Ten national parks and several reserves, from gorilla rainforest to Nile savannah and the Mountains of the Moon. This is where each one fits on a safari.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages ten national parks. Each has a distinct role on a safari: some are for primates, some for big game, some for mountains. The table below shows what each park is best for and how far it is from Entebbe, so you can see how a route fits together.
| Park | Best for | From Entebbe (road) |
|---|---|---|
| Bwindi Impenetrable | Mountain gorillas, Albertine Rift birds | 8–10 hrs |
| Mgahinga Gorilla | Gorillas, golden monkeys, volcano hikes | 9–10 hrs |
| Kibale | Chimpanzees, 13 primate species | 5–6 hrs |
| Queen Elizabeth | Lions (including tree-climbers), Kazinga Channel | 6–7 hrs |
| Murchison Falls | The Nile falls, giraffes, big herds, shoebill | 5–6 hrs |
| Kidepo Valley | Remote wilderness, cheetahs, Karamoja | 10–12 hrs, or fly |
| Lake Mburo | Zebras, impala, walking and horseback safaris | 4 hrs |
| Rwenzori Mountains | Glacier trekking, Margherita Peak (5,109 m) | 6–7 hrs |
| Mount Elgon | Caldera hikes, Sipi Falls | 5–6 hrs |
| Semuliki | Hot springs, Congo-basin birds | 7–8 hrs |
Most parks charge a daily entry fee for foreign non-residents (around US$40–50 per 24 hours at the main savannah and primate parks, and less at smaller parks), plus activity fees. On our tours, park fees for listed activities are included in the price.
| If you want... | Go to |
|---|---|
| Mountain gorillas | Bwindi or Mgahinga |
| Chimpanzees | Kibale, with Budongo (Murchison) and Kyambura (Queen Elizabeth) as alternatives |
| Lions | Queen Elizabeth (including Ishasha's tree-climbers), Murchison, Kidepo |
| Rhinos | Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary |
| Giraffes | Murchison, Kidepo, Lake Mburo |
| Zebras | Lake Mburo, Kidepo |
| Cheetahs and ostriches | Kidepo |
| The shoebill | Mabamba (near Entebbe), the Murchison delta, Ziwa |
| Boat safaris | The Kazinga Channel, the Nile at Murchison, Lake Mburo |
| Walking safaris | Lake Mburo, Ziwa, Kidepo |
| Mountains | Rwenzori, Mount Elgon, Mgahinga |
| Hot springs and Congo-basin birds | Semuliki |
| Adventure sports | Jinja |
| Rest and scenery | Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mutanda, the Fort Portal crater lakes |
Entebbe – Kibale – Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi or Lake Mburo – Entebbe. This is the most popular route in Uganda, with chimps, savannah and gorillas. See 8-day gorilla and wildlife tour.
Kampala – Ziwa – Murchison Falls – Budongo – Kampala: rhinos, the Nile, giraffes and chimps. It can extend to Kidepo. See 5-day Murchison and Kibale.
Ziwa – Murchison – Kibale – Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi – Lake Mburo, with optional Jinja. See 12-day tour and 13-day Uganda tour.
Jinja – Sipi Falls – Mount Elgon, optionally continuing to Pian Upe and Kidepo. See 5-day Mount Elgon hiking.
Beyond the ten national parks, UWA manages wildlife reserves and community areas worth knowing: Pian Upe in the north-east (Uganda's second-largest protected area, with roan antelope and cheetahs), Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve on the Lake Albert shore, Katonga Wildlife Reserve for canoe safaris in wetlands, and the Kigezi and Kyambura reserves around Queen Elizabeth. Forest reserves such as Budongo, Mabira and Kalinzu add chimps, forest walks and ziplines.
Uganda's first national parks, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, were created in 1952. In the 1960s they were among the best game areas in Africa. The turmoil of the 1970s and 1980s devastated wildlife: elephants, buffalo and hippos were slaughtered, and both rhino species were wiped out. Since the 1990s, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, conservation partners and tourism revenue have driven a strong recovery. Elephant and buffalo numbers have climbed, mountain gorilla numbers have risen, and white rhinos are breeding again at Ziwa. Today, tourism is one of Uganda's biggest sources of foreign income, and the parks are central to it.
UWA charges a daily entry fee per person, per 24 hours, with different rates for foreign non-residents, foreign residents and East African citizens. Activity fees (boat cruises, walks, primate permits) are paid separately, and vehicles pay an entry fee too. On our safaris, all fees for listed activities are included, and we confirm the current UWA tariff in your quote.
| Park | Best months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bwindi, Mgahinga | June–Sep, Dec–Feb | Trekking all year. Cheaper permits in Apr, May and Nov. |
| Kibale | All year | Drier months have easier trails. |
| Queen Elizabeth, Murchison | June–Sep, Dec–Feb | Short grass and animals at water. |
| Kidepo | Nov–Mar | One rainy season, roughly Apr–Oct. |
| Rwenzori | Late Dec–Feb, June–Aug | Rain is always possible. |
| Lake Mburo | All year | Dry months concentrate game. |
See best time to visit Uganda and Rwanda.
Most visitors travel in a private 4x4 with a driver-guide, which gives flexibility for game drives and access to park roads. Domestic flights reach Kihihi and Kisoro (Bwindi, Mgahinga), Kasese and Mweya (Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori), Pakuba and Chobe (Murchison) and Apoka (Kidepo). Combining flights with road legs saves time on longer circuits. See safari vehicle types.
321 km² of ancient montane rainforest in the south-west, holding almost half of the world's mountain gorillas and 23 Albertine Rift endemic birds. Trek from four sectors, and stay two nights. Bwindi guide.
Uganda's smallest park, on three Virunga volcanoes, with one gorilla family, golden monkeys, the Batwa trail and summit hikes. Mgahinga guide.
East Africa's chimpanzee capital, with about 1,500 chimps, 13 primates, the habituation experience and the Fort Portal crater lakes. Kibale guide.
1,978 km² of savannah, crater lakes and wetlands, with the Kazinga Channel, Ishasha's tree-climbing lions, Kyambura Gorge and more than 600 bird species. Queen Elizabeth guide.
Uganda's largest park, with the Nile falls, Rothschild's giraffes, the Buligi game circuit, the delta shoebill and Budongo chimps. Murchison guide.
Remote Karamoja wilderness with cheetahs, ostriches and big buffalo herds. Fly in or drive with an overnight stop. Kidepo guide.
The closest savannah park to Kampala: zebras, impala, eland, and walking, horseback and cycling safaris. Lake Mburo guide.
The Mountains of the Moon: glaciers, giant lobelias and Margherita Peak (5,109 m). Rwenzori guide.
An ancient volcano with one of the world's largest calderas, quiet summit treks and Sipi Falls. Mount Elgon guide.
A Congo-basin lowland forest with the Sempaya hot springs and outstanding birding. Semuliki guide.
Related reading: national parks in Uganda, fauna and flora in Uganda and discover Uganda.
Ten national parks, managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, plus a number of wildlife reserves, forest reserves and sanctuaries.
Murchison Falls National Park, at about 3,840 km².
Queen Elizabeth, for its variety: game drives, the Kazinga Channel, tree-climbing lions and chimps in Kyambura Gorge. Combine it with Kibale and Bwindi for the full picture.
Yes. A 7–8 day circuit typically covers Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, plus Lake Mburo or Lake Bunyonyi.
Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls have the richest game viewing. Kidepo is the most remote and has species found nowhere else in Uganda.
Self-drive is allowed, but most visitors travel with a driver-guide, who knows where to find wildlife, handles park fees and bookings, and makes long drives safer.
Yes. The main tourist parks are well managed by UWA, with armed rangers on primate treks and walking safaris. Follow your guide's instructions around wildlife.
Yes. Bwindi and Mgahinga are close to the Rwanda border, and Volcanoes National Park is 1–2 hours from the southern Uganda sectors.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, at about 34 km², on the slopes of three Virunga volcanoes.
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