Uganda National Parks are diverse and make wildlife safari adventures to Uganda once in a lifetime. Uganda has 10 National Parks and a number of reserves each offering a unique wildlife experience. Of all the National Parks, the primate parks are a bit iconic because of the primate species that live there. Kibale National Park located in western Uganda is home to chimpanzees. With Over 98% DNA similar to humans, chimpanzees are man’s closest primates and Uganda’s Kibale National Park is the best place to see them.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is another outstanding protected area in Uganda. It is home to mountain gorillas and other wildlife species. It is from this diversity that the park was listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Bwindi is home to half of the remaining mountain gorilla population making it the best gorilla trekking destination on the planet.

Mgahinga Gorilla Park is another important National Park in Uganda. It is also famous for mountain gorillas and has one habituated gorilla family. Gorilla trekking experiences in Mgahinga are more enjoyable and exclusive. The park is also home to golden monkeys are rare primate species endemic to the Virunga Mountains. For ultimate Uganda gorilla trekking safaris then Bwindi and Mgahinga got you covered.

There are also various savanna National Parks in Uganda with Kidepo Valley National Park topping the list. The park is located in Karamoja and is home to big cats including lions, leopards cheetahs, and other safari animals. Uganda safari experiences in Kidepo are true African wilderness experiences. Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Mount Elgon, and Mount Rwenzori are other notable national parks in Uganda. The 10-Day Uganda Discovery Journeys Adventures features 3 savanna and 2 primates national parks and is highly recommended to explore Uganda.

Kidepo National Park Uganda

Kidepo Valley National Park

This is Uganda’s most isolated national park located in the North Eastern Part of Kaboong District. Kidepo Valley National Park is among the most iconic, diverse, and magnificent national parks in Uganda. It covers a land area of 1442 square kilometers that’s home to a variety of wildlife species. The park is home to over 77 mammal species including 4 of the big five often spotted on game drives.

Kidepo is a true definition of the less traveled paths and offers exclusive wildlife safari experiences. The park is neighbored by the Karamojong and IK community, some of the few tribes in Uganda that have retained their cultural values. These offer by far some of the best cultural experiences as you get to know about their ways of life.

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Activities

Game drives

Games drives in Kidepo Valley National Park are often done in the Narus Valley which has the highest wildlife concentration. Notable wildlife to see here include zebras, elephants, buffaloes, lions, giraffes, waterbucks, a number of birds and antelope species.

Kidepo Valley National Park has one of the highest concentrations of buffaloes whose number is estimated at about 15,000 buffaloes. The Kidepo Valley is also a good area for game drives offering great scenic views of the mountains in the background. Game drives are best enjoyed early morning to catch up with early risers, especially the predators. Evening game drives are very rewarding as well giving you an opportunity to enjoy the great views of the African sunset.

The park is second of the two places in Uganda with Cheetahs, the world’s fastest land animal. Leopards are present at the park though occasionally seen since they are solitary animals.

Nature Walks

A guided nature walk is another amazing activity in Kidepo Valley National Park. This brings you closer to wildlife as you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Here you will get a chance to see major grazers as well as some bird species.

Nature walks are best done in the morning and in the evening for more chances of wildlife viewing.

Mountain Hiking

The park offers mountain hiking adventure opportunities around Mount Morungole. Here you get to enjoy uninterrupted views of the endless plains of Kidepo as well as a few wildlife encountered on the hike.

Cultural Visits

Kidepo Valley National Park has one of Uganda’s most authentic tribes the Ik and Karamojong. These are some of the few Ugandan people who have stuck to traditional cultural practices despite modernization.

A visit to these communities enables you to learn more about the people’s ways of life and their vibrant culture. They often tell folk stories and do cultural dances to entertain the Visitors.

 

Accommodation

Kidepo Valley National Park has a variety of accommodation options ranging from Budget to high-end. There is an open ground at Apoka where you can camp or stay at the Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas and cottages.

Apoka safari lodge is the only high-end option strategically located in the middle of the park. You stay your game drives right from here and sometimes the lodge receives wild visitors like lions with majors seen at the comfort of your cottage or lodge lounge.

Adere Safari Lodge and Kidepo Savanna Lodge are some of the deluxe/mid-range options in the park. They are very affordable and located right outside the park gate also offering great views of the park.

Best time to Visit

The dry season from June to September and mid-December to Early March is the best time to Visit the park. Being in a semi-arid area, the Narus Valley is the only place that has water even in the dry season as major seasonal rivers dry out. The dry river beds can easily be crossed during the dry season.

Safari experiences are possible during the wet season as well but can be interrupted by the rains and occasional flooding. The rains sometimes temporarily cut off some areas especially when the dry river beds that are crossed by vehicles fill up.

Getting To Kidepo Valley national park

The park can be accessed by road and air transport. Since it is the most isolated national park in Uganda, It takes a 9 to 10-hour drive to get there if coming from Kampala Uganda’s capital city. The drive is however through the beautiful Ugandan countryside which is quite a sight to see.

In case you don’t have a long drive then you directly fly to the Park’s Pakuba airstrip located in the centre of the park. There are scheduled flights from Entebbe organized by domestic flight operators like Aerolink. Plan your Kidepo Safari today and embark on your ultimate African Safari adventure! 

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park  Popularly known as the primate capital of the world, Kibale National Park is located in Western Uganda.

The park is among Uganda’s beautiful wild places right at the foothills of the great Rwenzori region. With a total land area of 766 square Kilometers, Kibale Forest National Park protects one of East Africa’s moist evergreen rainforests.

The area has diverse landscapes favoring various wildlife species including both montane and lowland forests.

It is home to 13 primate species including the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and Ugandan mangabey among others.

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Activities To do in Kibale National Park 

Kibale Forest National Park is also home to over 325 bird species and mammals including elephants, bushbucks, duikers, and forest hogs among others. There are also predators in the forest including leopards and serval cats among others.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Kibale National Park has the highest chimpanzee population in East and Central Africa making it the ultimate chimpanzee trekking destination. Chimpanzees live in groups/families of up to 20 or 30 individuals. There are a number of habituated chimpanzee families in Kibale National Park that are open to tourist visitation.

The chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing at the park headquarters about the regulations to follow while in the forest. From here you are led to the forest as you enjoy the sounds of nature as well as spotting other wildlife like birds. The hike to the chimpanzees takes 2 to 3 hours and once you get to the chimps stay in their presence observing, taking photographs, and getting to know more about them. Return by mid-day and be taken to your lodge for a rest or proceed to your next destination. Chimpanzee Habituation experience. This experience gives you 4 hours in the presence of the chimpanzees. Unlike the normal chimpanzee trekking,

Chimpanzee Habituation Experience

The chimpanzee habituation experience is an all-day learning experience that starts in the morning following their daily routine. This will give you an insight into the day’s activities of a chimpanzee in the wild. You will closely observe the researchers and participate in the habituation or grooming process.

This experience not only gives you more time with chimpanzees but also an opportunity to see other wildlife species in the park, especially birds and other primates. For the ultimate time with chimpanzees, the habituation experience is what we would highly recommend.

Other Wildlife Activities

Other optional wildlife activities in Kibale National Park include night nature walks, guided day nature walks, birding excursions, other primate trekking, and community visits.
Night nature walks enable you to explore the nocturnal wildlife with high chances of spotting the NightJar, and bushbaby owls among others.

Birding excursions in the park are also very rewarding as it is home to over 320 bird species. Notable birds here include the ground thrush, great blue Turaco, black bee-eater, and the yellow-spotted nicator. Right outside the park is the Bigodi wetland, another great birding sanctuary that supplements birding safaris in Kibale National Park.

Apart from chimpanzees, you can trek to see other primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and l’hoest monkeys among others.

Getting To Kibale National Park 

Kibale National Park can be accessed by road transport in a 6 to 7-hour drive from Kampala Uganda’s Capital city. The drive features en-route stopovers at various places of interest for photography and sightseeing. The tea plantations in Kyenjojo are very magnificent and one can enjoy a tea plantation experience.

If coming from Queen Elizabeth National Park it would only take a 3-hour drive to Kibale National Park. The drive is often via the craters of Ndali and Kasenda some of the most iconic crater lakes in Uganda. Those traveling from Murchison Falls National Park can reach the park in a 7 to 8-hour drive. The Murchison Falls to Kibale NP drive is also very adventurous offering great views of Lake Albert and the Great Rift Valley.

There is an option of flying to Kasese airstrip which is about a 1.5-hour drive to Kibale National Park. This serves better for those with a tight itinerary who would like to maximize their time in the park.

Accommodation in Kibale National Park

There are a number of accommodation options near the park ranging from budget to high-end luxury facilities. Many of these are in the park’s premises making it easy to access the park for wildlife safari activities. Some of the Lodges include Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Turaco Treetops, Chimpundu Lodge, Kyaninga Lodge, and Crater Safari Lodge among others.

Mountain Gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Discovery Journeys

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in the southwestern part is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Uganda. The park covers a land area of 321 square Kilometers comprising Lowland and montane forests. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to over 340 birds, 12O mammal species, about 220 butterfly species as well as over 160 tree species

Mountain gorillas are the leading wildlife attractions in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These are some of the most endangered primate species living in the forested mountains of East and Central Africa. They live in groups/families that are headed by a dominant male gorilla called Silverback. With about 95% DNA similar to humans, mountain gorillas are among Man’s closest relatives.

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Activities To do in Bwindi National park

Mountain gorilla Trekking This is one of the most rewarding primate trekking activities. It starts with a briefing at the park headquarters at 7:00 a.m. about the safety guidelines to follow while in the forest. From here you are led to the forested mountains enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.

The mountain gorilla trekking takes 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Once you get to them you will be allowed to stay in their presence for an hour taking photographs and getting to know more about them. After here you will be led back to the park for your certificates of participation.

Other major activities to do in Bwindi include birding, guided nature walks, and community visits.

Accommodation in Bwindi National park

All the sectors of Bwindi impenetrable national park have various accommodation options ranging from Budget to high-end luxury. In Buhoma, you can stay at Mahogany Springs Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Bwindi Lodge, Ride4AWoman, and Gorilla Forest Camp among others. If you are to track mountain gorillas in Ruhija you can stay at Bakiga Lodge, Agandi Uganda Lodge, and Tracker’s Tavern Lodge.

In the southern sector of Rushaga, you can stay at Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ichumbi Lodge, Rushaga Camp, and Gorilla Valley Lodge among others. While trekking Nkurungo you can stay at Gorilla Heights Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Bwindi Lodge, or Clouds Gorilla Lodge. All these lodges are within the park’s proximity and are the best options to consider for your stay.

Getting To Bwindi National park

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be accessed by both road and air transport. If coming directly from Kampala or Entebbe it can take a 9 to 10 hours drive depending on the sector of Bwindi you are heading to. This drive is long but also adventurous and one can have stopovers at the Equator and other places of interest.

If coming from Queen Elizabeth or Lake Mburo National Park it would take a 4 to 5 hours drive. This would also depend on the sector of Bwindi you are going to.

For those traveling from Kigali, it takes a 4 to 5 hours drive to get to Bwindi impenetrable national park.

There are 2 major airstrips serving the national park and those who would not like the drives can opt to fly. Kihihi airstrip is situated about 45 minutes drive to Buhoma and about 1 hour 30 minutes to Ruhija. The Southern sector is served by Kisoro airstrip and from here it could take an hour and a few minutes to get to the lodge.