon National Park is located near Mbale district in eastern Uganda, on the slopes of Mount Elgon. It is an extinct volcanic mountain that covers 1145 square kilometers and is located on Uganda’s border with Kenya. Mount Elgon National Park is shared by Uganda in the east and Kenya in the west. Its highest peak, Wagagai, is located on the Ugandan side and is 4321 meters high. There are three other outstanding peaks, including Jackson’s summit, which is 4165 meters high, Kiongo, which is 4303 meters high, and Mubiyi, which is 4210 meters high. Mount Elgon is the fourth highest mountain in East Africa. The mountain serves as a watershed for rivers such as the Sipi, which forms the Sipi Falls. Altitudinal vegetation areas include lush Montana, mixed bamboo belt forest with uncommon plant species such as large lobelia, thick shrubs, groundsel plants, luminous wildflowers, and others, as well as attractions such as the old cave paintings near the trailhead at Budadiri, the stunning caves, and the hot springs inside the crater. Mount Elgon National Park is home to over 300 bird species, including the red-throated wryneck, black collared apalis, alpine chat, and moorland francolin, as well as animal species such as buffalos, antelopes, elephants, Oribi, defassa, waterbuck, duiker, and primates such as forest monkeys.

Mount Elgon National Park Activities

Hiking: Mount Elgon national park provides a better hiking option for hikers in Uganda, and hiking is the main activity done in the park because it has lower peaks that are more favorable than Mount Rwenzori. Hiking in Mount Elgon National Park is appealing because the park is less crowded because many people are unaware of its existence. There are several trails to choose from during the hike, including the Piswa trail, which is long and gentle, takes 7 days and covers 49 kilometers, the Sipi trail, which covers 56 kilometers and takes 4-6 days, and the Sasa trail, which is the shortest but most difficult because it is very steep and takes about 4 days. Various animal species, including the unique forest monkeys, elephants, buffaloes, small antelopes, and others, will be spotted during the hike, as will bird species, Sipi waterfalls, beautiful Scenic Mountain peaks, hot springs, and ancient cave paintings near the Budadiri trailhead, among others.

Sipi waterfalls are located in the Kapchorwa district, and the Sipi waterfall trek is the most rewarding tour, which greets you with a distant sound. The highest or major waterfall is 100 meters above sea level and is the main attraction of Sipi, the second flows from about 85 meters above sea level with a beautiful scenic view around it, and the third flows from about 75 meters above sea level. During the Sipi Falls tour, you will visit caves such as the Tutum cave, which is hidden within the forest, as well as plantations, streams, and coffee tours to learn how coffee is processed locally.

Bird watching: Mount Elgon National Park is home to approximately 300 bird species, 40 of which are unique to Mount Elgon. The Kapkwai forest, the exploration center of the forest with thick shrubs along the loop trail to Cheptui falls, is a good place to spot birds like the African goshawk, white chinned Prinia, African blue flycatcher, and cinnamon bee-eater, among others.

Mountain biking: Because Mount Elgon is not as high as other mountains in East Africa, this is one of the most interesting activities in Mount Elgon National Park that should be done while on a safari. Mount Elgon national park has trails that run from Sipi trading center to Chema hill in Kapchorwa town, taking about one and a half hours and providing visitors with a beautiful scenic view of Sipi falls, vegetation zones, sparkling streams, rugged rocks, and animal species, among other things. Mountain biking is done in both Bwindi and Mount Elgon national parks, making it a unique activity to participate in for great scenic viewing and experience.

Nature walks: A nature walk is one of the activities offered by Mount Elgon National Park, in which visitors walk through the park with park rangers for relaxation and a close look at the animals and landscapes. During the nature walk, you can take a 7km bamboo trail to Kapkwai cave and pass through the tropical and bamboo forest for about 4 hours, where you will be able to spot primate species, different birds, rare tree species like Elgon teak, Elgon olive, and others, as well as a 5km walk to Chebonet falls, a 3km walk to Kapkwai caves, and an 11km hike to Tutum cave where you can camp for an overnight and view.

Cultural encounters: This is an activity in which visitors learn about the lifestyles of the communities surrounding the park. The Gishu traditions, also known as the Bagisu tribe, call the mountain their first father and have a common Imbalu ceremony of the removal of the foreskin on the male’s private part with myth behind this ceremony thus becoming a serious culture in Gishu and visitors get to learn why this ceremony is carried out. The Sabiny traditions, where you can meet the Sipi widows group for entertainment, also take you on a guided walk through the coffee plantations, explaining the activities involved in coffee growing, such as planting, picking, grinding, washing, and storing. You may be able to participate in educational activities such as raising awareness about female circumcision, which is a Sabiny practice.

Mount Elgon National Park is open to visitors all year, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from June to August and December to March. There are several accommodation options available during your safari, including Wooden Camping Bandas, Mbale Resort Hotel, Mount Elgon Hotel, Sunrise Inn, Guest Houses, and Country Homes, among others.

KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

Kibale National Park is located in western Uganda near Fort Portal and Kasese and covers an area of about 795km between 1100m and 1600m. The park is famous for uganda chimp trekking or uganda chimp safari. It takes about 2 hours to get from Kasese to Kibale and 6 hours to get from Kampala to Kibale. Kibale National Park is home to a variety of wildlife species, including 13 primate species such as baboons, red colobus monkeys, mangabey, black and white monkeys, L-Hoest monkeys, and others, as well as mammals such as mongooses, bushbucks, and warthogs, and bird species such as great blue turaco and black and white hornbills.

Activities in Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee tracking is a popular and common activity in Kibale National Park, which is best known for its chimps in East Africa. Chimpanzee tracking begins at 8:00 a.m., and afternoon tracking begins at 2:00 p.m., and involves walking through the forest for 2-3 hours in search of the chimps, and when found, visitors are limited to one hour in the presence of the primates. Other primates that will be viewed include red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, L-Hoest monkeys, baboons, and bush babies, among others.

Chimpanzee habituation: This is the process of acclimating chimps to human presence, and it is carried out at the Kanyachu information center, which is well-known for primate walks and chimp tracking. During the chimp habituation, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about chimp habits such as mating and feeding habits, among others, and will also spend some time with the chimps; therefore, visitors are advised to bring a packed lunch and some drinking water.

Bird watching: Kibale National Park is home to over 370 bird species, and bird watching tours begin at around 7:00 a.m. at Kanyachu, which is located in the heart of the park, and can be done all year. Papyrus Gonolek, white-winged warbler, great blue turaco, black and white hornbill, and breasted pitta are among the birds that will be seen.

Bigodi wetland sanctuary: This is a wetland located outside the park in Magombe swamp, 6 kilometers south of Kibale National Park, and is managed by the community surrounding the park. It is home to over 138 bird species, including the black and white hornbill and the great blue turaco, as well as 8 primate species such as vervet monkeys, red colobus monkeys, and blue monkeys, as well as mammals such as bushbucks, warthogs, mongooses, forest elephants, and butterflies. Nature walks: This is an activity in which visitors walk through the park on foot to see various animal and bird species. Visitors to Kibale National Park can go on nocturnal forest walks at night with park rangers and spotlights to spot nocturnal animals such as bush babies, pottos, and some other species..Bushcraft children activities are activities that children under the age of 15 participate in while on safari with their parents because they are not permitted to participate in chimp tracking. As a result, Kibale National Park organizes children Bushcraft classes and activities that include viewing wildlife, plants, birds, and monkeys, among other things.

Cultural encounters: Visitors to Kibale National Park are permitted to participate in cultural encounters in which they visit villages such as Bigodi community to see their lifestyles, visit vanilla plantations, Rwenzori mountains, crater lakes, taste different dishes, and participate in community performances such as cultural dances, songs, traditional art and craft, and so on, gaining valuable experience from the community. Other activities in Kibale National Park include visiting Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru, the rocks in the cave in Fort Portal, and the crater lakes tour, which includes over 50 crater lakes and a number of accommodation facilities such as Isunga lodge, chimp forest guest house, Kyaninga lodge, and Kyambura lodge, among others, all of which are designed using traditional wood and Bandas thatched with grass. Kibale National Park is open all year, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from July to September and January to February, when the trails are not icy.

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south western Uganda, next to Virunga national park and on the edge of the Albertine rift valley. The park is famous for gorilla trekking, also known as Uganda gorilla trekking tour/Uganda gorilla trekking safari, Uganda gorilla tracking. It is located in Kanungu district, 29 kilometers southeast of Kabala, and covers 321 square kilometers of both montane and lowland forest. Its elevation ranges from 1190m to 2607m to 8553 feet above sea level. Bwindi National Park is home to over 1000 flowering plant species, including 163 tree species, 104 ferns, and guinea pigs. Northern Mongolian flora, including two endangered species of brown mahogany and brazzeia. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best known for endangered gorilla trekking because it is home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas, 400 in total, with 14 habituated gorilla groups spread across four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo. It also serves as a home to 120 mammal species, 350 bird species, 220 butterflies, 27 frogs, chameleons, geckos, and numerous other endangered species.

Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla tracking: This is the most interesting and important activity in Bwindi National Park, which requires hiking for long distances with a guide in search of gorilla families due to the park’s steep slopes. In Bwindi, four Gorilla groups are available for daily trekking: Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, and Nkuringo, and visitors spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas while searching. Other primates you may see include chimps, blue monkeys, black and white monkeys, L-Hoest monkeys, and grey chested mangabeys, among others.

Nature walks: Bwindi National Park has more than six trails in Buhoma where visitors can walk to see various animals, birds, and plants, including the Rushura trail, Ivo river trail, Bushoma village tourist walk, Muzubijiro loop trail, waterfall trail, and Munyanga river trail, among others, and you will be able to see the Bakiga and Batwa people, Lake Edward and Rwenzori, tree ferns, orchids, butterflies, bird species like African green broadbill.

Bird watching: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to approximately 350 bird species, the best of which can be seen in the Ruhija sector, which is home to 23 Albertine rift endemics such as blue-headed sunbirds and warblers, among others. Bird watching can also be done in Buhoma waterfall along the bamboo zone and Mubwindi swamp in Ruhija to see birds such as African green broadbill, white tailed blue flycatcher, brown necked.

Mountain biking: This is also known as a ride 4 a woman, and it consists of a village walk on a bike with a trained guide who guides you through the village and in case you spot bird species. The mountain biking is organized by Buhoma community rest camp and takes 6 to 7 hours and 13 kilometers to Ivi river, where you will be able to see animals such as monkeys, bushbucks, primates, birds, and others, making the biking fascinating.

Gorilla habituation: This is an activity in which researchers and guides work together to train gorillas to become accustomed to human presence. It is carried out in the Rushaga gorilla sector, where there are approximately 11 habituated gorilla families, including Mubare, Rushegura in north Buhoma, Habinyanja, Bitukura, Kyanguriro in the eastern Ruhija part, oruzogo, Nshngi, Busingye, Mishaya, Bweza, Kahungye in Rushaga, and Nkuringo family, two families are being habituated. The gorilla habituation process begins at 7:00 a.m., and visitors spend four hours with the gorillas in their natural habitat, observing their lifestyles, behaviors, and habits, and thus having a wonderful experience with the gorillas.

Cultural encounters: This is a well-known activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where visitors meet local people such as the Batwa and Bakiga. The Batwa, also known as pygmies, live in Rushaga and Buhoma and were hunters and gatherers who lived in the forests’ southern sector many years ago. They perform cultural performances such as dances, craft activities, their ways of life, traditional dishes, and other activities that visitors will find interesting.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park can be visited at any time of year, but the best time is during the dry season, when the vegetation is less dense and there are no heavy rains between June and August and December and February. The gorilla resort Bwindi, Nkuringo gorilla camp, Bwindi gorilla camp, Nyundo valley hill Bandas, and others provide visitors with a comfortable stay during their safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

SEMLIKI NATIONAL PARK

Semliki National Park is located in Bwamba County, a remote part of the Bundibugyo district in Uganda’s western region near the DRC border. The park covers 220 square kilometers and is located at an elevation of 670 to 760 meters above sea level, with the river Semliki serving as a border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Semliki National Park is situated at the base of the rift valley, between Lake Albert, the Rwenzori Mountains, and the Kijura escarpments. Semliki National Park is home to over 60 mammal species such as buffaloes, leopards, hippos, and elephants, 400 bird species with 12 endemic species such as yellow-throated cuckoo, red-sided broadbill, piping hornbill, yellow long bill, crested marimbas, and others, and 8 primate species such as red tailed monkey, vervet monkey, blue monkey, debrazza’s monkey, grey checked mangabey, olive Semliki National Park is home to four distinct ethnic groups, including Bwamba farmers who live along the base of the Rwenzori, Bakonjo farmers who cultivate the mountain slopes, Batuku cattle keepers who live on the open plains, and Batwa hunters and gatherers who live on the forest’s edge.

Activities in Semliki National Park

Game drives: this is an activity in which visitors drive within the park with a driver-guide in order to spot various mammals, birds, primates, and landscapes, among other things. Semliki National Park has a day drive that begins in the morning and ends in the afternoon. During the day drive, you will be able to see buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, bush babies, grey-checked mangabey, pygmy antelopes, flying squirrels, hippos, forest elephants, and other animals. Semliki Lodge also offers a night game drive after dinner, with game rangers carrying spotlights for easy sightseeing and viewing of the nocturnal animals in their hideouts, such as genets, white tailed mongooses, eagle owls, bush babies, leopards, pottos, and bats, among others.

Bird watching: Semliki National Park is home to over 400 bird species, 12 of which are endemic to only Semliki National Park. Bird watching is best done during the breeding season, which begins in March after a long dry season. Birding is typically done in the Kirumia, Ntandi, and Sempaya rivers, and bird species seen during bird watching include the African open bill, blue breasted bee-eater, African pygmy goose, black caudal, African crake, and great white pelican, among others. Bird watching in Semliki National Park is an interesting activity to do because you can see migratory birds migrate to the Semliki Wildlife Reserve from November to December.

Boat rides: Visitors to Semliki National Park can take a guided boat ride down the Semliki River, which runs 160 kilometers from the Rwenzori Mountains to Lake Albert and the Nile. Boat rides on the Semliki River are interesting because they provide a beautiful scenic view of the rift valley between Rwenzori’s Kijura escarpments and will see different bird species such as shoebill, blue breasted bee-eater, blue-headed caudal, great white pelican, among others, and animals such as waterbucks, Nile crocodiles, pygmy hippos, lizards, sitatunga

Semliki hot springs: There is a trail that leads to the hot spring at Sempaya, the male hot spring is called Bintete and is 12meters in diameter found in a lush swampy clearing and the female hot spring is known as Nyasimbi and is the hottest and most dangerous, local people used to cook food in the hot springs and visitors can also experience that by cooking simple foods like eggs and also viewing some bird species.

Nature / forest walks: This is an activity in which visitors walk through the park with a park ranger to experience nature, view the reserve’s vegetation, plants, bird habitats, butterflies, and animals up close such as warthogs, Uganda kobs, baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, hornbills, and others. The Sempaya trail passes through the forest and leads to the Sempaya hot springs where you will find treehouse stops to see the birds, primates, and then to the male hot spring, the Kirumia trail which is a 13km trail and good for birders because it ends up at the Semliki river, and the red monkey trail which is 11km long and ends up at the Semliki river and you will be able to see the rare red monkey.

Primate walks: Semliki National Park is one of the Ugandan game reserves that offers visitors primate walks. It takes 3 to 4 hours and begins at Semliki Safari Lodge, where visitors meet the ranger guides who will accompany them on the primate walk in Semliki. Various primates, including chimps, will be spotted during the habituation process, as well as other primates such as a red tailed monkey, vervet monkey, black and white monkey, baboons, and animals such as waterbucks, bushbucks, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, and warthogs, among others.

Hiking to Nyaburogo gorge, chimp habituation at Kijura observation point, cultural encounters with the Rwebisengo community, Kasenge-Kyakabaseke community, fishing on the Semliki River, Batwa trail experience, and other activities are available in Semliki National Park. Semliki national park has a number of luxury and budget accommodation facilities where visitors can stay while on safari, including the oldest luxury lodge, Semuliki safari lodge in Semuliki valley, Ntoroko game lodge on the shores of Lake Albert, Kirumia guest house located along Sempaya gate, and Bamuga campsite, among others.

MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK

Park Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park, but it is rich in safari activities because it was established primarily to protect mountain gorillas. It is 33.7 square kilometers in size, located about 10 kilometers south of Kisoro, and is bordered by the volcanoes national park in Rwanda to the south and the Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Mgahinga National Park encompasses the northern slopes of the three Virunga volcanoes, Mount Muhavura (4127m), Mount Gahinga (3474m), and Mount Sabinyo (3645m). Mgahinga National Park is accessible by road and air. By road, it is approximately 9-10 hours from Kampala, 6 hours from Kigali Rwanda, and 14 kilometers from Kisoro to Ntebeko, the park entrance. The name Mgahinga was derived from the Kinyarwanda word Gahinga, which means “beautiful.” Mgahinga National Park is home to 115 bird species, 76 mammal species (including endangered golden monkeys and gorillas), buffaloes, elephants, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, leopards, spotted hyenas, black-fronted duikers, and 200 butterfly species.

Gorilla tracking is the most popular breathtaking activity in Mgahinga national park, where visitors follow trails in search of gorillas. Apart from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Mgahinga is Uganda’s second national park with gorillas, and it is famous for uganda gorika trekking and uganda hiking safaris, among other things. Mgahinga National Park has one habituated family, Nyakagezi, with fourteen members that are tracked. Tracking begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Ntebeko gate and takes 2-4 hours depending on the location of the gorillas because they like to move in search of food, and visitors spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas once found. Gorilla tracking necessitates movement through the forest, valleys, and steep terrain and as a result, visitors are advised to dress lightly, bring masks, a packed lunch, drinking water, and cameras.

Golden monkey tracking: Apart from gorilla tracking, this is one of the most interesting activities in Mgahinga National Park because it provides an amazing experience to see the endangered golden monkeys in the trees. Depending on your schedule, golden monkey tracking can begin in the morning or afternoon. Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s only park where gorillas coexist with monkeys, earning it the moniker “the only national park where gold meets silver.” In Mgahinga, there are about six habituated golden monkey families where visitors can spend more time learning about their lifestyles, feeding habits, natural habitats, and so on.

Bird watching: Mgahinga National Park is home to over 115 bird species, and birding can be done through the bamboo forest in the gorge between Sabinyo and Gahinga, as well as in the montane forest, where you will be able to see different birds such as the Rwenzori turaco, bronze sunbird, Rwenzori batis, cape robin chat, black-headed waxbill, handsome francolin, olive pigeon, brown.

Nature walks/ hiking:  Visitors to the national park can have a wild experience by walking on foot with a park ranger within the park and outside the park to see how people live. Nature walks in Mgahinga are done around the edges of the mountains through bamboo forests, Rugezi swamp, which has a great scenic view of the agricultural villages, wild vegetation, surrounding lakes such as Lake Mutanda, being able to see forest bird species in the trees, some animals, and also having an encounter with the Batwa.

Cultural encounter: Mgahinga National Park is home to the indigenous Batwa, who were fierce warriors, hunters, and gatherers in the forest. They were resettled out of the park when it was designated as a national park, and some of them now work in the tourism industry as guides and porters. During the Batwa trail, they will show you how they used to live in the wild, relying on the forest for food and hunting, and will demonstrate their way of life through traditional dances, music, traditional medicines, fire making, and hunting, among other activities, which is an interesting activity in Mgahinga because the Batwa are quite unique people.

Mountain climbing: This is an exciting activity in Mgahinga National Park because it allows tourists to hike the three volcanoes that form the border between Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mount Muhavura, for example, covers 12km, is 5127m high, and takes around 8 hours to reach the top where you will see Mount Rwenzori peaks, Virunga volcanoes, Bwindi forest, and Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Mount Sabinyo, the most difficult of the three due to the mushy vegetation, takes around 8 hours to reach the top where you will be standing in three countries at once, namely Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the third volcano, Mount Gahinga, which covers 8km and takes 6 hours to reach the top where you will find a swamp and stone piles in some gardens, making mountain climbing in Mgahinga national park fascinating, exciting, and adventurous for safari tourists.

Mgahinga National Park has a variety of accommodations for safari visitors, including Mount Mgahinga Lodge on the outskirts of the Virunga volcanoes, Mount Mgahinga Rest Camp with grass-thatched bandas, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge in Kisoro, Nkuringo Safari Lodge on the shores of Lake Mutanda, and Travelers Nest Hotel outside Kisoro. Mgahinga National Park has two rainy seasons, from March to May and September to November, and can be visited all year, especially during the dry season, from June to August and December to February, when the forest is less slippery and ideal for gorilla trekking and mountain climbing.

“Whether it’s gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, hiking on Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, or Mount Sabinyo while at Mgahinga National Park, early morning game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park to see elephants and lions, boat drives on Lake Mburo to take in the various sights and see zebras and giraffes, among other animals, or visiting Murchison Falls or Kidepo Valley National Park to a visit to any or all of Uganda’s national parks will not leave you unchanged.”