Uganda offers some of the most incredible safari experiences in East Africa since it has diverse landscapes, rich wildlife and unique adventures. If you are planning to go on a safari in Uganda, here are some of the top 10 places to visit for an unforgettable experience.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary proudly harbors Uganda’s wild endangered rhinos and it is situated in Nakasongola District near Nakitoma Village. Ziwa is the only place where you can trek rhinos on foot and it is really great and exciting as you watch the white rhinoceros. This place has a tight 24-hour security. Apart from rhinos, Ziwa is also home to a number of bird species, reptiles and about 40 mammal species including antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, monkeys among others.
Rhino trekking experience is an awesomely unique activity which grants you a chance to see rhinos on foot. This experience involves watching rhinos up close and at a safer distance. With the guidance of skilled ranger guides, you can get closer to them about 6 to 7m and you can take as many photos as you want and observe these endangered rhinos feed in their habitat. The entrance fee at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is USD50 and this includes the rhino trekking experience. Apart from rhino trekking, you can also enjoy other experiences such as birding, nature walks among others before you leave the sanctuary. For those who are interested in spending a night within the sanctuary, you can book with Amuka safari lodge for a luxury treatment.
Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park sits on the shore of Lake Albert in northwest Uganda. It is known for Murchison Falls where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop. The park’s wildlife includes elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, hippos, crocodiles, Uganda Kobs, Rothschild giraffes among other animals and there are also chimpanzees in the Kaniyo Pabidi mahogany forest. Murchison habitats about 451 bird species including 23 Albertine rift endemics.
In Murchison, there are so many safaris experiences you can enjoy in Murchison Falls National Park such as a boat cruise along the Victoria Nile to spot hippos and crocodiles, game drives to spot a variety of wildlife species.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley. Bwindi is habitat to more than half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas.
Bwindi is a home to at least 200 butterfly species including the eight Albertine rift endemics and also a home to many reptiles.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park provides shelter to a further 120 mammals including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. The safari experience enjoyed in Bwindi is gorilla trekking where visitors meet these giants in their natural habitat. Other experiences include Batwa cultural experience, nature walks, birding among others.
Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular savanna park in Uganda and the best place to see lions including the tree climbing lions making it the perfect destination for a Uganda wildlife safari. It prides in a great diversity of habitats that include lakes, savannah grasslands, forests and wetlands that serve as home to the biggest variety of large mammals in the country.
The park is home to 618 bird species which is the 6th highest diversity in the world and the highest in Africa making it a perfect destination for Uganda Birding Safaris. The park also houses about 10 primate species like chimpanzees and about 95 mammals including big game animals. These big animals can only be spotted while on a game drive in the wilderness. You can also enjoy a boat cruise experience along the Kazinga Channel.
Kibale National Park. It is located in Kabarole District in western Uganda a land blessed with a strong cultural heritage. The park is nearest to Fort Portal town which is the biggest town.
Kibale National Park is a home to about 70 mammals including buffaloes, elephants, the forest hogs, warthogs, bush pigs, the blue and red duiker, peter duiker, bushbucks, the rare sitatunga among others and about 375 species. Kibale National Park is best known for harboring chimpanzees and the main activity done in this park is Chimpanzee trekking experience where visitors meet these primates in natural habitat and watch them as they carry out their day-to-day daily activities such as breastfeeding the young ones, feeding, playing and so many activities.
Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo National Park is the Uganda’s smallest national park and is the closet park to both Kampala and Entebbe. Lake Mburo National Park is well known for the impalas though it has vast population of wildlife ranging from zebras, elands, buffaloes, oribi, deffasa, waterbucks, leopards, hyenas, hippos, reedbucks among others. The park offers a lot of animals for travelers to enjoy their safaris. The park has different bird species including the shoebills, the African finfoot, Papyrus gonolek, Grey crowned crane, African fish eagle, Yellow-rumped tinker bird among others.
The main experience enjoyed in Lake Mburo National Park is wildlife viewing. You can see wildlife on game drives, boat cruises and nature walks. Other activities experienced on your safari to Lake Mburo National Park include; Bird watching, Fishing, Cycling, Cultural tours (learn about the local culture, including how the Bahima raise their Ankole cattle) among other activities.
Semliki National Park. Semliki National Park is found in western Uganda in Bundibugyo District which lies on Uganda’s border with DR Congo. The park is bordered by Lake Albert in the northern side and the Rwenzori Mountains on the south Eastern side.
Semliki National Park lies on relatively flat land making it prone to flooding when the park rivers (Lamia and Semliki) receive too much rain during the wet season. This park begun as a forest reserve in 1932 and was made a national park in 1993 mainly to curb deforestation.
Semliki is also well known as one of the top birding destinations in Uganda. The park has over 410 species of birds. About 67 percent of the species are forest birds like the Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Capuchin Babbler, Dwarf Honey guide, Forest Ground Thrush, orange weaver, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Sassi’s Olive Greenbul, White-tailed Hornbill among others.
There are about 60 species of mammals in the park among which include the bay duiker, Beecroft’s Anomalure, flying squirrels, bush babies, bush pigs, civets, Dwarf Antelope, elephants, fruit bats, Fire-footed Rope squirrel, forest buffalos, pygmy hippos, leopards, Little collard fruit Bat, mona monkeys, pygmy flying squirrel, Red-legged Sun Squirrel, Sitatunga, target rats, water chevrotains, water bucks, warthogs, Uganda Kob among others and all these can be spotted while on a game drive experience.
One of the main attractions that have made Semliki National Park famous are the Sempaya Hot Springs. The water gushing out from these springs is hot enough to boil eggs in few minutes.
Kidepo Valley National Park. Kidepo valley national park is famously known and commonly visited because it is considered as a birders paradise as it is ranked among the best birding safari areas in the country. This national park is a home to over 450 bird species and a dozen of 50 birds of prey species, which are found in the Karamoja region.
The park is a home to a dozen of antelope species including Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, eland, Uganda Kob and klipspringer. Other animal species found in this park include; lions, leopard, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, bat-eared foxes, black-backed jackals and side-striped jackals. The main safari experience carried out in park is game viewing. Viewing herds of different animals while driving in vehicles on dirt roads that crisscross the southern and western parts of the park is such an incredible moment you will never forget in your life.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Mgahinga gorilla national park is one of the destinations in Africa that harbor the endangered mountain gorillas. The main safari experiences enjoyed in this park are gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking. These two activities give visitors a chance of spending about 1 hour in the forest (natural habitat) observing gorillas’ and golden monkeys’ characters.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The park is known as the “Mountains of the Moon”. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers challenging trekking experiences through snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and alpine meadows, as well as unique flora and fauna.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is well known for offering adventurous experiences such as mountain climbing (the most popular activity in the park with routes like the central circuit trail, Kilembe trail and bukurungu wilderness camping trail), hiking on the mountain slopes and forest, wildlife viewing, birding experience, camping among others.
All the above places offer a diverse mix of experiences from mountain gorillas trekking to scenic game drives and provide a true adventure for anyone interested in Uganda’s wildlife and natural beauty.
