Uncover the top 5 Best Places to Safari in Uganda based on popularity and reviews, from Murchison Falls and Queen Elizbeth to Kidepo National Park.
Uganda is still a pure and virgin destination for tourists to enjoy authentic African wilderness experiences. There are a wide range of adventure experiences to engage in on safari in Uganda. This makes this East African country an outstanding African destination.
While on Uganda safari tour some of the thrilling experiences to expect to participate in include mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game viewing, bird watching, mountaineering, golden monkey tracking and others.
These adventure and Uganda wildlife experiences are offered in the best safari destinations. This article therefore highlights to you the 5 best places to safari in Uganda and they include;
The Top 5 Must-Visit Places for Safari in Uganda:
1.      Murchison Falls National Park.
Set on the Northern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, Murchison Falls National Park is of doubt one of the 5 best places to safari in Uganda. It is a splendid protected area and the only park found in Northwestern Uganda.
It is also the oldest conservancy area in the pearl of Africa dating about 1926 when it was founded as a reserve before upgrading as a national park in 1952.
This protected area sits in an area of 3840sq.kms and bisected into 2; the Southern and Northern sections. The amazing wildlife species to enjoy sight on safari in Uganda’s notably the leading destination include the Rothschild giraffes, African bush elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, some of the 451 bird species, the Nile crocodiles, hippos, antelopes.
There are some interesting primates sheltered within Kaniyo-Pabidi and Budongo Forest including among others chimpanzees, baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys.
Generally, Murchison Falls National Park is an exceptional Uganda safari park with over 76 mammal species and it is named after Murchison Falls. This is one of the powerful waterfalls and it is very scenic. It can be witnessed squeezing itself into a narrow gorge of 7 meters, forming a permanent rain-bow and then cascades about 43m down prior flowing towards Lake Albert.
There are plenty of tour activities for everyone to participate on Uganda safari in this magnificent protected area. They include game drives, bird watching, hot air balloon experience, nature walks, hiking to the top of Murchison Falls, boat cruise and others.
Ideal Safari in Murchison Falls National Park: 3 Days Murchison Falls Safari.
2.      Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a spectacular Uganda safari park set in Western Uganda. It is undoubtedly the second most extensive safari park in Uganda spreading up-to about 1978sq.kms. It is a popular Uganda safari park where the tree climbing lions can easily be spotted in Africa.
Tourists on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park get exposed to its distinct wildlife including the African bush elephants, hippos, birds (this account for over 620 bird species), Uganda Kobs, warthogs, tree climbing lions, leopards, buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos and others.
The top trip activities tourists can engage in on Uganda safari here include boat cruise on Kazinga Channel, game drives, birding, lion tracking, nature walks, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, hippo census.
Safari to Queen Elizabeth Park: 4 Days Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari.
3.      Kidepo Valley National Park.
Kidepo Valley National Park is lying suitably in the Karamoja region, Northeastern Uganda. It is Uganda’s third most extensive park, spreading to cover 1442sq.kms of land area.
The Kidepo Valley National park is an incredible safari park in Uganda with distinct wildlife such as duikers, zebras, lions, the Rothschild giraffes, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, hippos, cheetahs, topis, oribis, bushbucks, hyenas, birds, buffaloes, elephants.
Book a Trip to Kidepo: 4 Days Kidepo Valley Wildlife Safari.
4.      Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Known for its biological diversity, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park never goes unmentioned when it comes to the most eco-friendly places to safari in Uganda.
This park lies in Southwestern Uganda and shelters all 459 of the 1063 mountain gorillas that still exist on planet earth. It was designated as a national park in 1991 and later, it was recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
The main activity enjoyed here and that makes this park one of the 5 best places to safari in Uganda is gorilla trekking. This offers a magical encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in anyone of the park’s 20 habituated gorilla families.
These are spread in the 4 regions; Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga and Buhoma areas of Bwindi. A gorilla permit for Bwindi can be obtained at $700. However, there is possibility to also participate in bird watching (there are over 360 bird species to sight here), nature walks, biking/cycling, the Batwa encounter and others.
Ideal safari to Bwindi: 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Uganda.
5.      Kibale Forest National Park.
Situated in Western Uganda, Kibale Forest National Park is arguably the best place in Uganda and East Africa to engage in chimpanzee trekking.
The park protects over 1500 chimpanzees that make up part of the 13 primate species.
Kibale Forest National Park is dubbed the primate capital of the world, sheltering a huge profusion of primates including black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, pottos, bush babies, L’Hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys and others.
Best Uganda Safari to Kibale: 3 Days Kibale Primate Safari.
Tips to note
- No camping/making campfires except only in the designated sites
- Driving off the designated tracks is highly prohibited.
- Never cause disturbance to wildlife for instance by sounding motor horns
- Driving in the protected areas/parks at 7:00pm and 7:00am is prohibited.
- Pets are not accepted.
- The drive speed limit in the park should be maintained at 40kms per hour
- All the official receipts should be kept safe for inspection purposes.
- No firearms or ammunition should be carried in the park.
- Read more about post covid19 SOPs to national pars here.
What to carry on Safari in Uganda?
- Wide brimmed safari hat
- Sun glasses
- Camera
- Safari cloths
- Safari shoes
- Insect repellents
- Adequate cash
- Pair of binoculars
- A valid passport
- Visa
- First aid kit
Wow, what an amazing natural beauty! I would like to visit all of them. Last went on a Uganda Safari in 2015, I was mesmerized by Murchison falls, I would like to go back and to see more beautiful places
Thank you dear Lucas,
We will be happy to traverse Uganda with you
Very helpful blog. Worthy reading. Thanks guys 🙂
Wow, nice blog. Not as these long boring blogs. Just on point. Keep the good work, the places are really amazing,I’ve at least visited 3 of the 5 places. I enjoyed mountain gorilla trekking on a Uganda safari .