Best things to do in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The most recently created national park in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the last remaining natural gorilla habitats in the world. Major conservation efforts have resulted in a small but increasing number of gorillas, representing roughly half of the worldwide population. Bwindi has four groups of gorillas, and visitors can track them with guides in groups of no more than eight. The park has other animals as well, which include colobus, vervet, and L'Hoest monkeys, elephants, jackals, civets, giant forest hog and antelope. Bwindi is open throughout the year, but conditions during the rainy season make trekking difficult. There is tourist accommodation within the park, including a lodge and campsites.

Website www.bwindinationalpark.com

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Occupying the far southwestern corner of Uganda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the Virunga Mountains, and is connected to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Along with Bwindi, Mgahinga is one of two national parks in Uganda where tourists can go gorilla-trekking. However, the park has only one group of gorillas, which can only be seen when they are in Ugandan territory, making it somewhat unreliable. There are plenty of other animals to spot, though, including golden cats, bushbuck jackals, duiker, rare golden monkeys, elephant and buffalo. Aside from its wildlife, the breathtaking scenery of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is brooding and mysterious, with jagged volcanoes and stunning valleys.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls is the largest national park in Uganda. While lacking the gorillas that make other parks famous, Murchison Falls itself is a popular tourist attraction. The waters of the Nile River squeeze themselves through a narrow gorge only 23 feet (7m) wide, and then plunge 141 feet (43m). There is plenty of wildlife to be spotted in Murchison Falls National Park, including the 'big five'; elephants, lions, leopards, and buffalo can be seen in the park, while rhinos (poaching to extinction by 1983) are bred in nearby Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Game drives are a popular activity in Murchison Falls National Park, as are river cruises to spot hippos and crocodiles. Chimpanzee trekking is also available.

Website www.murchisonfallsnationalpark.com

Uganda

Things to do in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Murchison Falls National Park

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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Murchison Falls National Park