Uganda is located in the Eastern part of Africa and it has several destinations to visit with different tourist attractions. Below is the list of top ten National Parks to visit for adventure while in Uganda for your Safari.
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This is located in the South Western part of Uganda commonly known for the shy endangered Mountain Gorillas and it can be accessed via Kampala- Masaka highway and you will have a stopover at the equator for some brief explanations about the equator, Photographs and snacks and after there proceed with the journey pass Mbarara town and then up to the Park.
What to do in Bwindi? There are several activities you can do while in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and are listed below.
Gorilla Trekking & Habituation. Gorilla trekking involves visiting the shy endangered Mountain Gorillas in the mist and share with them but in order to visit these apes you must buy a Gorilla permit which issues you permission and it costs $600 USD per person in the peak season and $450 USD per person in the low season. After discovering these apes in the jungle you are only allowed to stay with them for one hour while sharing with them in the jungle. For Gorilla Habituation experience you will be eligible to stay with these apes for a full day while sharing with them and the permit for this experience is $1500 USD per person.
Batwa Cultural Tours. This involves visiting the Batwa people in their local communities and experience their ways of living through engaging in their cultural dances, way of cooking their food, Shelter and more.
Nature Walks. This involves moving around the park while on foot and come closer with the natural resources found in the park and also this is usually a good chance for bird watching as in you will be able to sight different bird species & other wildlife primates.
- Kidepo Valley National Park
This is quite a big National Park to visit in Uganda with wide range of Wildlife and located in the North Eastern part of Uganda. Some of Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park are Elephants, Giraffe, Buffaloes, Lions, Topi and more.
To Reach Kidepo Valley National Park from Kampala you can use one of the two routes, route one is from Kampala and use Masindi- Gulu highway where you by pass Murchison Falls National Park and proceed to Gulu then from Gulu proceed up to Kitgum then from there proceed up to the park. If not that route you can use the second one which is from Kampala and use Jinja highway up to Mbale and when you reach there you can have a visit to the Sipi falls and from there you will have to proceed up to Soroti, you can have a visit to the Pian Upe wildlife reserve and then from there proceed up to Moroto then from there proceed to Kabongo you can also have a visit to the Matheniko people after there proceed up to Kidepo Valley National Park. When you compare the two routes one is shorter than route two except that you will have more activities to do when you use route two which is not the same case with route one.
Since Kidepo valley National Park is mostly known for the wide range of wildlife a game drive around the park is the mostly done activity and is the only good way you can sight these wildlife. The game drive cost $20 USD if it is during day and $30 USD at night.
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
This National Park is located in the south western part of Uganda near Bwindi impenetrable National park and is also commonly known for the shy endangered Mountain Gorillas. When you are from Kampala you will use Masaka –Mbarara highway to reach Mgahinga National Park but on your way you will have a stopover at the equator for some explanations about the equator, photographs and snacks but after there you will continue with your journey up to the park.
What to do in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park? Mgahinga National park has several activities you can do while you are in there and are listed below.
Gorilla Trekking. This involves visiting the shy endangered Mountain Gorillas in the mist and share with them while experiencing there ways of living, taking photos and more. To visit these shy endangered Mountain Gorillas you must buy a Gorilla permit which issues you permission and it costs $600 USD per person in the peak season and $450 USD per person in the low season. When you discover these apes in the Jungle you are allowed to stay with them only for one hour.
Batwa Trail Experience. This is where you visit the Batwa people in their local communities and experience their ways of living through participating in their cultural dances, home work like peeling Matoke, fetching firewood and water, playing games and more. This experience costs $80 USD per person.
Golden Monkey Tracking. Golden Monkey tracking in Uganda are found only in Mgahinga National Park and the tracking also is done in the jungle and when discovered you are allowed to stay around for one hour while taking photos ,seeing them playing and more. The permit for Golden Monkey tracking costs $ 50 USD per person.
Volcanoes climbing which involves hiking this volcano up to the top and it costs $80 USD per person.
4. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the south western part of Uganda commonly known for the Tree climbing lions plus other activities done. You will reach Queen by use of Masaka – Mbarara highway and below is the list of activities you can do while in Queen Elizabeth National Park. There is a park entrance fee which is usually paid and it is $40 USD per person.
Game Drive and this is done around the National Park with the aim of sighting different wildlife primates like the mostly known Tree Climbing Lions, Elephants, Giraffe and different bird species in the park. This game drive around the park costs $20 USD per session during day.
Boat Cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park is another activity you should not miss and it’s done along the waters of Kazinga Channel and you will be able to sight different wildlife primates like Hippos, Crocodiles, different bird species and more. This boat cruise along Kazinga Channel costs $30 USD per person.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park which is usually done in the Kyambura gorge and this activity costs $50 USD per person.
- Murchison Falls National Park
This National Park is located in the North western part of Uganda and you can reach it by use of Masindi – Gulu highway where you will have a stopover in Nakasongola for the Rhino tracking in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and after there proceed with your journey up to Murchison. Below is the list of Uganda tours activities you can do while in Murchison Falls National Park.
Game Drive around the park is the first activity you should not miss while in Murchison since it enables you to spot wide range of wildlife primates in the park and it costs $20 USD for day time and $30 USD for night time.
Boat Cruise on the waters of Murchison Falls heading to the bottom of the falls is another interesting activity you should engage in while in Murchison and this boat cruise costs $30 USD per person.
Hiking to Top of Falls. This involves hiking up to the top of the Murchison Falls and this costs $15 USD per person.
There is also Sport fishing per day which usually costs $50 USD per person and also you can do White water rafting on the waters of the falls which cost $30 USD per person.
Bird Watching is the next activity on your bucket list which is mostly good for birders and it’s mostly done either in the morning or evening time.
- Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda. It was gazetted in October 1993 and it sits on 766km2 of land which extends southwards from Fort portal. It has over 60 mammal species present and some of the primates we have in Kibale are Vervets, Red tailed, L’Hoest’s and blue Monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red Colobus, black and white Colobus, olive baboon and Chimpanzee.
To reach Kibale Forest National park you will use Kampala- Mubende- Fort portal highway when you are from Kampala and from Fort portal you will use Kamwenge Road and the park entrance fee is $40 USD per person per 24 hours. Below is a list of activities you will do while in Kibale Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee Tracking. This activity involves visiting these primates in the Jungle and share with them as you experience their ways of living, behaviors and more. You are also allowed to stay in the presence of these primates after discovering them for one hour, the permit for visiting these primates costs $150 USD per person. There are some guidelines or rules you should follow while with these primates and are as follows
- If you have any signs of infectious disease you are not allowed to enter the jungle for these primates.
- Always do not eat in the presence of these primates.
- Keep your voice at low tone while in the forest.
- Do not chase Chimpanzees.
- Keep at least 8 meters from the Chimpanzees.
- Do not use flush cameras when taking photos.
- When you need to urinate or defecate please do so off trail.
Chimpanzee Habituation. This activity involves visiting these primates in the Jungle and stay with them for a full day while experiencing them and sharing with them. The permit for Chimpanzee Habituation costs $220 USD per person.
- Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is also located in the western part of Uganda. This National park sits on 220km2 of land and was gazetted in October 1993. It is situated within the Albertine Rift valley and is bounded to the northwest by the Semliki River which runs along the Congolese border into Lake Albert and to the east by the Fort portal- Bundibugyo road. The park offices at sempaya are signposted on opposite sides of the Semuliki Road roughly 52km from Fort Portal. This National Park is commonly known for the Male and Female Hot Spring. While in Semuliki National Park you can do Nature walks around the park and you will be able to sight different wildlife primates like Bird Species and more. Nature Walks in Semuliki costs $30 USD per person.
- Lake Mburo National Park
This National park is also located in the South Western part of Uganda commonly known for the wide range of wildlife primates. You can reach Lake Mburo National Park by use of Masaka- Mbarara high way. Coming from the west the better approach road branches south at Sanga, 37km east of Mbarara and Coming from Kampala, it’s easier to use the road branching south from the 50km marker for Mbarara about 20km past Lyantonde. The drive from Kampala should take you about four to five hours or more. Some of the wildlife primates in Lake Mburo are Zebras, different bird species and below is the list of activities you can do while in Lake Mburo and the first one is
Game drive which is usually done around the park in search of different wildlife primates like bird species, Zebras and more. Day game drive costs $20 USD and a night game drive costs $30 USD.
Nature Walk is another activity you can do while in Lake Mburo National Park and it costs about $ 30 USD plus a boat ride on Lake Mburo which costs $15 USD per person.
- Mountain Elgon National Park
This National Park is located in the Eastern Part of Uganda and reaching there most likely you will use the Kampala – Jinja high way and along the way you will reach Mabira Forest and experience its geographical nature and after there continue with the journey up to Jinja, from Jinja drive up to Mbale town and from there you will drive up to the park. The only activity done in Mountain Elgon National Park is the Mountain Hiking and it costs $75 USD per person.
- Mountain Rwenzori National Park
This National Park is located in the South Western part of Uganda near Semuliki National Park and you can reach it by use of Kampala – Fort Portal highway and also the only activity done there is Mountain Hiking, nature walk trail at Mutoma trail, bird watching adventures along the slopes of the mountain and enjoying the cultural tours to the nearby local communities in the park.
