What National Parks Does Uganda Have?

Uganda has 16 beautiful national parks. And they scattered throughout the country. Each national park has something special, something that makes it worth a visit.

The Uganda National Parks at a glance

We could actually write a separate blog about every national park in Uganda. There is simply so much to discover and tell. Each national park has its own landscape, vegetation, wildlife and character. So, during your safari in Uganda, you will see something unique every time. You can drive through open savanna grasslands, along snow-capped mountains, crater lakes, and rivers, and through green jungle. A Uganda safari adventure is wonderfully diverse. The landscape is incredibly diverse and never gets boring.

Below, we list the 10 best national parks in Uganda.

Curious about the entrance fees? Read this blog.

Need to plan your trip? Contact us for a clear overview of the driving times and distances between the most visited parks and towns in Uganda.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is Uganda’s smallest savannah park. Yet it delivers big. Because it is so close to Kampala and Entebbe, Lake Mburo National Park is often at the beginning or end of a safari in Uganda. So, it is either a really nice start or a great way to end.

The landscape is close to the classic image of an African safari. It is green, bushy, and full of acacia trees. Another beautiful thing is how close the park is to local communities. Around the park, you will find farms where people keep Ankole cows, famous for their very large horns.

Night game drives are excellent here. Leopards are often the prize sighting. But what really sets Lake Mburo apart is the freedom to explore. This is the park where you can leave the vehicle behind. Ride a mountain bike past grazing wildlife. Saddle up for a horseback safari. Or step quietly into the bush on foot. It is a completely different way to experience wildlife in Uganda.

Murchison Falls National Park

The number one savannah park in Uganda: Murchison Falls National Park. It is located in northwestern Uganda about 6-hour drive from Kampala. This park has the highest concentration of savannah wildlife in Uganda. There are hyenas, leopards, and lions. Furthermore, there are elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and giraffes – including the Rothschild giraffe, a unique, endangered giraffe species.

Game drives here are classic and rewarding. But the Nile adds something special. Take a boat safari and drift past hippos, shoebills, and huge Nile crocodiles that can grow up to 7 meters long. And there is plenty for bird lovers too. The park is home to over 450 bird species, including the rare shoebill stork. You can easily spend hours watching the birds along the river and in the surrounding wetlands.

Then there is the scenery. The Nile River, the longest river on Earth, slices through the park on its journey toward Lake Albert. Along the way, it explodes through an 8-meter-wide gorge to form the Murchison Falls, the world’s strongest waterfall.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley is one of least-visited national parks in Uganda. It is located in the northeastern Uganda (in Karamoja region) about 10-to-12-hour drive from Kampala.

Its remote setting keeps the crowds away and preserves a rare sense of wilderness. This is a vast, breathtakingly beautiful landscape where solitude comes naturally. You can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle, surrounded only by sweeping plains and distant mountain ranges.

Wildlife here feels different too. Alongside classic savannah species, you may spot ostriches striding across the grasslands and, if luck is on your side, the elusive cheetah. But Kidepo offers more than game drives. The cultural experiences are just as powerful. Visits to nomadic tribes and nearby local communities provide meaningful insight into traditions that have endured for generations.

What makes Kidepo National Park extra special now is that, starting in March 2026, you can once again encounter rhinos in the wild here. With the reintroduction of this iconic species, the ecosystem is being restored step by step – making a safari here feel even more like a journey back to how Africa once was.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most famous national park in Uganda. It is about seven hours drive from Kampala, in the southwest of the country.

The park is home to a huge variety of wildlife, with over 90 mammal species and 610 bird species. You can see lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, and many different birds. But one sight is especially famous: the rare tree-climbing lions. They are found in the Ishasha sector, in the south of the park. It is one of the very few places in the world where you can see lions resting high in the branches.

The landscape is also amazingly diverse. One moment you are driving through a typical savanna, the next you are standing in a gorge with a tropical rainforest. There is plenty of water.

The Kazinga Channel runs right through the park. This channel connects Lake Albert and Lake George and is home to one Africa’s densest concentrations of hippos and countless waterbirds. Additionally, there are several crater lakes. You will find slightly less wildlife there, but it is still beautiful to see.

One of the most special places in the park is the Kyambura Gorge – a deep canyon containing a tropical rainforest. You can hike through it. Before entering the gorge, you are still on the savannah. You descend and suddenly find yourself in a tropical rainforest. You see hippos floating in the river, and you can go on a trek to see the chimpanzees.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the parks where you will find the endangered mountain gorillas. Bwindi feels like a fairy-tale forest. From the moment you arrive, the vast, lush greenery surrounds you.

Beyond gorilla trekking, Bwindi offers excellent birdwatching and scenic nature walks through its enchanting jungle. Mgahinga is equally stunning. Part of the Virunga Mountains shared with Rwanda and Congo, it boasts ancient volcanoes, crater lakes, and morning mists that rise over the peaks. Here, you can also encounter the rare golden monkey, another extraordinary species unique to the region.

Kibale Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking is what many people come to Kibale Forest National Park for. And rightly so: it is one of the most special things to do in Uganda.

But Kibale National Park has much more to offer than chimpanzees. It is a paradise for birdwatchers, home over 370 bird species. And the landscape is perfect for beautiful hikes. You can learn all about nature there. On top of that, there are all kinds of cultural activities surrounding the park.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki is beautiful. It’s lush green. Rivers flow through it. There are waterfalls and bubbling hot springs. Many monkeys live there. Birdwatchers flock there to spot unique bird species. However, the park doesn’t offer many extras compared to other national parks of Uganda.

That’s why it is often overlooked by visitors on Uganda safaris. Moreover, there is only one accommodation option, which is high-end and therefore very expensive. Most people who visit Semuliki National Park take a day trip from Kibale, which is about a 1.5-hour drive.

Mount Elgon National Park

Mount Elgon borders Kenya. It is mostly visited by adventurers, by those who want to hike to the summit on a challenging, multi-day trek. But Mount Elgon National Park is more than just a mountain.

The surrounding area is just as special. Sipi Falls are nearby. These are three beautiful waterfalls at different heights. You can hike past all of them in half a day.

Besides the waterfalls, it’s a beautiful, green area with large coffee and banana plantations. It is a region you visit for the scenery and hikes, not so much for the wildlife.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park contains Africa’s third-highest mountain, Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley (5,109m).

Ecologically, geologically and culturally, Rwenzori is hugely significant. It holds the highest and most permanent sources of the Nile. The flora is extraordinary, with giant heathers, lobelias, groundsels, and rare medicinal herbs. You are in the tropics, yet snow crowns the peaks!

Climbing to the summit takes about seven days and requires excellent fitness. Shorter treks are also possible, with two-, three-, or five-day hikes offering breathtaking scenery without the extreme challenge.

Uganda takes good care of its national parks

As you have read above, Uganda has many national parks. There are also numerous reserves; areas slated for national park status. Both the parks and reserves are closely managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, ensuring that wildlife has access to space and a healthy environment. In short, Uganda is serious about developing and protecting its natural resources.

You can easily drive from park to park

The infrastructure between the national parks of Uganda is constantly being optimized. As a traveler, you can see more and more in a shorter time. But don’t just focus on the parks: there are also all sorts of beautiful things to discover between them. Take, for example, the vibrant Ugandan life.

Want to visit national parks in Uganda yourself?

You have already read that Uganda boasts many beautiful parks, each with its own unique characteristics. Want to experience the most beautiful sights on your own safari in Uganda? We are happy to help you plan a unique Uganda safari. Curious about our tips? Then read: Top 12 things to do in Uganda.