Best National Parks in Uganda

Best National Parks in Uganda/ Uganda national parks : Uganda has national parks like Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and other spectacular sceneries like Lake Victoria make it just to be called the pearl of Africa.

The protected areas in Uganda crown the country with excellence of biodiversity. The best national parks in Uganda, game reserves and other natural resources like Lake Victoria are the base of enjoyment during any Uganda safaris.

It’s indeed a wild experience when you visit any national park in Uganda because they are all unique in a way different from one another. Some have really unique animal species that are only found in Uganda and others carry awesome and awesome history as told by the experienced tour guides in the national park.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is mainly known for the endangered species of mountain gorillas and other primates that make the gorilla tours here a full package of fun. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is the highlight for any Ugandan wild safari and perhaps east Africa as well of African at large. Bwindi national park is the home for the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world; Bwindi has about half the world’s gorilla population.

The park was formerly called “the impenetrable” forest, this is because Bwindi rainforest had thick undergrowth that made navigation through a thing so hard to do. Still to date, Bwindi is darker inside due the compaction of the tree canopies that shield away enough light rays to touch the ground. However, these conditions have made it a very conducive environment for the adaptability of the world’s largest apes; call them the remnant of the King Kong, the mountain gorillas.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is part of the Virunga ranges shared by Rwanda, and Congo. It is located on a small space about 331sq.km in the south western region of Uganda and borders queen Elizabeth national park in the south. Bwindi national park is the best national park where you can have gorilla trekking tours and the permits are cheaper compared to other places.

Bwindi national park is naturally gifted with over 10 species of primates, 11 mammal species and a good number of birds, full the forest with epic sounds, probably it the music that the peaceful mountain gorillas relax to. Bwindi national park can be visited all year around however the best time for visiting is, the dry season. In spite, the gorilla trekking permits are at a discount in the wet season for you who want to save some dollars for other activities.

Lake mburo national park

Lake Mburo national park is another unique and awesome game reserve located along Masaka- Mbarara dry corridor. Lake Mburo national park is located near Mbarara, west of Lake Victoria, in the south western region of Uganda. Lake Mburo is one of the small national parks in Uganda with a space of about 260sq.km approximately 100 sq.miles. It is in lake Mburo national park that u stand a chance to see a number of antelopes like, the zebras, large eland, impala, topi, and awesome bird life. Lake Mburo national park have five smaller lakes whose shorelines are habitats for wildlife like, hippos, water birds, crocodiles plus the beauty of the papyrus alignment.

There are a number of activities tailored for the visitors that visit Lake Mburo national park;

Game viewing will expose you to animals like jackals, leopards and hyenas et cetera.
Boat rides is always interesting regardless of where it is conducted, during the boat ride, you can spot a number of animals on the shore lines like, crocodiles, elephants, hippos, and birds like, pelicans, black crake, hewn, cormorants, the African fish eagle and possibly the rare shoebill stork.
Guided walks around the salt licks, to the wooden hide also called the observatory point; the walks must be led with two armed guards since the national park is not so safe alone.
Rubanga forest nature walk is an awesome activity for the lovers sightseeing and also those who love to learn about plants. You have the nature walks for the forest management headquarters in order to get a ranger to escort you through the trails as you e joy the beauty of Mother Nature.
Birding is perfect in Lake Mburo national park due to the presence of quite a number of bird species; about 310 species of birds. Some birds are easy to spot flying all over the park, however, some are hard to find but inside the tick forest area.
Open water birds like the pink pelicans, long tailed birds, cormorants and the white winged black tern among others.
Lake shore papyrus birds include the fish eagle, the pied king fisher, African fin foot also called the night heron.
And also the seasonal swamp birds, the woodland birds, forest birds and the grass birds among others.

Murchison falls national park

According to guest experience and views, Murchison falls national park is a haven on the Nile. Murchison falls national park is located on the northern end of the Albertine rift valley just 90 km from Masindi through Karuma Forest Reserve.

Murchison falls national park is Uganda’s largest national park it is actually twice the size of queen Elizabeth national park. It is divided into two parts; the northern part and the southern part, by the Victoria Nile River. Murchison falls national park is 3893sq.km large and it is also part of the vast forest reserve area that includes Karuma and Bugungu Wild Reserve about 5072sq.km wide, indeed enormous.

The waterfalls

The name of Murchison falls national park is attributes to the section Nile water running on a high speed that falls off from a high cliff into a gorge. The water of the Victoria Nile rushes downwards from an 80km high/ long cliff exhibiting white water as it squeezes through the rocks. The pressure of water when hitting the rocks forms vapor that creates a foggy environment around the falls and at times when the sunrises, a rainbow is formed and indeed, there is a rainbow round in every corner. By the time the water reaches the ground, it is supposed to have lost its pressure trying to fight its way through the rocks, the victoria Nile river continues to flow quietly all the way to lake albert about 55 km downstream.

Wildlife of Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park is one of the best national parks in Uganda and is unique for the beautiful slender giraffes that can be found anywhere in the national park, they also move close to Chobe Safari Lodge air strip and the staff camp. There is still a lot more animals you will love during your visit to Murchison falls national park like, elephants, loser buffaloes, lions, herds of antelopes, and several bird life.

Murchison falls also has primates like chimpanzees in Rabongo Forest; baboons are everywhere in the national park. You can see the baboons at Chobe Safari Lodge from terrace restaurant hanging around the lodge premises and also other primates like monkeys such as the blue monkey.

Along the river, you will spot many hippo schools and crocodiles, plus water fowls and warthogs. You can see crocodiles on the shoreline below Chobe Safari Lodge as you enjoy your time at the terrace of the lodge.

Activities

Boat cruise to the base of the waterfall
Boat trips to lake albert where you can see the shoebill stork along the papyrus shoreline
The game drives
Birding
Chimpanzee tracking in Rabongo forest they are also found in Budongo forest.

Kidepo national park

Kidepo valley national park is just quite bigger than Semliki national park and Bwindi, t is about 1442sq.km large. Kidepo valley national park is found in the north eastern region of Uganda on the sudan and Kenya border.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo valley national park is known for its beautiful scenery formed by the rising inselbergs in the open savannah grasslands. The inselbergs provide an awesome and clear view point of the landscape in the park all shade green with the diversity of flora like the acacia geradi forests seen slong the Lorupei River.

Kidepo national park also has quite a variety of animals some of which are unique and uncommon in other parks in Uganda like the cheetahs, bat eared fox, ward wolf, caracal, and the hunting dogs and others like the lions, leopards and hyena among others. Kidepo also had a number of bird species, like 58 bird species such as the verreaux eagles, Egyptian vulture, pygmy falcon among others; they will add an inch to your birding experience is Uganda.

Activities

Game views will expose you to 80 mammal species of which 28 are only found in Kidepo valle national park.
Hiking on Lamoi Mountain, Borassus Palm Forest, Kanangorok Hot Springs and the mighty Kidepo River.
Cultural performances form the local dance groups which will entertain you with a variety of local dances like, Emuya dance at Naporere, Lakaraka and Apiti dances of the acholi. You will also love the different description of varying Ethinic Grpups. To note, the money you pay for the cultural encounter is given back to the community for conservation purposes.
The cultural walks will take you to the Karamajongo Manyattas of the homesteads and learn a lot about their life style like the way of dressing, stool making, hunting tools like bows and arrows and knives. To note, the community / cultural walks are booked from the Uwa headquarters in apoka or from the Uwa headquarters in Kamwokya- Kampala.

Kidepo valley national park is one of the best national parks in uganda and is fantastic for the lovers of outdoor services like camping in the starry skies of the African wilderness. Kidepo valley national park has a number of campsites, Bandas and quite a number of rest camps you can choose from.

Water rafting at Lake Victoria

White water rafting is an interesting adventurous activity that is done on Lake Victoria section. White water rafting is professionally filmed and you can windup your day by sitting and watching the capturing of every action on the exact scene.

White water rafting is carried out on the Victoria Falls which is the best spot for this activity in east Africa. The rafting area is strategically located at the spot where the Nile River goes through a series of grade five rapids as it paves way through Lake Victoria.

The section of water rafting was specifically chosen about 30km long stretch on the Nile River. It has a few first grades with low speed to help the rafters cultivated confidence throughout the interestingly thrilling experience on water. The rafters are guarded through the meanders of Nile River into the grade five rapids also known as the world’s best grade five rapids. However, there major 12 rapids to raft through with a number of low grades for the delight of your experience through the thrilling white water rafting on river Nile in Jinja.

The price of white water rafting in Jinja depends on the itinerary plan from your favorite tour operator in Uganda and also the number of people and days for the activity. White water rafting is an activity suitable for the first-timer, family with kids, and highly adventurous enthusiastic ones.