With all the 10 Uganda national parks, very few become more famous than the others. However, each of them feature incredible wildlife and distinct bird species worth exploring while you are on safari in Africa. Below are some of the most visited parks in Uganda;

Kidepo Valley National Park

Situated suitably in the semi-arid valley within Karamoja area, northeastern Uganda, straddles Kidepo Valley National Park. This park spans for over 1442 square kilometers and it was gazetted in 1962 to offer refuge to its diverse wildlife species that include more than 75 mammal species, 470 bird species and remarkably, it is one reason it is ranked among a few best parks in the continent. Though located in the far corner, Kidepo is one of the top visited national parks by travelers looking to budget safaris in Uganda. It is one of the best parks for camping and backpacking holidays in the country!

To get to this park, you need the whole day to drive via a 700 kilometer route from Kampala city center. Regardless of its distant location, it is also explored by most visitors all year round. This park is ideal for bird watching and the ideal sites here include the Narus, Namamukweny Valley and Apoka rest camp. While on birding safari in Kidepo Valley National Park, you have opportunity to sight at birds such as Abyssinian roller, Abyssinian ground hornbill, clapperton’s francolin and purple heron among others. Game drive where you will have a chance to catch a glimpse at wildlife species such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, bush duikers, jackals and others. The other activities include cultural encounters, hiking or nature walks.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

This park is situated in southwestern Uganda and very famous for mountain gorillas. About half of all the mountain gorillas that thrive in the world do call this park a home and this makes it one of the most popular sites for gorilla trekking. Besides, over 350 bird species thrive in this park and they include among others short tailed warbler, blue headed sunbird, emerald cuckoo, common bulbul, African blue and white tailed blue flycatchers, red headed bluebill and many others. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park covers an area of about 321 square kilometers and stands between altitude 1160 and 2607 meters. It was established in 1991 and declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Kibale Forest National Park

This 795 square kilometers’ park lies in western Uganda and straddles at altitude of about 1590 meters. This park boasts of about 13 distinct primate species and they include over 1500 chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys as well as more than 375 bird species including African green breasted pitta, white napped pigeon, crowned eagles, red chested owlet, little greenbuls, brown illadopsis, red faced woodland warblers a mention but a few. There are also over 70 mammal species, 250 butterfly species and many others. The notable activities to take part in this park include chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, chimpanzee habituation experience, nature walks a mention but a few.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The known Queen Elizabeth Game park is situated in western side of Uganda approximately 400 kilometers off Kampala center. It covers an area of about 1978 square kilometer and established around 1952 as Kazinga national park. It is a popular home to four of the big five game and variety of savanna grassland dwellers. This park offers refuge to elephants, lions plus the tree climbing lions, buffaloes, leopards, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Sitatunga antelopes, over 600 bird species as well as primates like black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons and others.

Murchison Falls National Park

This park is located in northwestern Uganda and features not only as the oldest park but also the largest. It offers refuge to 78 mammal species and 450 avifaunal species and it is popular for big game especially elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions as well as several antelope families, hippos, crocodiles a mention but a few. In addition, this park boasts for its powerful waterfall-Murchison falls where it derived its name. Murchison Falls National Park is about 4 to 5 hours’ drive from Kampala capital city center. It is accessible through Kampala – Luweero – Masindi route. It is popular for safari activities like game viewing/game drive, bird watching, hiking to top of the falls, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, sport fishing, boat cruise and many others.

Yesterday on the Friday of 22nd March, the search for the best artistes of 2018 through the Kansanga based radio station Galaxy FM accolade establishment, the Zzina awards finally came to an end.

A number of artsits were awarded accordingly with names including the fast raising singer turned politician Bobi Wine, Spice Diana and male singer of the moment John Blaq dominating others.

Here is a full list of winners in their different categories.

SONGWRITER: Daddy Andre – Winner

In the Category was also:
Yesse Oman Rafiki
Nince Henry
Charlie Mugerwa
Dokta Brain

PRODUCER: Daddy Andre – Winner

In the Category was also:
Diggy Baur
Nessim
Eno Beats
Atin
O.N

COMEDIAN: Maricachi – Winner

In the Category was also:
Mad Rat & Chico
Maulana & Reign
Omukebete
Napoleone Ehmah
Crazy University
Amale

DANCEHALL SONG: Tukwatagane – John Blaq – Winner

In the Category was also:
Dididada – A Pass
Now – Spice Diana & Andre
Olumya Bano – Nina Rose
Aye – Voltage Music
Bwannamunigina – Fatty Kris
Olina Work – Beenie Gunter

DANCEHALL ARTIST: John Blaq – Winner

Cindy
Voltage Music
Beenie Gunter
A Pass
Daddy Andre

LUGAFLO/RAP SONG: Who is Who – Feffe Busi – Winner

In the Category was also:
Property – Fik Fameika
Who is Me – Da Agent
Embuzi Zakutudde – Gravity
Mafia – Fik Fameika
Guma Bakunyige – Recho Rey
Twazikoze – Hit Nature

LUGAFLO/RAP ARTIST: Feffe Busi – Winner

In the Category was also:
Fik Fameika
Da Agent
Gravity
Recho Rey
Mun G

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST: John Blaq – Winner

In the Category was also:
Chosen Becky
Recho Rey
Rickman
Karole Kasita
Co-Sign

CONTEMPORARY R&B ARTIST: King Saha – Winner

In the Category was also:
Lydia Jazmine
Rema
Geosteady
Winnie Nwagi
Ykee Benda
Fille
Chosen Becky
Toniks

INSPIRATIONAL SONG: Tambula Nange – Mowzey Radio – Winner

In the Category was also:
Heart of a Winner – B2C
Born to Win – Fik Fameika
Champion – Jose Chameleone

AFRO-BEAT SONG: Bankuza – Chozen Becky – Winner

In the Category was also:
Kyalenga – Bobi Wine
Mataala – Winnie Nwagi
Kibooko Fire – Kalifa Aganaga ft. Jose Chameleone
Siri Muyembe – Rema
Wankoona – Sheebah Karungi
Ndi Mu Love – Spice Diana
Chips na Ketchup – Vinka
On My Way – King Saha
Mateeka – Jose Chameleone

FANS TEAM: Leone Island – Jose Chameleone – Winner

In the Category was also:
Team Spice Diana – Spice Diana

Sheebaholics – Sheebah Karungi
Ykee Empire – Ykee Benda
Nwagicians – Winnie Nwagi
Team Vinka – Vinka

BEST COLLABORATION: You and Me – Lydia Jazmine and Andre – Winner

In the Category was also:
Mpa Love – Weasel and King Saha
Kibooko Fire – Kalifa Aganaga and Jose Chameleone
Now – Spice Diana and Daddy Andre
Pull Up – Eddy Kenzo and Harmonize
No You No Life – B2C and The Ben
Atakutya Gwentya – Mun G and Nutty Neithan
Katubikole – Vinka and Fik Fameika

MALE ARTIST: Bobi Wine – Winner

In the Category was also:
King Saha
Jose Chameleone
Eddy Kenzo
Gravity Omutujju
John Blaq

FEMALE ARTIST: Spice Diana – Winner

In the Category was also:
Lydia Jazmine
Vinka
Rema
Sheebah
Winnie Nwagi
Fille

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Sheebah Karungi – Winner

In the Category was also:
Spice Diana
John Blaq
Bobi Wine
Jose Chameleone
Fik Fameika
Rema
King Saha

SONG OF THE YEAR: Kyarenga – Bobi Wine – Winner

In the Category was also:
You and Me – Lydia Jazmine and Andre
Bankuza – Chosen Becky
Siri Muyembe – Rema
Tukwatagane – John Blaq
Chips and Ketchup – Vinka
Wankoona – Sheebah Karungi
Mateeka – Jose Chameleone
Property – Fik Fameika
Replay – Levixone

Presently, gorilla tourism is of no doubt that one most valuable asset Uganda boasts of and remarkably, it is what sets it apart from other destinations in the world. Besides exciting moments that visitors get, gorilla tours today do play an incredible role in the country’s economy and since its launch, it has been one of the leading safari activities. It contributes about 50% of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) income every year. Gorilla adventures date about 1991 for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and within the less known Mgahinga National Park, gorilla visits started in 1993. It all began as a way to promote eco-tourism.

Gorilla tourism in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest began with Mubare and Katendegyere as the first groups to be habituated. By 1993, the two families were ready for trekkers on Uganda gorilla safaris to explore. Later, Katendegyere group disintegrated itself around 1997 and formed Ibaare-Habinyanja group. The 4^th family to be habituated is ‘Nkuringo’ that also opened for visitor exploration in April 2004.

Despite the fact that gorilla tourism officially began in 1991, it had its own history in Uganda. Tourists used to pay a visit to Mgahinga Forest Reserve to search for these remarkable creatures around 1950s and late 1970s. Government of Uganda became concerned about haphazard attempts and by May 1989, it executed a complete ban on gorilla tourism in the country as measures were set in line with those in Rwanda and DR Congo where this adventure began way back.

In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Nyakagezi is the only habituated gorilla group that is set for tourism. 28 Years later, there are about 17 habituated families that are available for visitors to track while on safari in Uganda. They include among others Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Katwe and these are found within Buhoma region; in Ruhija area- you will find Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguliro; Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye, Bweza in Rushaga and lastly, Nkuringo region features Nkuringo and Christmas group.

For visitors who wish to enhance their experiences with these creatures, there are also two groups set for gorilla habituation experience. They include Bushaho and Bikingi within the Rushaga Sector. The increase in habituated groups also comes with increase in number of gorillas where today about 1004 of them are distributed within the jungles of Bwindi National Park and the Virunga Massif.

The Virunga Massif consists of three trans-boundary national parks; Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo.

Due to ecological reasons, initially, only 6 visitors were allowed to track one group each day. Today, the number has been increased to 8 visitors who can do gorilla tracking in a habituated family per day. All this was aimed at harmonizing gorilla tourism in the respective gorilla area in relation to tariffs, standards and health matters. As well, due to increased demand, the cost for gorilla permits in Uganda increased from $350-$500 and presently, each permit goes at $600 per person in Uganda. The interesting part of it is that, the revenue collected from gorilla tours is given back to nearby local communities under revenue sharing scheme.

Significant increase in accommodation facilities

Unlike before, today, many lodges are distributed in and around Bwindi Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park and this is one factor that makes gorilla safaris complete in Uganda. They include Gorilla Mist Camp, Gorilla Valley Lodge, and Nkuringo gorilla camp, Silverback lodge, Engagi Lodge Bwindi and many others. Budget lodges include Broadbill Forest Camp, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Wagtail Eco Safari Camp and Nshongi Camp. Luxury safari lodges on the other hand include Buhoma Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Clouds Mount Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Volcanoes Safaris Bwindi Lodge and many more. In Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, they include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mucha Hotel Kisoro, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Traveler’s Rest Hotel Kisoro and Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp.

How to get to Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park while on gorilla safari in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park can be reached either by road or by air. By road, you will spend about 8-10 hours from Kampala/Entebbe to Kabale/Kisoro. By air, you can take a flight from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airfield and you land into Kisoro airstrip where you can easily drive to Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga National Park.