Despite the fact that Uganda is a land locked country, it a country that is gifted by nature. Winston Churchill called it ‘the Pearl of Africa’ which is perhaps an understatement considering its beauty, riches and among all is the favorable climate. The “Little Africa” as some Americans refer to it is home to the rare and endangered mountain gorillas that are protected in a UNESCO recognized national park in South Western Uganda. The Uganda national parks also protect a lot of wild animals, avifauna, as well as plants. The country is a primate paradise and if you would like to see these animals, a safari to Uganda is a must.
There are ten national parks where you can enjoy a safari in Uganda. There are also game reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and other wildlife areas. These wildlife parks host some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’: that include Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Leopards, and Buffaloes. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are a bonus to the big five.
The country also hosts 10 wildlife reserves and seven wildlife sanctuaries, some of which are acclaimed as being amongst Africa ‘s best. The country’s main wildlife attraction for foreign visitors is the rare mountain gorilla, found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both in the southwest of the country.
Many other species of primates can also be seen, including chimpanzees and monkeys. Kibale National Park alone contains 12 different types of primate, while Ruwenzori National Park is regarded as one of the most spectacular in Africa.
Other wildlife is present in abundance (see the Activities section for more details on whitewater rafting, ecotourism, trekking and contact details of Uganda Wildlife Authority). A range of accommodation, from privately run lodges and tented camps to state-run campsites, is available in the parks to suit all tastes and budgets.
The Equatorial climate provides permanent year-round temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius yet the Rwenzori mountain range, Africa’s highest, is snow capped. Uganda is also the source of the world’s second longest river, The Nile, which starts its journey at Africa’s largest lake, Victoria, dotted with tropical islands and their sandy white beaches.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This rather impenetrable park is positioned in south western part of Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley or commonly known as the Albertine rift. Bwindi Forest protects to a higher degree half of the remaining mountain gorillas in Uganda in addition, it is very famous for mountain gorilla trek safari trekking or tracking.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison falls national park is perhaps the largest park in Uganda which is named after the Murchison falls where the mighty river Nile bangs through a narrow gorge flowing down to be converted into a placid river whose banks are thronged with hippos, water bucks, crocodiles, and buffaloes. The flora and Fauna at Murchison is characterized by savannah, riverine forest and wood land.Uganda Wildlife Safari at Murchison falls national park includes,elephants, lions, leopard, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species including the rare shoebill.More on Murchison Falls National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth national park along with kyambura and kigezi wildlife resource brings together the most diverse ecosystem in Africa.Thousands of hippos populate these water shores. Open savannah dotted with acacia and euphobia trees provide habitat for,leopardsm, elephants, lions, Uganda Safari kobs, in addition to big herds of buffaloes.The park also harbors primate species, ten in number which include chimpanzees and monkeys.Waterbucks, giant forest hog, topi, hyenas, and crocodiles are among the many animals distinguished frequently in Queen Elizabeth national park.More on Queen Elizabeth
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale is one in all the most attractive national parks in Uganda with tropical rainforest, and a multiplicity of animals. Kibale Forest harbors the principal figure of chimpanzees and more than 1,450 are protected inside the park. At Kanyanchu, a community chimpanzee has been habituated for 16 years. This gives tourists a chance to see the great apes in their natural environment at this exclusive Uganda safaris. Threatened red colobus monkeys and the rare I’hoesti monkey are found in the park. At the same time the forest has one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks. This national park is 1,442 square kilometers. Kidepo harbors scenery that can not be found in any other parks in east Africa. Kidepo is tucked into the corner of Uganda’s boarder with Sudan and Kenya.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest national park, was designated in 1982, and is situated in Kiruhura district of Western Uganda. It is the only park that contain an entire lake. The attractive acacia-dotted savanna (158 square miles) is home to huge herds of impala, as well as uncommon topi, eland, klipspringer and other antelope. Other animals found in the park include Zebras, buffaloes, while birds include Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away bird, Rednecked Spur, common Quails, Black-billed Barbet, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller,African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, bee-eaters and the cheeky bronze-tailed starling, as well as the majestic crowned crane etc.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori is the highest mountain in Uganda, and the first foreigner to climb it was an Italian, a hundred years back. It was in 1906 when Luigi Amadeodi Savoy duke of the Abruzzi climbed to the top of the mountain and last year 2006 the Ugandans and Italians celebrated the hundred years since the first foreigner reached on top of Mt. Rwenzori.A trip into the Rwenzoris is an exhilarating and rewarding experience but one, which must be well planned. The key to an enjoyable visit is to be prepared! The central hike circuit takes six nights or seven days and reaches an altitude of 14,000ft.(4,267m) above the sea level. The conditions on the mountain are a challenge to even an experienced hiker.More on Mt Rwenzori national park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest park in the country. It is about 38 sq km. Though it is very important as it is one of the two parks in Uganda that are habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga gorilla national park is situated in south western Uganda, in kisoro district. This park was gazetted in 1999 and is part of the virunga conservation area. This park adjoins Rwanda’s volcano, and the democratic republic of Congo’s virunga national parks. Mgahinga gorilla national park experiences two wet seasons in the year that is February to May, and September to December.More on Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
Mount Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon is an extinct volcano that first erupted more than 24 million years ago. With the largest surface area of any extinct volcano in the world (50 km by 80 km.
Semuliki National Park
Semliki, in advance known as the Toro Reserve, lies near the northern base of the Ruwenzoris in Uganda. The rich habitat of grassland, savannah, forest and wetland is home to diverse fauna, in addition to 400 bird species and 300 butterfly species.