Uganda National Parks

Bwindi is the jewel of Uganda’s parks, a dense, ancient rainforest in the south-west that shelters close to half the world’s mountain gorillas. Four trailheads give access to different gorilla families, and the forest is also a superb birding destination. It is the heartland of gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Mgahinga, in the far south-west, is a small, quiet park set among three Virunga volcanoes on the Rwanda and Congo border. It offers gorilla trekking, golden monkeys and volcano hikes in dramatic scenery, far from the crowds. It is the place to combine primates with mountains.

Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s most popular savanna park, famous for the wildlife-packed Kazinga Channel, the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector and a rich mix of big game and birds. A boat safari on the channel is a highlight. It is classic big-game Uganda.

Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest park, is built around the point where the Nile forces through a narrow gorge in a thunder of water. Game drives turn up lions, elephants and giraffes, and a boat cruise runs up to the foot of the falls. The falls are a spectacle in themselves.

Kibale is the primate capital of Uganda, with the densest chimpanzee population in the region and thirteen primate species in all. Chimp tracking here has a high success rate, and a full-day habituation experience is on offer. It pairs with the nearby Bigodi swamp walk.

Kidepo, in the remote far north-east, is one of Africa’s great unsung parks, a vast, wild savanna ringed by mountains with species found nowhere else in Uganda. Its isolation means few visitors and a true wilderness feel. It rewards those who make the trip.

Lake Mburo is a small, accessible park between Kampala and the south-west, known for its zebra, antelope and lakes. It allows walking safaris, boat trips and night drives, and makes a handy stop on the way to the gorillas. It is a gentle, easy introduction to the bush.

The Rwenzori, on the western border, are the fabled Mountains of the Moon, a range of glaciated peaks rising from tropical forest, with Margherita the third-highest point in Africa. The trek to the summit is wild and demanding, with shorter hikes for the less ambitious. It is a connoisseur’s mountain.

Mount Elgon, on the Kenyan border, is a vast, ancient volcano with one of the largest calderas in the world, climbed through forest and moorland with the lovely Sipi Falls on its slopes. It is far quieter than the bigger peaks. The caldera and caves are a highlight.

Semuliki, in the west, is a slice of Central African lowland rainforest, with hot springs, Congo-basin birds and species found in few other parks. It is a birder’s park and a true off-the-beaten-track destination. The hot springs are its signature.

Pian Upe, in the rugged Karamoja region of the north-east, is a vast, remote savanna reserve of open plains and rocky outcrops, home to dry-country species and a real sense of wilderness. It sees very few visitors. It suits the adventurous traveller.