Uganda National Parks
UGANDA WILDLIFE NATIONAL PARKS
Described by Sir Winston Churchill as the “Pearl of Africa”Uganda boasts ten(10) national game parks and a number of Game reserves the best of which I have highlighted here.Uganda Wildlife image is synonymous with rich,fertile landscapes,rolling hills and dense forest and is perhaps best described as East Africa’s unspoiled green belt.
BWINDI INPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
260km,South West of Kampala;331sq.Km(1160m – 2607m).
The third largest,forested park in Uganda Wildlife,it shares a border with the Virunga national park in neighboring Congo,but,more importantly it offers some of the best opportunities for sightings of Mountain Gorillas and there is really no experience quite like it.Situated along the Great Rift valley Bwindi extends over a series of steep ridges,its massive rainforest almost impenetrable,its secretive interior providing the perfect habitat for over half of the word’s gorrilla population.Other wildlife includes a large variety of primates,including chimpanzee,Blue monkey and Black & White colobus monkey,antelope and forest elephant as well as remarkably high number of bird species.Terrain varies from swamp and bamboo forest to dense thicket from the ankle up which makes up 90% of the park,thus making gorilla trekking work hard! However there is no doubt in my mind that this cathedral of vegetation is a magical place,the confines of which hold many sercrets.
MGAHINGA GORRILA NATIONAL PARK
260km,South West of Kampala;331sq.Km(1160m – 2607m).
The third largest,forested park in Uganda Wildlife,it shares a border with the Virunga national park in neighboring Congo,but,more importantly it offers some of the best opportunities for sightings of Mountain Gorillas and there is really no experience quite like it.Situated along the Great Rift valley Bwindi extends over a series of steep ridges,its massive rainforest almost impenetrable,its secretive interior providing the perfect habitat for over half of the word’s gorrilla population.Other wildlife includes a large variety of primates,including chimpanzee,Blue monkey and Black & White colobus monkey,antelope and forest elephant as well as remarkably high number of bird species.Terrain varies from swamp and bamboo forest to dense thicket from the ankle up which makes up 90% of the park,thus making gorilla trekking work hard! However there is no doubt in my mind that this cathedral of vegetation is a magical place,the confines of which hold many sercrets.
MGAHINGA GORRILA NATIONAL PARK
290km,South West of Kampala – 33.7sq.Km.
Sharing a border with neighbouring Congo(Parc National des Virunga) and Rwanda(Parc National des Volcans),Mgahinga is the country’s smallest national park and protects the Ugandan part of the ‘Virunga mountains;a range of extinct and active Volcanoes that straddle the border.A tropical rain forest,much of the lower slopes have been depleted by the encroachment of farms,however,the bamboo and alpine forests remain largely intact and offer refuge to visiting gorilla groups from neighbouring Congo and Rwanda.These Gorilla groups frequently ‘pop in’ and take temporary residence for a couple of months at a stretch.Additional wildlife includes Blue Monkeys,Black & White colobus monkey,leopard,forest elephant,giant forest hog as well as numerous species of birds.As well as being famous as a refuge for ‘Gentle Giants’ Mgahinga is also a favourite with hikers who come to explore the many caves and the three volcanoes,which lie partly within the park’s borders.
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
200Km,South West of Kampala – 1978 sq.Km.
One of Ugand’s oldest,richest and most popular park,it is a labyrinth of open Savanna,bush lands,extensive forest,wetlands,rivers and lakes including Lake Edward,the Kazinag channel & Lake George.Like many other parts of Uganda its wildlife was severely depleted during years of instability,however with the return of peace the situation is clearly reversing,and a total of over 90 mammal species within its boundaries is evidence of this.Its deverse scenery is home to a multitude of game and the wonder of searching out the many different species within the boundaries of this contrasting habitat is great fun and put Queen Elizabeth National park in a class of its own.Wildlife includes chimpanzee,L’Hoest monkey and Black & White colobus monkey,a large number of predators,elephant,buffalo,numerous antelope including the elusive,semi-aquatic Statunga, and perhaps Uganda’s greatest concentration of bird-life with over 600 species of bird recorded as well as one of Africa’s largest congregations of hippo,along the Kazinga Channel.A trip on the channel should not be missed!
KIBALE NATIONAL PARK
180Km,South West of Kampala – 766 Sq.Km.
A fairly new park,Kibale in essence is a migratory route and corridor between Queen Elizabeth National park and parks to the north such as Murchison Falls National Park.Probably the most accessible of Uganda’s large forests it is home to an extremly large diversity of flora and fauna and secret trails,within it’s recesses,pounded by generations of elephant,giving credit to old wives tales of ‘elephant grave yards’ and big tusked,solitary bulls.Chimpazee groups have been habituated and can be visited with relative ease.Accommodation is available at near by Ndali Lodge as well as inside the park.
KATONGA WILDLIFE RESERVE
200Km West of Kampala – 211 Sq.Km.
Katonga is a recent addition to Uganda Wildlife list of protected wildlife areas.The reserve protects a network of forest fringed wetlands(along the Katonga River) and is best explored by foot and by canoe.Home to over 40 species of mammal and over 150 species of birds(many specific to wetland habitats) it is an ornithologist’s haven.Commonly sighted are elephant,waterbuck,reedbuck,colobus monkeys and river otter,as well as the shy Sitatunga,semi-aquatic antelope with web hooves.Viewing this game from a canoe,whilst they come to the water’s edge to drink is a thrilling and memorable experience.