Uganda National Parks
Uganda National Parks
Uganda has 10 national parks, each protecting a different combination of wildlife, forest, mountains, wetlands and savannah. From mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga to chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, classic wildlife safaris in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth, and remote wilderness in Kidepo Valley, Uganda’s national parks cover an unusually wide range of safari experiences for one country.
This guide covers all 10 Uganda national parks, their locations, key attractions, main activities, and what each park is best suited for, so you can work out which ones fit your itinerary.
Uganda National Parks at a Glance
| National Park | Location & Ecosystem | Key Wildlife & Highlights | Main Activities | Airstrip & Permit Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bwindi Impenetrable | Southwestern Uganda Montane Rainforest |
Mountain Gorillas, Endemic Birds | Gorilla trekking, habituation, forest walks | Kihihi / Kisoro Gorilla Permit ($800 USD) |
| Murchison Falls | Northwestern Uganda Savanna, Riverine Forest |
Big Four, Giraffes, Nile Crocs, Waterfall | Game drives, boat cruises, hiking | Pakuba / Chobe Daily Park Entry Fee |
| Queen Elizabeth | Western Uganda Rift Valley Savanna |
Tree-Climbing Lions, Hippos | Game drives, boat cruises, chimp tracking | Kasese / Mweya Daily Park Entry Fee |
| Kibale Forest | Western Uganda Equatorial Rainforest |
Chimpanzees, 13 Primate Species | Chimp tracking, primate walks, birding | Kasese Airstrip Chimp Permit ($250 USD) |
| Kidepo Valley | Northeastern Uganda Semi-Arid Savanna |
Cheetahs, Lions, Massive Buffalos | Game drives, nature walks, cultural visits | Kidepo Airstrip Daily Park Entry Fee |
| Mgahinga Gorilla | Southwestern Uganda Virunga Volcanic Slopes |
Gorillas, Golden Monkeys, Volcanoes | Gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, hiking | Kisoro (KXO) Gorilla / Golden Monkey Permit |
| Lake Mburo | Western Uganda Acacia Savanna & Lakes |
Zebra, Impala, Eland | Game drives, boat trips, walking, horseback riding | Mbarara / Private Daily Park Entry Fee |
| Semuliki | Western Uganda Albertine Rift Valley Floor |
Hot Springs & Central African Birdlife | Birding, nature walks, hot springs | Kasese Airstrip Daily Park Entry Fee |
| Mount Elgon | Eastern Uganda Montane Forest & Moorland |
Mountain Landscapes & Caves | Hiking, birding, cultural visits | Soroti / Mbale Access UWA Hiking Permit |
| Rwenzori Mountains | Western Uganda Glacial Alpine Zone |
Snow-Capped Peaks & Unique Flora | Hiking, mountaineering, nature walks | Kasese Airstrip Trekking & Conservation Fees |
1. Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls is Uganda’s largest national park, covering roughly 3,840 square kilometres in the northwest, where the Victoria Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge to form the falls that give the park its name. It’s part of the wider Murchison Falls Conservation Area, together with the adjoining Bugungu and Karuma wildlife reserves, and holds around 76 mammal species and more than 450 recorded bird species. Best for: wildlife safaris, boat cruises along the Nile, birding, and first-time Uganda itineraries.
2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi is one of Uganda’s most important gorilla-trekking destinations. Located in the southwest and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this ancient rainforest protects around half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas alongside a rich mix of other forest species. Gorilla trekking is the park’s flagship experience, with gorilla habituation, birding, forest walks, and Batwa cultural experiences filling out the rest of a visit. Best for: gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, forest birding, and cultural experiences.
3. Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located to the west of Uganda, in the regions of Kasese, Kamwenge, Bushenyi, and Rukungiri. This is one of the most diversified savanna parks in Uganda, which is famed for the Ishasha area tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga channel, among others. Best for: varied wildlife, boat safaris, and chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge.
4. Kidepo Valley National Park
Gazetted in 1962 in the remote Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda, Kidepo Valley covers about 1,442 square kilometres of rugged, sweeping wilderness. Its remote setting is a major part of the appeal: wide-open savannah, mountains, and wildlife encounters that feel considerably more secluded than Uganda’s southern safari circuit. Best for: remote safaris, longer itineraries, and fly-in trips.
5. Kibale National Park
Kibale, spanning four districts in western Uganda, is Uganda’s premier chimpanzee-trekking destination and supports a remarkable diversity of primates. Alongside chimp tracking and habituation experiences, the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary adds strong birding and nature-walk options. Kibale combines naturally with Queen Elizabeth for travellers who want primates and savannah wildlife in one loop. Best for: chimpanzee trekking and primate-focused itineraries.
6. Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo, in the Kiruhura district in western Uganda, is one of the most accessible parks in the country and a popular stop between Kampala and the southwestern parks. Its open savannah, wetlands, and lakes support zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, giraffe, and abundant birdlife. Unlike most Ugandan parks, Lake Mburo also offers walking and horseback safaris. Best for: short stopovers, walking safaris, and horseback wildlife viewing.
7. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Uganda’s smallest national park, at around 33.7 square kilometres, Mgahinga sits in the far southwest and protects part of the Virunga volcanic range. It offers gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and hikes up the volcanoes themselves, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabyinyo. Best for: gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and volcano hiking.
8. Semuliki National Park
Semuliki, in Bundibugyo district in western Uganda, is a lowland tropical forest with a strong Central African character, and the park is an important birding destination in Uganda. Sempaya Hot Springs is the park’s signature attraction, alongside forest walks, chimpanzees, and cultural visits to local communities. One of the best birding destinations: birding and a change of scenery from Uganda’s more mountainous parks.
9. Mount Elgon National Park
Located in eastern Uganda on the border with Kenya, Mount Elgon is built around an extinct volcano with one of the world’s largest calderas. The park offers multi-day hiking, caves, the nearby Sipi Falls, birding, and cultural experiences in the surrounding coffee-growing communities. Best for: hiking and a quieter alternative to the Rwenzori for trekkers.
10. Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Rwenzori Mountains, in southwestern Uganda, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for their snow-capped peaks, a rarity this close to the equator. Covering roughly 1,000 square kilometres, the park is built for serious, multi-day mountain trekking toward Margherita Peak, through Afro-alpine vegetation and high-altitude landscapes around the mountain’s glaciated peaks. Best for: high-altitude trekking and mountaineering.
Which Uganda National Park Should You Visit?
| If you want to… | Consider |
|---|---|
| See mountain gorillas. | Bwindi or Mgahinga |
| Track chimpanzees. | Kibale |
| See tree-climbing lions. | Queen Elizabeth |
| See a dramatic waterfall. | Murchison Falls |
| Experience remote wilderness. | Kidepo Valley |
| Combine safari with walking. | Lake Mburo |
| See golden monkeys | Mgahinga |
| Go mountain trekking. | Rwenzori or Mount Elgon |
| Visit hot springs. | Semuliki |
| Combine gorillas and wildlife. | Bwindi + Queen Elizabeth |
| Combine chimps and wildlife. | Kibale + Queen Elizabeth |
Planning a Uganda National Parks Safari
Most itineraries start in Kampala or Entebbe, with road distances to the parks varying widely; road travel times vary considerably depending on the starting point, route and destination sector. Lake Mburo is among the more accessible parks from Kampala and Entebbe, while Bwindi and Kidepo Valley require substantially longer journeys by road. Domestic flights can reduce travel time for selected safari routes, which is why many travellers fly in for those two. Domestic flights from Entebbe and other departure points serve airstrips near several major Uganda safari destinations, making fly-in itineraries particularly useful for longer routes such as Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and the southwestern gorilla region.
The dry seasons, roughly June to September and December to February, are generally the easiest months for game viewing and trekking, though rainfall patterns vary between the savannah parks and the forest parks, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga runs year-round regardless of season. Accommodation spans luxury lodges, mid-range camps, and budget guesthouses at every park, with the densest concentration of high-end options around Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls.
Uganda National Parks by Safari Experience
| Safari experience | Parks |
|---|---|
| Gorilla trekking | Bwindi, Mgahinga |
| Chimpanzee trekking | Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Semuliki |
| Big game viewing | Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo |
| Golden monkey tracking | Mgahinga |
| Mountain trekking | Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, Mgahinga |
| Birding | Bwindi, Kibale, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Semuliki, Mgahinga |
| Boat safaris | Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo |
| Cultural experiences | All can offer different community experiences |
Uganda Safari Tours and Packages
Uganda’s national parks combine well into tailor-made itineraries depending on your time and interests. Popular routes include gorilla trekking in Bwindi paired with a Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale combined with Queen Elizabeth, and longer wildlife-focused journeys to Murchison Falls or Kidepo Valley, with fly-in options available to cut down driving time on the longer routes.
Ready to plan your Uganda safari? Consider our Uganda safaris packages or contact Chopper Tour & Travel to tailor your own personal schedule based on gorilla trekking, chimp tracking, wildlife encounters, or even both.
Uganda National Parks FAQs
How many national parks are there in Uganda?
Uganda has 10 national parks, managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Which Uganda national parks are best for gorilla trekking?
Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
Which national park is best for chimpanzee trekking?
Kibale, though chimpanzees can also be tracked in Kyambura Gorge (Queen Elizabeth), Budongo Forest (Murchison Falls), and Semuliki.
What is the largest national park in Uganda?
Murchison Falls National Park, covering roughly 3,840 square kilometres.
Can you visit several Uganda national parks on one safari?
Yes, popular combinations are Kibale National Park/Queen Elizabeth National Park/Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Murchison Falls National Park/Kibale National Park.
Which Uganda national park is best for wildlife?
The savannah game reserves in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
Can I combine gorilla trekking with a Uganda wildlife safari?
Yes. The Bwindi or Mgahinga may be combined with the Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Lake Mburo or any other destination according to the duration of your itinerary.
