UGANDA NATIONAL PARKS TOURS

Uganda commonly known as the Pearl of Africa and of very recent re branded Gifted by Nature has several national parks that travelers who are for Uganda safaris and tours can visit.Those for Gorilla tours Bwindi Gorilla forest and Mgahinga gorilla park caters for them.

Find detailed safari information on the following National parks;

• MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK
  Murchison falls national park is the biggest park in Uganda which derives its name from the Murchison falls formed where the mighty river Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and flows down to become a placid river whose banks are thronged with hippos, crocodiles, water bucks, and buffaloes. Its vegetation at Murchison is characterized by savannah, riverine forest and wood land.Wildlife at Murchison falls national park includes lions, leopard, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species including the rare shoebill

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• QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
  Queen Elizabeth national park together with kyambura and kigezi wildlife reserve forms the most diverse ecosystem in Africa. The melting glacier waters of Rwenzori mountains create a vast wetland system comprising of two main lakes, George and Edward, as well as the connecting kazinga channel. Thousands of hippos populate these shorelines. Open savannah dotted with acacia and euphobia trees provide habitat for elephants, lions, leopards, Uganda kobs, and big herds of buffaloes.The park also harbors primate species, ten in number which include chimpanzees and monkeys.Waterbucks, giant forest hog, topi, hyenas, and crocodiles are among the many animals seen frequently in Queen Elizabeth national park.
  

• LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
  Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda's smallest national park, was designated in 1982, and is situated in Kiruhura district of Western Uganda. It is the only park that contain an entire lake. The attractive acacia-dotted savanna (158 square miles) is home to huge herds of impala, as well as uncommon topi, eland, klipspringer and other antelope. Other animals found in the park include Zebras, buffaloes, while birds include Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away bird, Rednecked Spur, common Quails, Black-billed Barbet, reenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller,African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, bee-eaters and the cheeky bronze-tailed starling, as well as the majestic crowned crane etc.
  
  
• MT RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK
  Rwenzori is the highest mountain in Uganda, and the first foreigner to climb it was an Italian, a hundred years back. It was in 1906 when Luigi Amadeodi Savoy duke of the Abruzzi climbed to the top of the mountain and last year 2006 the Ugandans and Italians celebrated the hundred years since the first foreigner reached on top of Mt. Rwenzori.A trip into the Rwenzoris is an exhilarating and rewarding experience but one, which must be well planned. The key to an enjoyable visit is to be prepared! The central hike circuit takes six nights or seven days and reaches an altitude of 14,000ft.(4,267m) above the sea level. The conditions on the mountain are a challenge to even an experienced hiker.

• KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
  Kibale is one of the most beautiful national parks in Uganda with tropical rainforest, and a diversity of animals. Kibale harbors the largest number of chimpanzees and over 1,450 are protected within the park. At Kanyanchu, a community chimpanzee has been habituated for 16 years. This gives tourists a chance to see the great apes in their natural environment. Threatened red colobus monkeys and the rare I’hoesti monkey are found in the park. At the same time the forest has one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa


• BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
  This park is situated in south western Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley (albertine rift). This park protects more than half of the remaining mountain gorillas in Uganda and it is very popular for mountain gorilla tracking. The park is shared by three districts, that is kabale, kisoro, and kanungu. The park is 331 square kilometers in size and on an altitude of range of 1,160 meters (Ishasha gorge) to 2,607 meters (rwamanyonyi peak). The local people neighboring the park are bakiga and bafumbira occupying the densely populated areas in Uganda that is 350 people per square kilometer. A few batwa are also found within the area.
  

• MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK
  Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest park in the country. It is about 38 sq km. Though it is very important as it is one of the two parks in Uganda that are habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas. Mgahinga gorilla national park is situated in south western Uganda, in kisoro district. This park was gazetted in 1999 and is part of the virunga conservation area. This park adjoins Rwanda’s volcano, and the democratic republic of Congo’s virunga national parks. Mgahinga gorilla national park experiences two wet seasons in the year that is February to May, and September to December.


• KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
  Kidepo valley is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks. This national park is 1,442 square kilometers. Kidepo harbors scenery that can not be found in any other parks in east Africa. Kidepo is tucked into the corner of Uganda’s boarder with Sudan and Kenya. This park offers breath-taking savannah and mountain landscapes, which end in a rugged horizon. Due to the climatic conditions in Kidepo, there is somehow much flora which as a result has led to the coming up of a variety of animal species and most of these animals are found nowhere else in Ugandan parks.More on Kidepo Valley
  

Wildlife Reserves

• Matheniko Wildlife Reserve, Moroto
• Bokora Wildlife Reserve, Moroto
• Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve, Moroto
• Ajai Wildlife Reserve, Nebbi
• Asws-Lolin Wildlife Reserve, Gulu
• Bugungu Wildlife Reserve, Masindi
• Toro Wildlife Reserve, Masindi
• Katongo Wildlife Reserve, Kabarole
• Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, Bushenyi

Waterfalls

• The Sipi Falls - close to Mt. Elgon National Park near Kipchorwa
• Mungilo Falls - in the Semliki National Park
• Ngite Falls - two spectacular falls also in Semliki National Park.
• Sabyinyo Gorge - dramatic falls in the foothills of Mt. Sabyinyo
• Munyana Falls - cascades in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
• Bujagali Falls - on the Nile 10 km north of Jinja. White water rafting is available.
• Murchison Falls - breathtaking mighty falls on the Victoria Nile.
  
  

Lakes, Wetlands & Rivers

One third of Uganda's land area is under water. From Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the second largest in the world, to tiny crater lakes high in the mountains, Uganda can truly be called Africa's land of lakes. Twelve major lakes provide Uganda with much of its charm and reflect the infinite variety of the country. The lakes provide different attractions and play an important role in the local economy.

Among the lakes are those with papyrus and reed beds, and those with swamp forests (such as at Sango Bay). They offer excellent fishing and provide water for irrigation. To the visitor, the lakes provide a tranquil backdrop for leisurely activities or exciting adventure. Many of Uganda's lakes provide excellent fishing with the Nile Perch in Lake Victoria reaching weights of 100 kilos. Sailing and other watersports are popular on Lake Victoria, but are not yet well-established elsewhere. Many of the lakes are great for swimming, but local advice should be sought before diving in.

The smaller crater lakes in the mountains sparkle in the sunlight, and those in the Rwenzori can be refreshingly cold. For their beauty, their rich birdlife, the islands and the fishing, the lakes are the gems in Uganda's crown. Some of these lakes are relatively shallow, or have extensive flood plains. Ten per cent of Uganda's land can be considered 'wetlands' with their own distinctive plants and wildlife (particularly birdlife. Trips can be made on most of the lakes - in particular lakes Victoria, Edward, Mburo, Albert and George. On Lake Bunyonyi a special trip is made by canoe among its 13 small islands with a picnic on Sharp Island.

The Nile, one of the world's greatest rivers, starts its 6,600km voyage to the Mediterranean close to Jinja, on Lake Victoria. The mood of the river (first as the Victoria Nile and Albert Nile, then as the Blue Nile) changes regularly - from tranquil pools where fisherman can catch tilapia, to the churning surge of the Murchison Falls. Giant Nile Crocodiles can be seen sunning themselves along its banks, while in other areas herds of hippo wallow in the mud. Nevertheless, the Nile is not the only river.

There are many: some are seasonal, while others flow year round. Rivers such as the Semliki, the Kidepo, the Kanyanchu, and many smaller streams, provide water for farming, watering holes for game, riverine habitats for birds and butterflies, sport for fishermen, and dramatic waterfalls and scenery. All this is part of the magic of Uganda.

Uganda's Main Wetlands

• The Kyoga/Kwania Lake Swamp Complex
• Lake Albert
• Lake George
• Lake Edward
• The Bonyonyi Lake Swamp Complex
• The Kijanebalola Lake Swamp Complex
• Lakes Bisnia & Opeta
• Lake Wamala
• Sango Bay
• Rwenzori High Altitude Bogs
• Mt. Elgon High Altitude Bogs

• Lake Victoria
• Lake Albert
• Lake George
• Lake Edward
• Lake Kyoga
• Lake Mburo
• Lake Nakivali
• Lake Bonyonyi
• Lake Bisnia
• Lake Kwania
• Lake Nyasala
• Lake Mutanda