Uganda’s Best Safaris, National Parks and Top Activities
Uganda’s best safaris come with abundant wildlife and stunning natural beauty, and several national parks in the country offer visitors the chance to see various animals and landscapes. Here are some of the most notable national parks in Uganda:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: This park is located in southwestern Uganda and is home to about 400 mountain gorillas, which is almost half of the world’s population. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Murchison Falls National Park: Uganda’s largest park is located in the northwest of the country. It is known for its stunning waterfall as well as its populations of elephants, lions, giraffes, and more.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: This park is located in southwestern Uganda and is home to a wide range of animals, including elephants, lions, leopards, and many species of birds.
- Kibale National Park: This park is located in southwestern Uganda and is famous for its population of chimpanzees, as well as its beautiful forests and diverse range of bird species.
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park: This park is located in the Rwenzori Mountains and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its stunning scenery, including glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and alpine forests.
These are just a few of the many national parks in Uganda, each with its own unique offerings and natural wonders to explore.
The Mtembezi African Safaris experiences come with 24-hour assistance and connect you with the greatest local guides, so you’ll be taken care of at every turn.
Uganda’s Featured Safari destinations
Why take a safari experience in the Pearl of Africa?
A Ugandan safari is an unforgettable experience, integrating adventure, fascinating wildlife experiences, big games, cultural connections, and beautiful landscapes.
It is an opportunity to get away from the hectic pace of modern life. You will return to a more straightforward and serene way of living, reuniting with nature’s everyday patterns. Wildlife encounters provide the thrill to keep you returning for a Ugandan safari. Who can forget the first time they saw an elephant in the wild or realized how tall a giraffe is? And there’s something savage about witnessing a lion roar under such a sparkling sky at night.
Where can I go on a Ugandan safari experience?
All of the popular Ugandan safari spots make excellent African safari itineraries. Uganda’s wildlife is vast and diverse, providing tourists with unique experiences in a few other areas of the planet. Uganda’s major wildlife locations, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, offer traditional big game watching, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known to be habitable for over half of the world’s mountain gorillas in the wild.
The style of safari you choose may be determined by whether you want to combine your safari with another activity such as river rafting on the Nile, camping, fishing, boat cruises, or mountain climbing.
If this is your first safari, gorilla trekking is an excellent choice; it is one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife experiences, and as a result of its success, the endangered gorilla population has increased.
What time of year is best for going on a Ugandan safari?
The dry seasons, from June to August and December to February, are the finest times to visit Uganda. The season for wildlife viewing has arrived. Walks with primates in the bush are an essential element of any safari in Uganda. Rainforests have a naturally moist habitat, and it is impossible to prevent rain altogether. However, the sky frequently clears following heavy rain to reveal dazzling sunshine.
June to August and December to February are the best months to visit all parks. The peak season is June to September and is rarely busy, although gorilla permits must be reserved well in advance. The low season is April, May, October, and November when Some lodges and camps in high-rainfall areas close down; roads and forest trails can be in poor condition.
The unforgettable, incredible experience in Bwindi National Park!
Some of our rated safari experiences | Uganda’s Best Safaris
6-Day Uganda Gorilla Safari (Bwindi and Lake Bunyonyi)
Duration: 6 Days | 5 Nights
Destination: Bwindi National Park | Lake Bunyonyi
Highlights: Game drive|Gorilla Trekking|Boatcruise
7 Day Birding in Uganda and Boat Cruise Safari
Duration: 7 Days | 6 Nights
Destination: Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary | Masindi | Nile Delta | Murchison Falls National Park | Gardens Botanical
Highlights: Game drive|Bird watching|Boatcruise
12-Day Pearl of Africa Safaris | All-Inclusive Uganda Safari
Duration: 12 Days | 11 Nights
Destination: Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary|Murchison Falls|Kibale National Park|Queen Elizabeth National Park|Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park|Lake Mburo National Park
Highlights: Rhino Tracking|Game drive|PrimateTracking|Boatcruise|Wildlife experience
15 Days Uganda Family Safari (Primates and Wildlife tours)
Duration: 15 Days | 14 Nights
Destination: Murchison Falls|Kibale National Park|Queen Elizabeth National Park|Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park|Lake Bunyonyi|Lake Mburo National Park
Highlights: Rhino Tracking|Game drive|PrimateTracking|Boatcruise|Wildlife experience
12-Day Rwenzori Mountain Trek & Wildlife Safari
Duration: 12 Days | 11 Nights
Destination: Mount Rwenzori National Park | Queen Elizabeth National Park | Kyambura Gorge | Entebbe
Highlights: Mount Hiking|Game drive|Bird watching|Boatcruise|Chimp tracking
12-Day Pearl of Africa Safaris | All-Inclusive Uganda Safari
Duration: 12 Days | 11 Nights
Destination: Lake Mburo National Park|Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park|Queen Elizabeth National Park|Entebbe
Highlights: Game drive|Gorilla trekking|Boatcruise|Wildlife experience
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Uganda’s Safaris Experience
Uganda 2021 in 7 days, gorilla trekking, safari, white water rafting
Uganda’s Wildlife
Uganda stands out as a unique destination that offers a captivating blend of savannahs and forest parks. The country is renowned for its captivating gorilla and chimp trekking experiences, but it’s also home to a diverse range of smaller primate species. Additionally, Uganda boasts exciting savannah safaris where you can encounter the iconic Big Five. Lions, in particular, are commonly spotted in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo National Parks, where they are often seen hunting Uganda kob.
Uganda’s richness in primate diversity is remarkable. You can encounter a variety of primates such as the Patas monkey, red-tailed monkey, l’Hoest’s monkey, golden monkey, Ugandan red colobus, and Uganda mangabey. The black-and-white colobus monkey is widespread throughout the country. Moreover, Uganda is home to a wide range of antelope species. While the Uganda kob, the national antelope, is frequently found, the elusive sitatunga antelope resides in six national parks but is rarely sighted.
Uganda’s Best Safaris: The best time traversing Uganda
Optimal Timing
The best times to visit are from June to August and December to February across all parks.
Peak Season
From June to September is the high season, although it’s not typically crowded. However, it’s important to secure your gorilla permits well in advance.
Off-Peak Season
The low season falls in March, April, May, October, and November. During this time, some lodges and camps in high-rainfall areas may close, and the roads and forest trails may be in subpar condition.
Ideal Weather
For the most favourable weather conditions, plan your trip for June to July or January to February, when there is minimal rainfall.
Unfavorable
March, April, and May bring the worst weather as they mark the peak of the wet season.