5 Best Places to Safari in Uganda: Top National Parks for Wildlife, Gorillas & Big Game
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 remains a genuinely pure, uncrowded destination for travelers seeking authentic African wilderness and knowing the best places to safari in Uganda is the first step toward planning a trip that actually delivers on that promise.
From mountain gorilla trekking to tree-climbing lions and remote Karamoja wilderness, this guide ranks the five best Uganda safari destinations, based on wildlife diversity, activity variety, and genuine visitor experience.
While on a Uganda safari tour, expect thrilling experiences ranging from mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking to classic game viewing, birdwatching, mountaineering, and golden monkey tracking all offered across a small handful of standout parks. Here are the five best Uganda safari parks that deliver these experiences at the highest level.
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 Best Places To 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.
Tucked into the rugged Karamoja region in Uganda’s far northeast, Kidepo Valley National Park is consistently ranked among the best places to safari in Uganda for travelers seeking genuine, untouched wilderness far from the more heavily visited southern circuit.
Its remoteness is exactly the point — Kidepo delivers a wilderness experience that feels distinctly different from anywhere else in the country.
Wildlife here includes species found nowhere else in Uganda, most notably the striking Rothschild giraffe, alongside zebras, lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, topis, oribis, and a genuinely strong population of ostriches — a genuine East African savanna spectacle in a landscape framed by dramatic mountain backdrops.
A Kidepo Valley safari rewards the extra travel time with some of the least crowded, most rewarding game viewing anywhere in the country.
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.
6. Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savanna park, sits just about 4 hours’ drive from Kampala, making it one of the most accessible of the best places to safari in Uganda for travelers with limited time.
Despite its compact size, Lake Mburo punches well above its weight — home to zebras, elands, impalas, buffalo, and reintroduced giraffes, alongside strong birdlife along the lakeshore.
What genuinely sets Lake Mburo apart is activity variety rarely found elsewhere in Uganda: this is one of the only parks in the country where walking safaris, cycling safaris, and night game drives are all permitted, alongside the standard vehicle game drive and boat cruise on the lake itself.
For travelers short on time but still wanting a genuine Uganda safari experience, Lake Mburo delivers real value in a compact package.
Choosing the Right Uganda Safari Destination for You
Deciding between these five best places to safari in Uganda ultimately comes down to what you want most from your trip. Travelers prioritizing primates and gorilla trekking should anchor their trip around Bwindi, while those chasing classic big-game and tree-climbing lions will find Queen Elizabeth National Park hard to beat.
Murchison Falls remains the strongest all-rounder for travelers wanting river scenery, waterfalls, and savanna wildlife in one park, Kidepo Valley rewards those willing to travel further for genuine wilderness solitude, and Lake Mburo suits shorter trips or travelers wanting walking and cycling safaris alongside standard game drives.
Many well-planned itineraries combine two or three of these five parks into a single trip — our full Uganda wildlife safari guide covers exactly how these parks connect into longer, multi-destination Uganda itineraries.
Plan Your Safari to Uganda Today!
Guidelines to follow on Safari in Uganda.
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
FAQ: Best Places to Safari in Uganda
What is the best national park for a Uganda safari? It depends on your priority — Bwindi for gorilla trekking, Queen Elizabeth for tree-climbing lions and wildlife diversity, and Murchison Falls for the most complete single-park experience.
Which Uganda park is best for gorilla trekking? Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to 459 of the world’s 1,063 mountain gorillas across 20 habituated families.
Which Uganda park is best for a short safari? Lake Mburo National Park, roughly 4 hours from Kampala, ideal for travelers with limited time who still want game drives, walking safaris, and a boat cruise.
Where can I see tree-climbing lions in Uganda? The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most reliable location in the country.
Which Uganda park has the most remote, untouched wilderness feel? Kidepo Valley National Park, in the far northeastern Karamoja region, known for its Rothschild giraffes and low visitor numbers.
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 .