Uganda Destinations / National Parks
Also known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda offers a great destination to gaze upon wildlife in both forest and savannah. Having said this, we cannot afford to add that gorilla trekking in Bwindi or Mgahinga are not to be missed while chimps can easily be spotted in Kibale and several other locations. Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National parks offer abundant savannah safaris with spectacular wildlife viewing, as does the more remote Kidepo National Park.
In addition, many smaller primates can as well be added for viewing. Uganda also offers great savannah safaris where all of the Big Five are present. The Lion is quite the commonest attraction in Queen Elizabeth with tree climbing lions particularly spotted in the Ishasha sector. Lions are also found in Murchison Falls and Kidepo national parks, where they can often be found hunting the Uganda Kob.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, a serene wildlife estate spanning 1,978km². Nestled in the heart of the western arm of
Murchison Falls National Park
Discover the wonders of Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest national park, featuring breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife. With an extensive range of mammal and bird species,
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
By virtue of its size of 33Km2, this is Uganda’s smallest national park, but don’t be deceived by its small scope. It is packed with
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Discover the breathtaking beauty and conservation efforts of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its incredible mountain gorilla tracking
Wildlife
Elephant, hippo, buffalo and zebra are plentiful in Uganda. Lion, giraffe and white rhino are more localized but easily seen in the right location. Leopards are less certain. The birding is a real highlight with more than 1,000 species recorded. So is the tracking of primates, in particular gorilla and chimp, but there are many other species worth watching. The antelope known as the Uganda Kob is found in most savannah reserves and is a favorite meal of the lions.
When it comes to primates, they are represented in Uganda. Patas monkey, red-tailed monkey, l’Hoest’s monkey, golden monkey, Ugandan red colobus and Uganda mangabey are some of the specials while the widespread species in the country is the black-and-white colobus monkey.
Not to forget, Uganda is home to a wide variety of antelope species and the Uganda kob which is Uganda’s national antelope, is locally common and the rare sitatunga antelope is found in six national parks in the country but rarely seen.
Weather & Climate
Uganda’s tropical climate is a little different in the north and south of the country. From March to November, the north experiences a rainy and warm wet season, followed by an almost equally warm Dry season from December to February. On the other hand, the south has a pair of Dry seasons (December to February, and June to July) broken up by a pair of wet seasons.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit in Uganda would be during the drier months from June to August and December to February which facilitate a better wildlife or game viewing experience. There is also plentiful sunshine at this time. In the wetter months, there is the possibility that rain will cut off roads hence inconveniencing your primate trekking adventure.