Uganda’s 10 National Parks: What Each One Is Known For

Uganda has ten national parks, all managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. They range from savannah to rainforest to snow-capped mountains. This guide explains what each is known for so you can choose.

Wildlife on the savannah

• Murchison Falls: in the north-west, where the Nile is forced through a gap about seven metres wide and drops about 43 metres
• Queen Elizabeth: known for the Kazinga Channel and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha
• Lake Mburo: the smallest savannah park, known for zebras and giraffes, about 3.5 hours from Kampala
• Kidepo Valley: the most isolated park, in the north-east near the Kenya and South Sudan borders

Forests and primates

• Kibale: chimpanzee tracking and around 13 primate species
• Bwindi Impenetrable: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to roughly half of the world’s mountain gorillas
• Mgahinga Gorilla: another park in the south-west where mountain gorillas live
• Semuliki: lowland tropical forest on the floor of the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda

Mountains

• Rwenzori Mountains: a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the continent’s third-highest peak
• Mount Elgon: an extinct volcano on the Uganda and Kenya border; Sipi Falls lies on its slopes

How to choose

Match the park to what you want to see, and to how much travel time you have. Lake Mburo is among the closest to Kampala. Murchison Falls, Bwindi and Kidepo need longer journeys. Dry seasons are generally easier; see our best time to visit Uganda guide.

Permits and fees

Park entrance fees and activity permits are separate things. Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking need permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and these are often not included in advertised package prices. Our national parks tour from USD 300 per person includes a driver guide, transport, airport pick-up and park entrance fees; ask us about permits when you plan.