National Parks in Uganda
Uganda national parks are a top destination for adventure travel holidays in Uganda and there are a ton to choose from.
A country of huge diversity, there are currently 10 national parks in Uganda and 11 wildlife reserves spanning savannah, forest and waterways across various parts of the country. So, whether you are hoping to travel to the west or to the east, there are more than enough opportunities to enjoy a wildlife experience through some of Africa’s most magnificent parks.
These national parks harbour a wide range of species of mammals and birds, and each have their own unique and memorable experiences ranging from gorilla trekking, mountain trekking, bird watching, big game viewing and fishing. Travelling to Uganda’s national parks with expert adventure travel operators, like Kandoo, gives visitors an opportunity to encounter the best of Uganda wildlife and experience truly remote landscapes off the beaten track.
In this guide we’ll bring you information regarding the uniqueness of each of the national parks in Uganda. Find everything you need to know about where to explore, what to do and even the wildlife to see in all 10 Uganda national parks.
Here is the full list of all the national parks in Uganda.
National Parks in Uganda
1. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
2. Rwenzori Mountains National Park
3. Kidepo Valley National Park
4. Murchison Falls National Park
5. Mount Elgon National Park
6. Queen Elizabeth National Park
7. Kibale National Park
8. Lake Mburo National Park
9. Semuliki National Park
10. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Location: southwest Uganda
Land area: 318km²
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda on the rim of the Rift Valley. Known for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite its small land area, this biologically varied region offers shelter to 120 mammal species, 350 bird species and about 324 species of trees.
Most significantly, the lush, verdant landscapes of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park are one of the last remaining habitats of endangered mountain gorillas, making it a top choice for gorilla trekking in Uganda. The dense, mist covered forests provide a unique backdrop for trekking, and the park offers various trails for encountering these magnificent creatures. The best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are in the dry season from December to February or from early June to August. At Kandoo, we run gorilla trekking trips every month throughout these dry seasons.
By road, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is just a 2-3 hour drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park. Alternatively, the park can be accessed from Kampala through Mbarara which takes about 6-8 hours. You will find a range of accommodation here including budget, midrange and luxury lodges, ensuring a comfortable stay in this incredible destination.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Location: west Uganda
Land area: 996km²
Located in western Uganda, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 1,000km² and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori Mountain chain. The region’s glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa’s most beautiful alpine areas and the park has many natural habitats for endangered species as well as a rich and unusual flora.
For trekkers looking for mountainous hikes close to the equator, the Rwenzori Mountains are a huge pull. Better known to many as ‘the Mountains of the Moon’ the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda boast six of the highest mountains in Africa which includes Africa’s third highest peak, Mount Stanley, after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. The best time to visit the Rwenzori Mountains for trekking is from June to August and from December to February, otherwise it can be visited all year round. Aside from trekking in the Rwenzori Mountains, the national park is home to a diverse range of wildlife including chimpanzees and white colobus monkeys.
From Kampala, it is a 6-8 hour drive to the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Location: north Uganda
Land area: 1,442km²
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with South Sudan in the northwest and only 5km from the eastern border of Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Kidepo is the most isolated of all Uganda national parks, but the few who make the long journey north through the region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent.
The park contains two rivers, Kidepo River and Narus River, which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife During the dry season, the only permanent water in the park is found in wetlands and remnant pools in the broad Narus Valley near Apoka. These seasonal oases, combined with the open, savannah terrain, make the Narus Valley the park’s prime game viewing location especially with its dense populations of lion, buffalo, elephant, cheetah and ostrich.
Murchison Falls National Park
Location: west Uganda
Land area: 3,900km²
Murchison Falls National Park lies at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the sweeping Bunyoro kingdom tumbles into vast, palm-dotted savanna. It is located 305km north of Kampala in Masindi District and can be accessed by road. First gazetted as a game reserve in 1926 and a national park in 1952, it is the largest and oldest conservation area of all the Uganda national parks. Some of the activities that you won’t want to miss on your safari to the park include game drives, boat cruises and bird watching.
The park is bisected by the Victoria Nile, which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall into the “Devil’s Cauldron”, creating the dramatic Murchison Falls, the main attraction of the park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids. This stretch of river provides one of Uganda’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Regular visitors to the riverbanks include elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes; while hippos, Nile crocodiles, and aquatic birds are permanent residents. The park is also home to over 144 mammal species, 556 bird species, 51 reptile species and 51 amphibian species, notably the elusive shoe-billed stork.
As well as embarking on a wildlife safari in Murchison Falls National Park, one of our top 10 places to visit in Uganda is the Ziwa Rhino Santuary, located in the Nakasongola district which is halfway between Kampala and Murchison Falls National Park. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the proud home of the only white rhinos in Uganda, allowing you to experience the majesty of these creatures up close with a rhino-trek. Ziwa is also home to almost 40 other mammal species, including crocodiles, hippos, leopards, oribis, bushbuck and approximately 300 species of bird.
Mount Elgon National Park
Location: east Uganda
Land area: 1,279km²
Situated roughly 140km to the northeast of Lake Victoria, Mount Elgon National Park is one of the 10 Uganda national parks. The borders of Kenya and Uganda divide it, with the Uganda side of the park covering 1,110km² while the Kenyan part covers almost 169km². Most notably the park is home to one of Uganda’s oldest physical features, Mount Elgon. This extinct volcano was once Africa’s highest mountain, far exceeding Mount Kilimanjaro which stands at 5,895m. Millenia of erosion have reduced its height to 4,321m, relegating it to the 8th highest peak on the continent.
Mount Elgon National Park has a number of large caves that can be explored by visitors but one of the more fascinating aspects of the caves is the elephant, and buffalo, that walk to the caves at night to lick the salt from the walls. They do this as a nutritional supplement. Besides the elephants and buffalo found on the lower slopes, the park is also home to a number of small antelope and monkeys including the black-and-white colobus and blue monkey. The area is also home to over 300 species of birds, including the endangered lammergeyer.
In addition to the wildlife of Mount Elgon National Park, visitors can explore the forest and enjoy hiking and biking. The hidden gem that is Sipi Falls, which features in our blog on the best places to visit in Uganda, is also located on the foothills of Mount Elgon so it’s well worth visiting both together. Again, the best time to visit this Uganda national park is during the dry season, from June to September and December to February.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Location: southwest Uganda
Land area: 1,978km²
Located in the southwest, about 400km from Kampala, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s second largest and most popular conservation area, having over 1,978km² land area. Spread across the Albertine Rift Valley, the park prides itself in a great diversity of habitats including savanna, acacia woodlands, tropical forests, grasslands, fertile wetlands and lakes within its borders, providing a haven to over 600 bird species, 95 mammals and 10 species of primates.
Two of the park’s unique wildlife experiences are chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge and sighting the unusual tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Other attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park include boat rides along the Kazinga channel, wildlife safaris in the Kasenyi plains and cultural excursions to the Lake Katwe salt works to observe the traditional method of salt mining. These activities can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time to visit is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August and September or December, January and February.
The park can be accessed by road from Kampala or Entebbe through Masaka-Mbarara road or Mubende-Fort Portal Road which takes about 7-8hours drive. There are also a number of accommodation facilities where you can stay during your Uganda safari here including budget, midrange and luxury options. With Kandoo, we visit Queen Elizabeth National Park on both our Mount Stanley and safari trip and gorilla trekking in Uganda trip and house our guests in comfortable safari lodges for the duration of our stay in the park.
Kibale National Park
Location: west Uganda
Land area: 795km²
Located in the western part of Uganda about 348km from Kampala and about 26km southeast of the beautiful Fort Portal town, Kibale National Park is a fantastic place to explore. Kibale’s varied vegetation offers different varieties of wildlife habitat, ranging from the moist evergreen forest along the Fort Portal plateau, then through the dry tropical forest, and then to the woodland and savanna along the rift valley floor. With 13 different species, the number and diversity of primates in Kibale National Park is the highest in the whole of Africa.
Other wildlife in Kibale National Park consist of buffaloes, leopards, bush pigs, elephants and duikers. You may also be able to spot some amphibians, reptiles and a variety of colourful butterflies. Beside wildlife spotting in Kibale National Park, hiking tours offer you a great opportunity to discover the park’s habitats.
Although Kibale National Park is accessible throughout the year, the best time to visit the park is during the dry season when the trails are dry and passable. This runs from December to February and then from June to September.
Lake Mburo National Park
Location: west Uganda
Land area: 260km²
Lake Mburo National Park is conveniently located close to the highway that connects Kampala to the five parks in western Uganda. The 260km² Uganda national park is an increasingly common stopover on the safari circuit for visitors travelling to western Uganda or for travellers who wish to do a one-day tour from Kampala. This is because the park is just 253km from Kampala, so it can be easily accessed to carry out different safari activities.
Lake Mburo is underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks, and sculptured landscapes with rolling hills that date back more than 500 million years. It contains an extensive wetland area that harbours several species of mammals and birds, found nowhere else in Uganda. You can do a number of activities in the park depending on your interests ranging from trekking, game drives, horse riding, boat cruises, bird watching and fishing.
Although Lake Mburo National Park can be visited anytime throughout the year, the best time to visit is during the dry seasons from June to August and from December to February when animals gather around rivers and waterholes.
Semuliki National Park
Location: west Uganda
Square Kilometres: 220km²
The Semuliki National Park was gazetted in October 1993 making it one of Uganda’s newest national parks. The park is found in western Uganda in the district of Bundibugyo which lies on Uganda’s border with Democratic Republic of Congo, and it is bordered by Lake Albert in the northern side and the Rwenzori Mountains on the southeastern side. It occupies around 220km², including a lowland tropical forest and savanna grassland, much of which is prone to flooding during the wet season.
Semuliki National Park is home to 441 known bird species and is well known as a top birding destination in Uganda. About 67% of the species are forest birds like the blue-headed crested flycatcher, capuchin babbler, dwarf honeyguide, orange weaver, purple breasted sunbird and white-tailed hornbill. As well as bird species, there are over 60 species of mammal in the park among which include the bay duiker, flying squirrels, bush babies, bush pigs, dwarf antelope, forest buffalos, pygmy hippos, leopard and more.
Visitors can take in this incredible biodiversity during birdwatching and game viewing drives, guided boat tours on the Semliki river or while hiking the 13 km Kirumia Trail. You’ll also want to check out the well-known hot springs, such as Sempaya Hot Springs and the Mumbuga spring geyser.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Location: southwest Uganda
Land area: 33.7km²
Located in the southwestern region of Uganda in the Kisoro district bordering with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest national park of Uganda. The area, which covers a total area of 33.7km², was gazetted a national park in 1991 mainly to protect the endangered mountain gorillas which reside here. Among the top things to do, gorilla trekking, mountain climbing and bird watching are the most popular activities carried out here.
Mgahinga National Park is one of the few national parks in the world that harbour mountain gorillas, the rest being in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to the mountain gorillas, Mgahinga National Park is home to about 29 mammal species including golden monkeys, buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, duikers, giant forest hogs and about 115 bird species. The park is also home to unique features like Mount Sabinyo and Mount Muhavura, situated in the Virunga Mountains.
Although Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be visited all year round, the best time to visit is during the dry season months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During these dry seasons there is less rainfall in the park therefore access roads, hiking and gorilla trekking trails will be passable compared to the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery which make trekking difficult.
How Do You Obtain Permits for Uganda’s National Parks
Unlike other countries, Uganda requires visitors to national parks to have an armed guide with them to protect visitors from wildlife and to discourage poaching. All national parks of Uganda are served by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) who manage visitor numbers, patrol borders, carry out important conservation and protect people within the park boundaries.
To access any of these parks you have to pay the UWA park fees which you can buy on arrival at the park entrance gate. Payments are by credit card only, but we recommend bringing some cash money (US Dollars or Ugandan shillings) in case the reservation system of the UWA is down. The UWA Conservation Tariffs from 2022 to 2024 are listed below:
Murchison Falls National Park
- USD 45 for non-residents
- USD 35 for foreign residents
- UGX 25,000 for East African Citizens (in case you go with a driver, that is the rate you'll pay for him)
- Children aged 0-5 can enter free of charge. 5-15 years is USD 25 for non-residents.
Kidepo Valley, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale Forest, Lake Mburo
- USD 40 for non-residents
- USD 30 for foreign residents
- UGX 20,000 for East African Citizens
- Children aged 0-5 can enter free of charge. 5-15 years is USD 20 for non-residents.
Mount Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, Semuliki
- USD 35 for non-residents
- USD 25 for foreign residents
- UGX 15,000 for East African Citizens
- Children aged 0-5 can enter free of charge. 5-15 years is USD 5 for non-residents.
Please note when travelling to Uganda with Kandoo, all national park fees are included in the cost of your trip.
Trek in Uganda with Kandoo Adventures
Kandoo Adventures operate trekking trips to both Mount
Stanley and Mount Elgon as well as gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest National Park. Our trips are run by expert guides and take in some of
the most iconic national parks of Uganda. For a trekking experience like no
other, treading off the beaten track and exploring a unique area that is lesser
known to the wider world, check out our Uganda trips or get in touch with our helpful
team to discuss our trips to Uganda today.