Where to go on a Ugandan Safari
THE BEST UGANDA SAFARI AREAS
The first attraction that springs to mind when you think about a Uganda Safari is gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. But this small landlocked country has so much more to offer visitors! Primate safaris in Uganda are a big deal, this is true. Gorilla trekking is an amazing experience and one that helps conserve the mountain gorillas, so much so that their family numbers are on the rise. Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is exciting and can be done in two national parks. Chimpanzee tracking is fast, exhilarating and fun!
But for those with some more time and who want to extend their primate safari to a longer big 5 safari, Uganda has it all. Elephants and tree-climbing lions, leopards and plains game as well as many other primates, combined with the incredible bird life in the area and a chance for a photo on the Equator, Uganda is a complete safari destination.
THE BEST UGANDA SAFARI AREAS
A Uganda Safari gives intrepid travellers one of the best African safari holidays on offer. We take a look at our Best Uganda Safari Areas
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Murchison Falls National Park
Kibale National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos and birds galore! Queen Elizabeth National Park is a vast tract of land that runs on the western side of Uganda, linking Bwindi Forest with Kibale National Park. A wildlife corridor runs to Kibale allowing elephants and other animals ease of movement between the two parks. This picturesque park has two large crater lakes, Lake George and Lake Edward. Connecting the two is the Kazinga Channel. Cruise along the Kazinga Channel game watching for large pods of hippos, elephants, crocodiles and more.
Explore the Ishasha area where the famous tree-climbing lions are found. These lions have made climbing trees and the candelabra tree an art. You can even visit the chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge. This area is a perfect overnight stop on a Uganda Safari between Bwindi and Kibale National Parks.
Kidepo Valley National Park
The most isolated park on the Uganda Safari circuit, Kidepo Valley National Park lies in northeast Uganda on the South Sudan border, forming a transfrontier park. This savannah landscape is home to a whopping 75 species of mammals and over 450 species of birds, with the Kidepo and Narus Rivers snaking through the bush. Expect to see lions, cheetah and leopards, alongside hyena’s, jackals and plains game. Endemic species like the lesser Kudu and Eland can be found here.
A walking safari in Kidepo Valley National Park is an excellent way to enjoy this lovely park. The best time to visit is during the dry season, from September to March. Unlike the parks to the south of Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park does not have heavy rains. However, for serious twitchers, the rainy season is ideal bringing lush green grass and many migratory species of birds.
Read: Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls is a force of nature. The raging Nile River pushes through a narrow gap of 7m (23ft) and cascading down the cliff and flowing into Lake Albert. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest protected wildlife area. Offering a wide array of safari experiences, Murchison Falls is a wonderful place to visit. With four of the big 5 found here and the 5th, the rhino, found in the Ziwa Sanctuary a short distance away, Murchison Falls National Park ticks all the safari boxes. Large numbers of crocodiles and hippos are found here as are the critically endangered Rothschilds Giraffe.
Explore the area on a boating safari on the Nile River to the base of the falls and try your hand at fishing for Nile Perch. Hike to the top of Murchison Falls and is more a walk than a strenuous hike! Murchison Falls National Park is also home to over 450 species of birds including the rather odd-looking Shoebill Stork – on the list of many serious bird watchers around the world.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located in the southwest of Uganda, bordering Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provides a haven for some of the world’s last mountain gorillas, on the critically endangered list. Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park brings much-needed funds to the area to conserve these gentle giants. Several gorilla families have been habituated to humans and are a delight to visit – under the watchful eye of the rangers.
Bwindi Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site as it is an ancient forest with gorgeous natural beauty and home to forest elephants, hundreds of butterfly species, other primates, many bird species, plants and reptiles and more. This primordial forest is protected by its sheer remoteness and ruggedness, with access only by foot.
Read: Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is home to the largest concentration of primates in Africa. Connected to Queen Elizabeth National Park by a large wildlife corridor, Kibale National Park has animals like elephants roaming between the parks. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale is what visitors come to the area for and this is an easy and exciting activity. Aside from chimpanzees, other primates found include red colobus monkey, black and white colobus monkey, olive baboons and the unusual L’Hoest’s monkey. Rarely seen are the elephants, leopards and buffalo. Kibale National Park is home to over 300 bird species and is on the Uganda Birding safari trail.
Rolling hills, deep crater lakes of blues and greens, forests and wetland swamps delight visitors, they leave having explored the diversity of activities like hiking, birding and cultural trails and enjoyed the stunning views of the area.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Established to protect the endangered mountain gorillas, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the other gorilla trekking area in Uganda. This small but picturesque park is a forest that covers the volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains chain. Diverse landscapes include crater lakes, swamps and the forest. Hiking in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is another popular adventure, as is golden monkey trekking and bird watching. Culturally significant, Mgahinga used to be home to the Batwa. Forcibly moved out of the forest in 1991, the incredibly unique and informative Batwa Trail is a hike guided by local Batwa who used to live in the forest. These guides share their old ways of living including harvesting of honey and fire starting. The Batwa are an important culture in Uganda, and this activity allows visitors a glimpse of their lives.
Read: Our Top 6 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Lodges
