Uganda Parks Information

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

The major tourist attraction here is the Gorilla. Three gorillas groups are currently available for tracking on daily basis that is Mubare group, Habinyanja and Rushegula. A total of 18 Gorilla permits are sold everyday, six permits from each group. Gorilla tracking in Bwindi can be strenuous, therefore ensure physical fitness. You need jungle boots and rain Jackets because the park is often wet. Gorilla tracking starts at 8:30 a.m. local time and occasionally lasts the whole day.
The national park has 90 mammal species, including 11 primates, of which the black-and-white colobus, with its lovely flowing white tail, is prominent.
The forest birding ranks with the best in Uganda, with 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics present, 360 species of birds and over 200 species of Butterflies. This afromountain forest has
dense under storey of fern, vines and shrubs. About 324 tree species have been recorded here, 10 of which do not occur anywhere in Uganda.

Kibale Forest National Park

The most accessible of Uganda's major rainforests, Kibale is home to a remarkable 13 primate species, including the much localized red colobus and L'Hoest's monkey. Kibale's major attraction, however, is the opportunity to track habituated chimps - these delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees.
A network of shady forest trails provides much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species recorded including the endemic Prirogrine's ground thrush other birds include the African and Green-breasted Pittas and many other forest species.
The exclusive forest elephant, smaller and hairier than its savannah counterpart, moves seasonally into the developed part of the park, while other terrestrial mammals include buffalo, giant forest hog and a half dozen antelope species.

Kidepo Valley National Park

The Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda's most spectacular parks on the Uganda Sudan border in the northeast. It is 1,442 km2 and harbors scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa.
The park harbors a great diversity of animal species than in any other park in Uganda. Of the 80 species listed in 1971, 28 were not known to occur in any park in Uganda. Carnivore species unique to Kidepo include the Bat-eared Fox, Striped Hyena, Aardwolf, Caracal, Cheetah and Hunting dog.
The less common angulated include the greater and Lesser Kudu, Chandler’s mountain Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Bright’s Gazelle; Beisa Oryx and roan antelope have been severely depleted by poachers in the recent years.
Among other large ungulates are elephant, Burchell's zebra, bush pig, warthog, rothschild giraffe, cape buffalo, eland, bush buck, bush duskier, defassa water buck, bohor reed buck, Jackson’s hartebeest and oribi. Five species of primate are found in the park of which the Kavirondo bush baby is endemic. Carnivores present include lion, leopard, several small cats, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal. The easiest to see are the jackals.
The park boasts an extensive avifauna, 465 species have been recorded. Of particular interest, the ostrich and the Kori bustard are present. The park is known for its outstanding number of birds of prey. Of the 58 recorded 14 are believed to be endemic to Kidepo and the Karamoja region. These include the Varreaux’s eagle, Egyptian vulture and pygmy falcon. Also of note are 4 species of hornbills i.e. the Red-billed, Yellow-billed and Jackson’s are peculiar to Kidepo while the Giant Abbyssinian ground Hornbill is quite common. There is however no much survey in Kidepo and keen visitors stand much chance to add to the current list.
This is the only park in Uganda where visitors can view both the zebra and giraffe. Also here we can have a chance to see the unusual White buffalo and many other tourist attractions. There are high chances of viewing tree climbing lions that always sits on sauces trees along Narus valley or on rock just as you enter the Apoka Park Headquarter. Other wildlife include elephants, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, bush buck, bush pig, kavirondo bush baby, buffalo and much more that are some times seen right from the veranda of Apoka Rest Camp.

Lake Mburo National Park

Situated in the one part of Uganda covered in extensive acacia woodland, Mburo has markedly different fauna to other reserves. Lake Mburo is the best place in the country to see the gigantic eland antelope as well as zebra, topi, impala, and several acacia-associated birds.
The five lakes within the park attract hippos, crocodiles, African Finfoot and a variety of water birds, while fringing swamps hide secretive papyrus specialists such as the sitatunga antelope and papyrus gonolek.
Game viewing is the major tourist activity in this Park; it is famous for its richness in bio diversity. It has about 68 different species of mammals. The common ones are zebra, impala, buffalo, topi and eland as herbivores not to leave out the rare slightly of Roan antelope and leopard, hyena and jackal as predictors. The presence of Lake Mburo within the park is a blessing worth mentioning. The lake is rich with a diversity of animal and plant species which can only be viewed clearly if you take a boat trip. The crocodiles, hippopotamuses and birds like African Finfoot, pelicans, Black crake, heron, cormorant, fish eagle, you may also sight the rare Shoebill Stork and all these will furnish your visit with pride. The duration of each boat cruise is negotiable.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the south-western corner of Uganda. The Park covers
the northern slopes of the three northern most Virunga Volcanoes: Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 m). The Park is about 10 km south of Kisoro and is bordered to the south by the Republic of Rwanda and to the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each of these countries protects its own portion of the Virungas, in the “Parc National des Volcans” and “Parc National des Virunga” respectively. The three parks together form the 434 km2. 'Virunga Conservation Area' or VCA. Mgahinga is 33.7 km2, just 8% of the VCA.

The entire Park is in Bufumbira County of Kisoro District. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is 33.7 km2 and consists of the partly forested slopes of three extinct volcanoes. From far away, the huge cones of the Virunga volcanoes dominate the landscape and beckon you as you approach. When you reach the park you can get a great overview of the area by walking up the viewpoint, just 15 minutes from Ntebeko Gate. Mgahinga Park has great biological importance because of the mountains the area became warmer or cooler. The Virungas are home to a large variety of wildlife, including about half the world's critically endangered mountain gorillas other wild life in the park include buffalos, elephants, bushbucks, the threatened golden Monkeys and many others.
Volcano Climbing: Mgahinga National park offers three extinct volcanoes for physically fit hikers although they do not require special mountaineering gears.

Mount Moroto National Park

Mount Moroto Lies in the extreme east of Uganda and is the most accessible place to see some of the dry north eastern " special ", many at the western edge of their ranges here in Karamoja province. One of a chain of volcanoes along the Kenyan border that begins with Mount Elgon in south and includes Mounts Kadam and Morungole, Moroto is a forest reserve protecting a range of habitats from arid thorn savannah to dry mountain forest.
Although a long hike is required to reach the higher areas, excellent arid thorn savannah and rocky slopes are accessible from the town at the foot of the mountain.
Key Species: Stone Partridge, Black-headed Plover, White-bellied Go-away Bird, Jackson's Hornbill, Hemp Rich’s Hornbill, Silver bird, Grey-headed and Pygmy Batises, Bristle-crowned and Superb Starlings, Eastern Violet-backed Sun bird, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Purple Grenadier and Straw-tailed Whydah.
Bird Watching
The dense thorn savannah around the T-junction with the Mbale road 11 km from town supports White-bellied Go-away Bird, Jackson's Hornbill, Fawn-colored Lark, African Gray Flycatcher, the handsome Silver bird, Yellow-bellied Ceremonial, Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Pygmy Batis, Brubru and Eastern Vilet-backed Sun bird. Drive south from the junction for 5 km, watching for Dark Chanting Goshawk, Yellow-necked Spur fowl, Crested Bustard and the smart Black-headed Plover at the roadside.

Queen Elizabeth National park

Queen Elizabeth national Park was gazetted in 1952, encompassing 1,978 km2 found South-western part of the country near Kasese. The park lays 5-6 hours from Kampala on a surfaced road via Mbarara and can be reached on a dirt road from Bwindi. From open Savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that QENP boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world. Almost 100 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species makes this superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog, handsome Uganda kob, Lions are all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula - which also boasts a marvelous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. Elsewhere, the remote Ishasha Sector is famous for its tree-climbing lions, the Kyambura Gorge harbors habituated chimps, the Maramagambo Forest is home to an alluring selection of forest monkeys and birds, and flocks of flamingo are resident on the crater lakes.

Ruwenzori Mountains National Park

The 120 km Rwenzori chain is regarded to be the legendary snow-capped Mountains of the Moon, described by Ptolemy in AD150. Reaching an elevation of 5,109 m, it is also Africa's tallest mountain range, exceeded in altitude only by the free-standing Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro.
The distinctive glacial peaks are visible for miles around, but the slopes above 1,600 m are the preserve of hikers, who rate the Rwenzoris to be the most challenging of all African mountains.
A variety of large mammals inhabits the lower slopes, but the Rwenzoris are notable more for their majestic scenery and varied vegetation. The trails lead through rainforest rattling with monkeys and birds and then tall bamboo forest, before emerging on the high-altitude moor land zone, a landscape of bizarre giant lobelias, towered over by black rock and white snow, looking for all the world like the set of a science fiction film.

Semuliki Valley National Park

Semuliki National Park is an eastern extension of the vast Ituri Forest and forms part of the forest continuum during the climatic upheavals of the Pleistocene, this is one of the richest areas for both flora and fauna in Africa (especially for birds).
Semuliki National Park is situated in the remote corner of extreme west of Uganda, in Bundibugyo District. It lies on Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border within the western arm of the East African Rift Valley. The geographical coordinates are 0o 44'- 00 53' N - 290 57-30o 11'E. To the southeast are the Rwenzori Mountains, to the west is DRC and to the north Lake Albert.
Semuliki National Park (220 km2) gazetted in October 1993, is one of Uganda's newest National Parks. The Park occupies a flat to gently undulating landform ranging from 670 -760 meters above level. As all streams and rivers from the surrounding areas are flooded drain into the Park plus the poor drainage and topography, many areas are flooded during the rainy season. The average annual rainfall is 1250 mm with peaks from March to May and September and December. The temperature varies from 18 – 30 degrees C with relatively small daily variations.
Semliki national park has 53 species of mammals recorded many of which are shy, rare and nocturnal. These are some of the mammals in the park; olive baboon, vervet, red-tailed and blue monkeys, guereza colobus. Debrazza’s monkeys are rare and chimpanzees occasionally heard but seldom seen. There are also chances of seeing buffalos, elephants, White-bellied Duiker or dwarf antelope, Zenker’s flying mouse and many others.