The history of this park has a mystery and an unmysterious story that is enclosed in the parameters of the park over the years. The first explorers to burst their eyes on the thrust of the falls in this park were John Speke and James Grant in 1862 and they were extremely explored thoroughly by the exploring couple Samuel and Florence Baker in 1863 and after their two years of research, Baker named the falls Murchison.
he years of 1907 to 1912 were hard times as sleeping sickness broke out and the indigenous in the park were evacuated and over 13000 square kms were vacated. The introduction of the national park Act in 1952 legalized the area to being Murchison falls National Park.
Uniqueness of the park
The world’s most powerful waterfall sprawls through a gorge as thin as a reed giving off a pressure that quakes the ground. The water oozes in a thin gorge whose width is less than seven paces.
It is one of the esteemed parks that offer night game drives. Just after dinner while other individuals are planning for a rest, tourists in this park are fresh and ready to hit the dark bush as early as 8:00 pm to spot nocturnal like lions, leopards and the beauty brought by the darkness and shadows.
Top activities in the park
Hiking and nature walks
Exploring the park on foot gives tourists an opportunity to critically observe the untold creatures found in the premises of the park. Tourists get to hike to the top of the falls and get a bird’s eye view of the spectacular beauty found in the vicinity of the park. Nature walks are usually undertaken through the Kaniyo Pabidi and Rabongo forests.
Game drives
In a comfort of a forward safari vehicle, tourist get to enjoy the over joying joy brough by the gems found in the wood’s alloy. Tourists have a chance of engaging in this activity in the morning, afternoon and the night. The night game drive is slightly better than other game parks because tourists get to spot birthright nocturnal like leopards, hyenas, wild cats, lions with a help of flashlights and get amused by the light given off by the animals while in the dark.
Hot air balloon safaris
Tourists get to feel as though they have wings like birds while they are floating up in the sky and competing with the birds while enjoying the bird’s eye survey of the surrounding area that comes along with a balloon ride. This is the only national park that offers this activity in Uganda.
Nile Delta boat ride
The beauty of traveling on water comes along with inhaling fresh air brought by the sparkling white waters but the experience tourists get while River Nile coincides with Lake Albert is mysterious. It offers tourists with the fullest and purest of the park as they spot birds, wildlife, crocodiles all on a boat cruise plot. Tourists also get to experience the renowned Baker trail while on this venture.
Location of the park
The park straddles among Buliisa, Nwoya, Kiryandongo and Masindi. This basically explains that the park is found in the oil fields in northwestern region.
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
This park is undoubtedly a medley of joy that is why it is most tourists dye to enjoy the ploy of visiting this park. The park was established in 1952 as a merger of Lake Edward and Lake George game reserves. The park was renamed after two years from Kazinga National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park to remember her visit in the country.
The history has various heart-breaking scenarios like the rinderpest epidemic, death of about 11 lions and death of six elephants but this didn’t block the progress of the park at all.
Uniqueness of the park
This national park is a twin park. Initially tourists would visit either Lake Edward game reserve or Lake George game reserve but it came into existence after merging the two parks. Also, it is a twin to the queen Elizabeth country park of England twinned in natural and cultural interest factors.
The Kazinga channel spent over 10000 years without crocodiles in its waters. This was due to the volcanic eruption that happened in the western rift valley.
This is among the very few parks where the lions climb trees. The lions in this park are physically fit creatures that climb trees and are the reason why the term tree climbing lions exist.
Top attractions in the park
Tree climbing lions
The Ishasha sector found in the southern region of the park is bestowed with rare pleasing lions that are fit enough to climb mountains. Various theories have been put in place to explain this stunning sight but that’s not so important to tourists as long as this view is forever kept among the unforgeable sights while in this park.
Kazinga channel
The gentle foamy bubbles that are endless on the surface of this waters are due to the realm of the hippos that enjoy the taste of the waters that flow through Lake Edward and Lake George. Tourists can’t hesitate tickling their cameras while the hippos open their mouths widely before sinking deep into the waters as though they don’t have any weight with them.
Kyambura gorge
The tall huge trees found in this region are a haven to paradise in this region where tourists get to dazzle their eyes with exhilarating views from chimpanzees, monkeys like the red-tailed monkeys, different bird species, wildlife like elephants among others.
When to visit the park
The park can be visited all year around but the dry months of June to September and December through February are exceptional at providing favorable tourism conditions.
Location of the park
The park settles in the precious lands of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri in the western region of the country.
LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK.
Originally, the park premises were occupied by Bahima pastoralists and the area was gazetted for controlled hunting in 1933. The park was upgraded to a game reserve in 1963 and the indigenous people continued to graze their herds in the reserve until it was raised to a national park in 1983. This decision was undertaken by the Obote government to punish the Banyankole who were against his rule.
Uniqueness of the park.
It is the only national park whose lake is entirely found in the premises of the park. Various national parks have waterbodies but they form boundaries with other countries and regions unlike Lake Mburo that is entirely found in the park.
Grazers found in the pristine environment of the park are not underrated as it is the only park in the country where Impalas are found and one of the three parks blessed with Burchell’s zebras.
Unique activities in the park.
Biking safaris
Flexing and exploring the parks while receiving spectacular views of the wilderness on the seat of a bike is the kind of fun offered by this activity. The maximum time taken is just an hour but tantalizing views of elands, buffaloes, antelopes and many more and glimpsed by the tourists.
Boat cruise on Lake Mburo
Any tourist who misses the boat might be graded as though he didn’t tour because for the trip to be exhaustive enough, the tourists will have to cruise over the wavy waters of Lake Mburo. At the comfort of the deck, they get to spot water wildlife species like crocodiles, birds, pelicans and other hydroscopic individuals.
Sport fishing
Fish enthusiasts can’t fail to catch on one of the species that are found in the fresh waters of the park. If the tilapia escapes the bait, a cat, lung, tiger, Angara or barbell fish will fall for it. Tourists interested in fishing should endeavor to carry their own equipment and head to Mazinga because it’s the commonest fishing spot.
Night game rides
Travelers in search of nocturnal species should be informed that this park is one of the best areas for spotting night life animals like hyenas, zebras, porcupines, leopards, white mongoose among others.
Horseback riding
Viewing the wilderness on the back of a horse is a fascinating and dazzling activity that can only be done in Lake Mburo. While at Mihingo lodge, tourists take about 1-3 hours navigating joyfully at the back of an amazing horse.
When to visit the park?
The dry season is paramount for tourists who wish to visit this park because all most all the animals in the park gather around Lake Mburo to quench the thirst brought by the sun and heat.
Location.
This park is the closest to Kampala of all the national parks in the country. The park prestigiously rests in the western part of the country in districts of Mbarara, Kiruhura and Isingiro.
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
Being a UNESCO site means that something is exceptional and this national park was rendered one in 1994 just three years after it was established as a national park in 1991. This park developed popularity over time due to the population of the gorillas that it sustains in its premises.
Bwindi national park is considered to be East Africa’s oldest national park but before it came into existence as a whole, it went through a series of upgrade from being reserved as a crown forest, an animal sanctuary in 1964, a forest reserve until it attained the position of being a national park. The trauma that befell this park in 1999 can’t be missed out while discussing about its history because it claimed lives of up to 8 individuals.
Uniqueness of the park
It is the country’s ancient and most biologically rich rain forest. This is among the reasons as to why it was declared a UNESCO site in 1994 because its attractions are distinct from what the world has generally.
It protects lives of over half of the population of the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Its world widely known that the King Kongs are only found in three countries in Africa, but Bwindi surpassed this after owning almost all of them in its impenetrable and life restoring forests.
Top attractions in the park
Mountain gorillas
This is the major attraction of the park as it shields over 459 mountain gorillas from being harmed. It is no longer news that Uganda proud of having half of the estimated mountain gorillas in the world where majority are found in Bwindi. The park is sub-divided into four notable sectors and they have different families of gorillas that leave always to remember moments to tourists who visit them.
Flora and fauna
This park has been marked as the most biologically rich tropical rainforest in the country. This entirely means that the plants and animal species in this area don’t disappoint at all. Some plant species cannot be found anywhere else in the world and these are entirely loyal to the lives of various animal species like elephants, antelopes, chimpanzees that survive over them.
Birds
The montane rainforests are rich with the chirps and nests constructed by the various bird species because the park is lived by the presence of over 350 bird species. Of the total population in the park, over 23 are rare and entirely found only in the Albertine regions. The black billed turaco, crowned hornbill, African harrier, regal sunbird are small but amazing rainbows that color and bring life to the premises of the forest.
When to visit Bwindi impenetrable national park.
The routes to the gorilla habitants are nearly impassable during the rainy days hence its advised that tourists conduct their itineraries in the park during the dry months of June to September and December and February.
KIBALE NATIONAL PARK.
The journey of the establishment of this park is almost similar to other national parks as it also started as a gazetted area in 1934. The urge for protecting the forested areas and its components grew wider and wider and hence the park was rendered a national park in 1993.
Uniqueness of the park
Kibale forest has the highest number of primates in Africa. Monkey enthusiasts should entirely think about this reserve when it comes to sighting different endangered species of primates like black and white colobus monkeys, Uganda red colobus, blue monkeys and others.
It is the only national parks that offers chimpanzee habituation experience in Uganda. The chimpanzees cannot be found anywhere in the country as much as they are found in this park but it as well offers tourists an extra feeling of spending the whole day with chimpanzees to train them and learn about their unique traits.
Iconic attractions in Kibale national park.
Primates
Any one arguing about this park being the haven of primates definitely loses because the park rests with about 13 species of primates and chimpanzees.
Chimpanzees surely have an empire in this park since over 1450 individuals live peacefully here. Other primates in the park include blue, white, back colobus monkeys, central African monkeys among others.
Wildlife
These primates are not as greedy as humans regardless of the fact that we share about 98% of the DNA because they live side by side with other animal species like golden cats, leopards, elephants, forest buffaloes, warthogs and a lot more that visitors get to sight while in Kibale national park.
Birds
Forests are definitely perfect homes to birds and the park is brought to life by over 37 colorful bird species like ground thrush birds that are only found in the park, some birds that migrate from surrounding areas like the olive long-tailed birds, African grey parrots among others.
When to visit the park
The best weather that offers incredible photos and passable roads is the dry season therefore tourists shouldn’t miss out to arrange for their favorite itinerary during the months of June to September and December to February.
Location of the park
The western part of the country was bestowed with wondrous beauty and Kibale forest happens to be among them since it rests on the prestigious lands of Fort Portal city.
KIDEPO NATIONAL PARK.
The park was once a home to Dodoth pastoralist and IK farmers who worked side by side but later it was gazetted into a game reserve in 1958 by the British to carry out bush burning as a control measure for tsetse flies.
Beautiful things take long and while the country was getting her independence in 1962, even Kidepo valley national park was being established.
Uniqueness of Kidepo national park.
It is found in the dry areas of the country. This offers tourists a chance to get a dessert- like experience of strolling through the white sand that is exposed after the water has disappeared.
Great attractions in Kidepo national park.
Kidepo valley and Kanangorok hot springs
The park is found in the dry areas of the country but offers yet amazing features like the Kanangorok hot springs that are beyond the River of Kidepo with the borders of Sudan. While the water dries off during the dry weather, it exposes a white sand that tourists can enjoy strolling in and get a desert- like feeling while in the park.
Mountains
The flat areas of the north are blessed with some mountains that add beauty to the surrounding like Lonyili mountain that exists between Kitgum and the Sudan border, mountain Morungule is beautifully crossed by Narus and Kidepo rivers and the Lomej hills are a must as they are short drive from the park headquarters.
Namamukweny valley
In Napore, Namamukweny means a lonely place with few birds but this gives just the opposite of the meaning. This is because the area is a habitant for a variety of birds like white crested turaco, common bulbul, green wood hoopoe among others.
When to visit the park
Animals gather around the oases during the dry season of September to March therefore tourists chance seeing almost all of them from the same spot.
Location of the park
Scenery in the country is fairly distributed as the Karamoja regions also boast a savannah national park found between Kaabong and Moroto Districts in northeastern Uganda.
MGAHINGA NATIONAL PARK.
This is the second park in the country where tourists can admire the beauty of mountain gorillas. Those who miss watching mountain gorillas in Bwindi shouldn’t worry because Mgahinga offers almost the same experience of gorilla trekking.
It is the only area that hosts the colourful golden monkeys. The saying of ‘where silver meets gold’ originates from the existence of golden monkeys in the park, living in harmony with their fellow cousins – mountain gorillas.
Great attractions in Mgahinga National Park.
Golden monkeys
This is a group of old-world monkeys that are found in the Virunga volcanic mountains. In Uganda, these sun-like primates can only excite tourists who choose Mgahinga national park as their hot safari destination.
Mountain gorillas
The park proud itself with winning over the Nyakagezi family group that used to be a nomad crossing borders among the three countries that are in the Virunga massif but it later settled permanently within Mgahinga national park. Tourists start off the hike with a 30-minute briefing ahead of skipping trees and brunches in search of the gorillas.
Virunga Mountains
The park is endowed with three of the eight volcanic mountains that form the majestic Virungas. Two mountains straddle between Mgahinga and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park while Mount. Sabyinyo is shared among all the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo.
When to visit the park
The country has two dry seasons between June and September and December and February where tourists can select the days that are perfect for them to have their safari to explore spectacular beauty of the park.
Location of the park.
The south western region of the country is definitely always filled with joy as tourists flock Kisoro District in search of the untold of beauty in the premises of Mgahinga national park.
MOUNT ELGON NATIONAL PARK.
Part of the history of this park is unknown but 1929 got the forest department take control of the mount Elgon and forests in its vicinity and boundary demarcation of the park was completed in 1937. The park was gazetted as a crown forest in 1940 but 1951 was a unique year of being re-gazetted as a central forest reserve. The civil wars in the country backlashed the growth of the park but nonetheless the by then game reserve was upgraded to a national park in 1996 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Uniqueness of the park
It was once Africa’s highest mountain. This was always so but the erosions on the slopes of this sky scrapper reduced the tops of the tower and hence it was surpassed by Mt. Kilimanjaro declining to being the 7th highest mountain on the continent.
Attractions in the park.
Caves
The slopes of mountain Elgon channel a variety of caves that were created by either volcanic eruptions or erosion. In the ancient times, these caves were used as shelter by humans and livestock while graving and its almost similar even in the recent times as tourists and their guides and porters use them as resting places during the hike. Some of the famous caves include Khauka cave, Kapkwai among others.
The mountains peaks and caldera.
The mountain has jagged high points that surround the world’s largest caldera. Wagagai is the highest with 4221m from the ground followed by Sudek and then Mubiyi. While the mountain still erupted, the magma drained from the chamber became heavy and hence collapsed into a depression that has hot springs at the start of Suam Gorge.
Jackson’ pool and Jackson’s peak
The features were named after the first European explorer Frederick Jackson to climb mountain Elgon. This peak is sacred to the locals as it works as a means of communication between the dead and the people who are not dead.
Forest exploration center
This center is also spotted as an education center for schools and trekkers as visitors are supported to visit caves, falls, escarpments among others. Bird species met here are lemon dove, thick-billed honey guide, grey cuckoo-shrike among others.
When to visit the park
The erosion at the mountain usually creates muddy soils and flooding which can stake the lives of the tourists therefore it is important to note that the dry season is entirely a good time for any safari on the slopes of this mountain.
Location of the park
The park straddles between Uganda and Kenya and on the Ugandan side, it can be accessed in the eastern region of the country in Mbale and Kapchrowa districts.
RWENZORI MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
No sooner had the park been established in 1991 than it became a UNESCO world heritage in 1994 just after three years because of the distinctive beauty it possessed. The park was occupied by rebels from 1997-2001 and listed among the UNSECO sites in danger but the life of the wilderness was restored and in 2008, it was crowned under the Ramsar sites.
Uniqueness of the park
The park has trails that lead hikers to the epic beauty of the snow capes. Either the Kilembe trail or the central circuit trail, tourists are bestowed to fall into admiration after they have sighted the beauty of the white that covers on the towering brown mountains.
Attractions in the park.
Wildlife
A population of about 70 mammals with six being endemic to the Albertine Rift with four being endemic to the park can be glimpsed while in the park. Animals like elephants, chimpanzees and others offer joy to the tourists to the tourists effortlessly as they roam into the park.
Birds
The park inhabits about 217 bird species including 17 that are endemic to the Albertine Rift. The forest is diverse and protects the lives of small colorful creatures like Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, Rwenzori batis among others.
Equatorial snow peaks.
The ranges are made of six mountains and all have the genetics of being snow and glaciers permanently on their peaks. The central circuit and Kilembe trails offer amazing routes that lead tourists to the equatorial snow peaks.
Lakes
There are 20 lakes found in this park which means that the3 park offers a lot more challenges and targets that can be met by tourists who choose to embark on visiting all of them. The most accessible is Lake Mahoma, Bujuku and others that tourists can reach out to.
Land of the triffids
The misty and boggy environment in the mysterious world of Rwenzori gives tourists a feel of the forest of the seven dwarfs since it has rare botanical species that can only be traced from the highest mountains in East Africa.
When to visit the park?
Regardless of the season, snow over the mountains appears all the time, therefore travelers should arrange for a safari during the dry season when hiking trails are dry.
Location of the park.
The beauty of the western region of Uganda cannot be unleashed to the dot as this majestic national park also rests in Kasese District.
SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK.
The park is among the oldest national parks in the country and it was brought to life in 1926 as a game reserve. In 1932, the park was renamed Toro game reserve and it was upgraded to a national park in 1993.
Uniqueness of the park
It is the only real low-lying area that has tropical rainforests. The rate at which the park floods during the wet season is not underrated to the extent that it once flooded for seven million years but still it flourishes with tropical rainforests.
Activities in the park.
Visit to the Sempaya hot springs
Tourists shouldn’t miss the fascinating water oozing out of rock that can boil eggs and cook food. The individuals fascinate tourists with the stories about the two hot springs in the park where they believe one is male called Bintente and his female that stays 12m away from him called Nyasimbi.
Visit Semuliki River
Visitors shouldn’t miss on the meandering long walks taken as they are heading to the river that supports almost all the lives of creatures in this park. The river is a kingdom to countless hippos, crocodiles, thousands of birds among ithers.
Game drives
The park has three tracking trails that lead tourists to the exciting views brought by the animals in the wild. The park arranges both day and night shifts and all that is required from the tourists is to have a vehicle that is in good shape and condition to have an undivided safari.
Chimpanzee trekking
Some chimps in this park were habituated by the Indiana university and each permit to this exercise cost just $30 but visitors should entirely know that they can spot other primates like white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys among others.
When to visit the park
The best time for visiting this park is during the dry months of June to September and December to February. The park floods in the wet season which makes the routes impassable.
Location of the park
On the borders of DR. Congo and Uganda, in a District of Bundibugyo lies the realest low-lying park with tropical rainforests.
