KARUMA/JINJA/KIDEPO – Uganda is located in East-Central Africa and it is best referred to as the pearl of Africa for many reasons.
A visit to Uganda is a great opportunity for you to discover its iconic tourist sites that make it a few leading safari destinations in Africa.
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With a lot more in offer right from the popular gorilla safaris in the lush rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, wildlife viewing in the pristine savanna grassland protected areas to magical waterfalls, Uganda is that one place you should count a must to include in your travel plan.
Below are 5 best places to go on a safari in Uganda.
Source of the River Nile
A safari in Uganda is never complete without a visit to the source of the mighty Nile. At the source of the Nile at Jinja, visitors are presented with wide range of adrenaline adventures including white water rafting, bungee jumping, boat cruise, jet boating as well as horseback riding for you to get the best of rural setting to mention but a few. The source of the River Nile is at Jinja about 1 and half hours’ drive away from Kampala which is the capital city of Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is set in northwestern Uganda about 4-5 hours’ drive from Kampala. It is one magical destination any traveler on Uganda safari should think of exploring for a lifetime wilderness experience. Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park, expanding up to 3840 square kilometers and derived its name from the iconic Murchison Falls-one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
It is popular for its powerful roar as it squeezes itself into a narrow gorge of about 8 meters before falling down to 43 meters. Murchison Falls National Park is also a prominent home to big game-the African elephants, lions, leopard, buffaloes as well as Rothschild giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, over 451 bird species most of which can be potted while on game drives.
It is perfect for wildlife viewing safaris, boat trips, bird watching, chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest, nature walks, sport fishing to mention but a few.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Set in southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a stunning national park where nearly half of all the mountain gorillas that today still thrive on earth are confined.
This park is perfect for you to catch a glimpse at the rare mountain gorillas while in their natural habitat. Compared to other gorilla destinations, Bwindi National Park consists of 20 habituated families that have been set for visitors to trek to see mountain gorillas. Gorilla treks in Bwindi start from anyone of its 4 main regions-Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma sectors. A side from mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is blessed with other wildlife species including variety of colorful butterflies, elephants, over 350 bird species, buffaloes, antelopes, chimpanzees to mention but a few.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in western Uganda and features as the country’s second largest national park with an area coverage of about 1978 square kilometers.
It is the only park in Uganda with two distinct populations of lions-the African lions and the tree climbing lions. The tree climbing lions are also found in only Lake Manyara in Tanzania.
Queen Elizabeth National Park also inhabits over 620 bird species, several buffaloes, elephants, huge concentration of hippos, crocodiles, Uganda Kobs and many others. It is ideal for game drives, bird watching, night game drives, launch trips, nature walks, lion tracking, mongoose tracking, chimpanzee tracking and others.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo National Park is found in extreme northeastern Uganda about 10-12 hours’ drive away from Kampala capital city. It is a true wilderness paradise with exceptional landscape.
A visit to Kidepo National Park gets you a chance to look out for the big game especially the African lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes as well as cheetahs, antelopes, Rothschild giraffes and some of the birds that make up a total population of over 475 avifaunal species.
This park is best for game viewing, bird watching, night game drives, nature walks, cultural encounters especially with the Karamojong at their manyattas, the IK people among others.
Other exceptional tourist sites to visit for safari in Uganda include Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Sipi Falls, Rwenzori Mountains National Park and many more.
