Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park was gazetted in 1962 and is one of the most spectacular parks in Uganda. It lies in the remote north east of Uganda, bordering with Southern Sudan and close to Kenya. Its relative inaccessibility makes it one of the last untamed frontiers. The park encompasses an area of 1,442km2 with an altitude ranging between 914m and 2,750m. Its varied landscapes of rolling savannah in the Narus and Kidepo Valleys, the mountains of Napore Nyangea, Mount Morangole and Natera Hills, the dry sand rivers of the Narus and Kidepo, the forests of acacia and borasses palms makes for a dramatic view. Although the park is criss-crossed with rivers, they evaporate in the dry season, leaving only occasional waterholes for the wildlife.
The park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Over 475 species of birds including ostriches have been identified, along with 77 mammal species which include large herds of elephant and buffalo, smaller herds of gazelle, kudu, hartebeest , eland, giraffe and zebras. Leopards, lions and cheetahs and the elusive Patas monkeys are also to be seen.
Kidepo you can visit the IK tribe near Mount Morungole to see their adaption to subsistence farming, visit the Karamajong tribe to see their pastoral cow herding ways, visit the Kanangorok Hot Springs, take early morning guided walks and many game drives.
Murchison Falls National Park, the first of Uganda’s parks and created in 1926 to preserve the savannah that Winston Churchill described as “Kew Gardens in 1907 and the zoo combined on an unlimited scale”, is situated in the north of the Albertine Rift and encompasses a total area of 3,980km². The Park is divided by the Victoria Nile and it is here that it surges over 80kms of rapids towards Murchison Falls and where the river tumbles over a narrow gap in the rift valley wall to fall 40m. This colossal force of water creates a dramatic natural spectacle, with a most thunderous noise, which can be viewed by taking a launch trip up the river. After the falls, the Nile then gently meanders, undisturbed for 40km, firstly through the park’s savannah then eventually reaching its journey’s end through the papyrus delta of Lake Albert.
The park is primarily forested savannah and is host to about 76 species animals including Rothschild giraffe, lion, leopard, hyena, elephant, buffaloes, hartebeests, hippos, giant Nile crocodiles and Patas monkey to name but a few and 451 species of birds including, the elusive shoebill stork, giant kingfishers, bee-eaters, night herons and many more. The forests are home to numerous primates, including Chimpanzees
Take up the challenge and fish alongside the many water birds at the base of the falls for a thrilling catch of Nile perch, tilapia, tiger fish and squeaker fish.
Imposing cone-shaped hills cradle tranquil calderas in the enchanting Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes in Western Uganda near Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. Formed about 8-10,000 years ago by volcanic activity, these craters now hold a variety of lakes. Some boast clear, blue water, while others remain emerald green with a sulfuric odour due to residual volcanic gases. Lush vegetation cloaks the crater rims, offering views of nearby hills, tea plantations, and even the Rwenzori Mountains on clear days. While some lakes are safe for swimming, others contain toxic water and should be avoided. Activities around the lakes include nature walks, boat rides, bird-watching and visiting the "Top of the World" viewpoint for panoramic vistas.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park lies on the edge of the Western Rift Valley in South Western Uganda, along the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park encompasses a total area of 331km² and was first created as a forest reserve in 1932 then becoming an animal sanctuary in 1961 and a National Park in 1991. In the local dialect “Bwindi” means “a Place of Darkness”, getting its name from the dense vegetation of the forest. With the mountains reaching 2,607m, it contains both lowland and montane forest, much of which is swirled with a mist.
This ancient forest is cool and dark with dense vegetation and is home to an impressive array of ecosystems and wildlife. It hosts 120 species of mammals which includes 10 species of primates, 350 species of birds, 220 species of butterflies/moths, 27 species of frogs, geckos and chameleons, over 1,000 species of flowering plants which include 104 species of ferns and 200 species of trees. The forest habitat includes many endangered species, the most well known of which, is the mountain gorilla. The estimated number of gorillas living in the Impenetrable Forest is 320, with some groups being habituated for tracking and research.
Take the challenge and track the endangered mountain gorillas, follow trails in the forest from Nkuringo to Buhoma along the way seeing many varieties of birds, primates and butterflies, track to the waterfalls and learn about local Batwa cultures.
