Uganda has a network of 10 national parks that protect a great diversity of flora and fauna. Of these Ugandan national parks, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the most visited destination, the best place to observe mountain gorillas! We bring to you the less-known national parks that you can consider visiting this holiday!
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is another best wilderness area in Uganda. It is set in western Uganda and features as the most accessible of all the ten parks.
Lake Mburo is the closest savannah park to Kampala and a perfect stopover for travelers heading to southwestern Uganda. It takes just about 4 hours to get to Lake Mburo National Park from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
This park is a home to Rothschild giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions, leopards, buffaloes, birds and several lakes. It is one ideal site for bird watching, game viewing, nature walks, horseback riding, boat cruise and others.
It is also best place to see interesting wildlife including the zebras, elands, impalas and buffaloes.
While at the park, the travelers can take part in experiences like boat cruise on Lake Mburo, guided walking safaris and horseback safaris.
The compact size and good road network of Lake Mburo make it particularly suitable for first-time self-drive visitors.
Semuliki National Park
The less known Semuliki National Park comprises of both vast savanna and rain forest. Its diverse habitats harbor diverse wildlife species. The wildlife checklist included buffaloes, blue duikers, hippos, crocodiles, leopards, elephants, etc. Primate species in the park include chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys etc.
The park also has a checklist of over 370 butterflies.
The park is also one of the best destinations for bird watching. There are over 441 bird species which makes it birder’s haven (the birds to look out include the yellow throated nicator, swamp palm, African piculet, white throated blue swallow, lemon bellied crombec, red billed dwarf hornbill, black casqued wattled hornbill and others).
All in all, Semuliki is a perfect place for sport fishing, game drives and many more.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Besides the Rwenzori mountains, there are also other mountaineering destinations where one can enjoy the hiking experiences and among these areas include Mount Elgon border, the second highest mountain in Uganda in Eastern region, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Muhabura, Mount Moroto and Mount Gahinga.
For travelers interested in hiking and mountain adventures, the Rwenzori Mountains offer some of Africa’s most rewarding trekking experiences. The mountain is known for protecting amazing features like the glacial lakes and alpine vegetation, snow-capped peaks and rivers. During the adventure at the mountains, take part in the multi-day treks and conquer the challenging climbs to Margherita peak.
This destination is ideal for adventurous self-drive travelers seeking more than traditional wildlife safaris.