Uganda - Destinations

Kibale National Park a mainly forested park is the ultimate chimpanzee trekking destination in Africa and a must-visit for primate lovers during any primate tracking tour in Uganda.

The park is home to over 1400 chimpanzees and other 13 primate species. Kibale National Park is a tropical rainforest located in the districts of Kabarole and Kamwenge.

The park has one of the best vegetation covers with luxuriant yet dense vegetation that forms such a great forest to explore. Kibale Forest National Park is comprised of varied tracts of tropical forest cover interspersed with patches of grasslands and swamps dominated in the northern and central parts of the park. The park covers about 795 square kilometers.

To get to Kibale Forest National Park, tourists can reach by road from any part of the country. It is about 320 kilometers by road west of Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and majorly accessed by road.

The best time of the year to go chimpanzee trekking is during the months of April to May.

This is, however, the rainy season and not a good time for other Uganda safari activities but then referred to as the best time for chimpanzee trekking. June to October is the best time of the year to visit Uganda and do any kinds of activity, you can also go chimpanzee trekking during this time.

Tucked far in the northeastern region of Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park is apparently referred to as one of Africa’s best wilderness. Kidepo is the most isolated national park in Uganda but still so privileged to stand out as a top Uganda safari destination any wildlife enthusiast can visit to see wildlife and enjoy the scenery of this great park.

Kidepo Valley National Park harbors a couple of rare species that cannot be found in any other Ugandan national park. Situated within a region that has very unique cultures, aside form viewing wildlife, a visit to Kidepo is best suited with a cultural tour.

Kidepo Valley National Park is a true gem worth visiting with an abundance of wildlife that remains much more intact because of the location of the park leaving it host to fewer tourists than other destinations.

The area was gazetted as a national park in 1962, located in the Kaabong district of northeastern Uganda.

Getting to Kidepo National Park can be either by road or air. There is an airstrip inside the park which makes it easy for tourists traveling by air to reach the park and have safaris. It is approximately 510 kilometers by road from Kampala to Kidepo. It is almost 12 hours ride from the capital to the park but a journey worth undertaking.

The best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park for game viewing is during the dry season months of July and August. This is because during these times animals are concentrated near water points to quench their thirst unlike in the rainy season when water is abundant and therefore animals are dispersed all through the park. During the dry season, it is sunny with a few cloudy days which makes views great.

Accommodation is available in the park putting into consideration all kinds of travelers. Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park ranges from luxury to budget which makes it a suitable destination no matter one’s planned budget. Some of the luxury lodges include Apoka safari lodge and the newly constructed Adere safari lodge, mid-range lodges include Nga’moru wilderness camp and savannah Kidepo lodge whereas Apoka camp offers budget accommodation.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s natural habitat to a family of mountain gorillas sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2000 and just over 4000 meters. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests. At the southwest tip of Uganda is the living tapestry of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

lt is composed of steep terraced hills that bewilder the eye. At just over 4000 meters in height, the muhavura dominates the skyline around Kisoro district.

It seems to be brooding about bygone days when it was an active volcano that helped to define the landscape of the region. There is an air of mysticism surrounding muhavura complemented by the mist that often covers its summit.

Mgahinga is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey.

Mgahinga’s most striking features are its three conical, extinct volcanoes (Gahinga, Sbyinyo, and Muhabura) which are part of the spectacular Virunga Range that lies along the border region of the part of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.

Mgahinga forms part of the much larger Virunga conservation area which includes adjacent parks of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Congo.

Situated on the border between Kenya and Uganda, Mount Elgon National Park has the largest surface area of an extinct volcano in the world and a caldera that covers over 40 square kilometers.

Mount Elgon National Park is within the transboundary of Mount Elgon with the highest peak, Wagagai at 4,321m above sea level.

This is the second-highest peak in Uganda after Mountain Rwenzori and the eighth highest in the African continent.

Mount Elgon National Park covers 1,110 square kilometers. It was gazette in 1992.

The slopes of the Mountain support a rich variety of vegetation ranging from montane forest to high open moorland studded with the giant lobelia and groundsel plants varying with altitude.

The best time to visit Mount Elgon National Park is during the months of June to August and December to March when it is the dry season. During this time the climate is favorable for visitors to the park as temperatures are warm making the high altitude easier to hike. During the dry season, there are fewer chances of rain, however, it does not guarantee that it will not rain.

To get to Mount Elgon National Park, tourists can access the park by, especially road transport. It is about 416 kilometers from the park from Entebbe International Airport which is Uganda’s only international airport. From Uganda’s capital Kampala, it is about 341 kilometers. The park can also be accessed from any other part of the country including after or before visits to other tourist sites.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a top Uganda wildlife tour destination with the major drawcard being the tree climbing lions that can only be found in the Ishasha sector of the park within Uganda.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is situated in the western region of Uganda, spanning the districts of Kasese. Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. The park is approximately 400 kilometers southwest of Uganda’s capital Kampala.

Covering nearly 2000 square kilometers this protected area was named to honor the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in the early 1950s.

The park includes the Kyambura Gorge which is also referred to as the valley of apes as it hosts a few chimpanzees within the beautifully scenic valley. The park extends from Lake George in the northeast to Lake Edward in the southwest including the Kazinga channel that connects the two lakes.

The park is formed by picturesque features that were left behind by volcanic action that occurred decades ago and now form the major scenery of the park. Some of these include Lake George to the northeast and Lake Edward to the southwest boundaries of the park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is also dubbed the medley of wonders, the park has a variety of wildlife with vast savannah grasslands. To have a great wildlife viewing experience, tourists should always ensure to travel during the best time of the year for these experiences. The park is open all year round, however, the best time of the year to visit is from January to February, and June to August is the dry season.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is within the legendary Rwenzori Mountains which are Africa’s highest mountain range, 5,109 meters (16,762 ft.) above sea level with 6 massifs separated by deep gorges. The 6 massifs are Mount Stanley (5,109 meters) highest peak known as Margherita, Mount Speke (4,890 m), Mount Baker (4,843 m), Mount Emin (4,798), Mount Gessi (4,715 m), and Mount Lugi di Savioa (4,627 m).

Rwenzori or also known as Mountains of the Moon is located along the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwenzori Mountain ranges were formed about three million years ago as a result of an uplifted block of crystalline rocks. During their formation, the uplift led to the formation of Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and Lake George which are the present-day African Great Lakes

The peaks of the mountain ranges (not a single free-standing mountain) are snowcapped and glaciated though because of the effects of climate change the snowcapped peaks are slowly melting.

The mountain ranges were named the Mountains of the Moon by the Greek Scholar Ptolemy during the European exploration of Africa and also identified it as one of the sources of the Nile River.

The high Rwenzori is a montane wonderland, with the trails to the snow peaks of the ranges following glacier-carved valleys with fantastically colored mosses and rare Afro-alpine plants that include giant forms of lobelias, heathers, and groundsels. The vegetation is unique as one hike to the top of the mountain.