UGANDA
UGANDA DESTINATIONS.
Uganda is known as the “Pearl of Africa” for its beauty and natural resources. It is home to 10 national parks, including two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Each of Uganda’s national parks is unique and offers visitors a chance to see a variety of wildlife, including gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, lions, and leopards and man more. The parks also offer stunning scenery, from the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains to the lush rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Hot springs of Semuliki National Park.
Here are Uganda national parks and some of their attractions:
BWINDI FOREST NATIONAL PARK.
The Bwindi Forest National Park is located in southwestern Uganda, at the intersection of the plain and mountain forests. It covers 32,000ha and is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. Many types of birds and butterflies can also be found there, as well as many endangered species, including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and different types of monkeys. The park offers an incredible experience of standard gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation, where you can spend 4 hours learning mountain gorillas behaviors and their way of living.
Bwindi Forest National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular activities in the park, and it is a neat remarkable experience. Bwindi national park is also described as impenetrable Forest.
Gorilla habituation is another unique experience for tourists and researchers that is available in Bwindi Forest National Park. This program allows visitors to spend four hours with a habituated gorilla family. Habituation is the process of teaching gorillas to become comfortable with human presence. This program is essential for the conservation of mountain gorillas, as it helps to reduce conflict between humans and gorillas.
2. Queen Elizabeth National park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the Western part of Uganda, between lakes George and Albert. The park is home to over 1000 types of mammals and 606 different birds species. One of the most unique features of Queen Elizabeth National Park is its tree-climbing lions. These lions are only found in two places in the world: Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania.
The Ishasha Sector is the best place to see tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The lions climb the fig and acacia trees to escape the heat and insects on the ground. Visitors can take game drives in the Ishasha Sector to see the lions and other wildlife, such as elephants, buffaloes, and hippos
The Katwe Explosion Crater Lakes are located in the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. These lakes were formed by volcanic explosions thousands of years ago. Visitors can take guided tours of the crater lakes and learn about their unique geology and ecology.
3. Murchison Falls National parks.
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Uganda. It is home to 450 recorded bird species, including the rare shoebill stork. The park is located in a conservation area where we find Bugungu and Karuma wildlife reserves. It is ornamented with several attractions, including 76 mammal species with four members of the big five: the lion, the leopard, the elephant, and the buffalo.
The highlight of any tour in Murchison Falls National Park is visiting the “Murchison Falls,” a point along the Nile, within the park where River Nile forces its way through a narrow gorge 8 meters wide. The launch trip upstream is very interesting and offers magnificent views of the falls and several wildlife species found along the shores, including buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, and birds.
4.Kibale National Park.
Kibale National Park is a tropical rainforest located in southwestern Uganda. It is home to over 1,500 habituated chimpanzees, which provide visitors with delightful chimpanzee trekking experiences. Both standard treks (one hour with chimpanzees) and chimpanzee habituation (spending more than four hours with them learning more about their behavior and way of living) are available.
Kibale National Park is also located near the town of Fort Portal, which is the largest town in Kabarole District. Kabarole District is home to the Batoro tribe, who have their king’s palace located in the heart of Fort Portal. The Omugabe King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru is the current king of Tooro Kingdom, in which Kabarole District is located. He happens to be the youngest king in Uganda and in Africa at large.
5. Kidepo Valley National Park.
Kidepo Valley national park is located in north part of Uganda. It is approximately 510 kilometers distance from Kampala, capital city of Uganda. It was gazetted as national park in1962 and it host 75 species of mammals and 470 species of birds.It has been Raked 3rd best national park for its exceptional views of savannah grasslands and amazing species of animals and birds. Visitors of Kidepo national park can also exploreulture of Kalamojangs,Alcholis and other great tribes.
6.Lake Mburu national Park.
Is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It a home to 350 birds species as well as zebras, impalas,leopards, hippo, hyena, and so many other wild beast. It is also blessed with 315 bird species and the best place to view acacia-associated birds.
7. Mount Elgon National Park.
Mount Elgon National Park is located in about 140km from east of Victoria lake,
It covers 1279km 2 both Uganda and Kenya parts as it interconnect both countries.
Ugandan part owns the biggest part with 1110km 2 and it was gazette as national part in 1992 yet Kenyan part is the smaller one for it covers 169 km2 however it was gazette earlier in 1968. The park was named after mt Elgon an extinct shield Volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya.
Mount Elgon National park has a lot of attractions including huge number of mammals, such as elephants, black and white and blue monkeys, various antelopes 144 birds species…
8. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest park located in south western of Uganda.
It covers 33.9 km sq, one of uniqueness is that ‘’ It is where silver meet Golden’’ This saying refers to that it is home of mountain Gorillas including silverback ones and Golden monkeys as well! Among Other attractions is Lake Mutanda and Batwa people that will offer you their culture experience. There is also mountain hikes such as Sabyinyo and Muhabura Mountain both located in Virunga Mountain ranges.
9. Semuliki National Park.
Semuliki National Park is a lowland tropical forest park located in the remote western part of the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. It was established as a forest reserve in 1992 and upgraded to a national park in 1993. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including 441 recorded bird species, 53 mammal species, and over 300 butterfly species.
One of the most unique features of Semuliki National Park is its hot springs. The Semliki River, which flows through the park, is heated by these springs, creating a warm and humid environment. This environment is ideal for a variety of wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird and butterfly species.
10. Rwenzori Mountains National park.
Rwenzori mountains national park is UNESCO world heritage site located Southern Western Uganda on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. It covers 99,600 ha and contains the main part of Rwenzori mountains chain which includes Africa’s third’s highest peak (Mount Margherita with 5,109 m. It is decollated with regions’s glaciers, waterfalls and lakes, which make it one of Africa’s most beautiful mountainous areas. Mountain climbing, Hiking and nature walk, cultural encounters to explore BAKOZO villagers in their homesteads through the foothills of Rwenzori, birding wildlife viewing among others will offer you a remarkable experience that will linger you in your mind many more years of your life.
11. Kampala City Tour.
Kampala city is Uganda’s national and commercial capital city of Uganda.It is surrounded by waters of Lake Victoria famously known as Africa’s largest Lake in Africa continent. There are many activities to do in Kampala city such as:Namugongo Martyrs Visit,Uganda museum,Gadafi Mosque,Bahai temple visit,Kasubi Tombs visit,Makerere University visit,Independence monument ,Kabaka’s lake visit,King’s palace Tour and Rubaga namirembe cathedral visil. All this activities offers you unforgettable experience that you can’t afford to miss.
