Lake Mburo National Park: Whispers of the wild
Conveniently located close to the highway that connects the Ugandan capital city Kampala, to the parks in western Uganda. Lake Mburo National Park is centered on a series of swamp-fringed lakes known for their allure of birdlife. It is home to 315 bird species and markedly different fauna when compared to other Ugandan National Parks and is home to the last surviving Ugandan population of eland which double as Africa’s largest Antelope sub-species. The green acacia woodlands surrounding the Lake harbour dense populations of Zebras, Warthogs, Buffaloes, waterbucks, defassa, leopards, hyenas, reedbuck and Impala which are found no where else in Uganda. Crocodiles and hundreds of hippos can be found in the lake. With 13 lakes, 5 of which lie within the park’s borders, Lake Mburo forms a 50km long wetland system linked by a swamp. Its bank teems with mammals and birds.
Activities in Lake Mburo National Park:
Boat Trips;
Wildlife is concentrated on the eastern bank of Lake Mburo and better explored on a tranquil 2hr boat voyage. Expect sightings of crocodiles, buffalo, hippos, colorful kingfishers, magnificent Fish Eagles, hammerkops and their enormous nests and the Shoebill stork.
Birding;
The swampy valley of Warukiri is the best bird-watching spot in Lake Mburo National Park, the species in this valley include Black-bellied bustard, brown-chested lapwing, emerald-spotted wood-dove, redheaded lovebird, green-wood-hoopoe, Nubian woodpecker among others.
The Rubanga Forest area of the Park is the real draw for keen Birders and can be explored on foot if prior arrangement with the warden is made. It is home to the rare species of The African fin foot and the Red-faced barbet which can only be seen in Lake Mburo National Park.
Game Drives;
The Game tracks of the park cut across a variety of landscape features, namely; Acacia, woodlands, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rock outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors. Early morning and Late Afternoon are the best times to roam the park in search for wildlife.
Hiking and Nature walks;
At Rwonyo, a guided walk leads to the salt lick area where animals are attracted to the salty rocks.
Walks on the western side of the Lake begin at 7:00am with a 2 hour duration. At this time of the day, hyenas may be returning to their dens and hippos retreating to the lake. Woodland hikes provide an opportunity to sight forest birds and mammals, while the walk to the top of the hill rewards visitors with a
spectacular view of nine of the region’s lakes.
Murchison Falls National Park: The World’s most Powerful Waterfalls
It is the oldest and largest National Park in Uganda, it is covered by the untamed African savannah bisected by the Nile River which plunges 45m over the remnant Rift Valley wall and thus creating the breathtaking Murchison Falls. The water violently compresses through a narrow gorge, spraying misty
droplets along their wake over a 40m radius, culminating into a permanent rainbow over the falls in the midst of a continuous roaring sound. The Falls are the centerpiece of the Park and the final event in an 80km stretch of rapids.
The water falls drain the last of the river’s energy, transforming it into a broad placid stream that flows across the rift valley floor into Lake Albert. The river stretch hosts one of Africa densest hippo and Nile crocodile populations, giraffes, buffalo herds and a variety of beautiful water birds including the world’s wild population of the rare Shoe-bill stock. A boat ride along the Nile towards the bottom of the falls is a rewarding experience for nature lovers; the northern bank teems with a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles. Tourists can choose whether to go on guided nature walks along the northern and southern banks. The Buligi game tracks that lie between the Victoria Nile and the Albert Nile (still within the Park)
provide for one of the best Game viewing areas in the entire Park.
The Park is also home to the Karuma Falls which are on the Victoria Nile and are made up of natural rock formations causing the water to ripple resulting into a white foamy appearance making it an the ideal spot for sport fishing.
Activities in Murchison Falls National Park:
Game Drives;
A game drive on the northern bank is a fantastic way to see and photograph the wide range of animals in the Nile Valley. Tourists have the opportunity to marvel at massive Buffalo herds, Elephant families, warthogs, towering giraffes alongside Bushbucks, Kobs, Oribi and Hartebeest. You may see lions and
leopards especially at dusk.
An alternative Tembo trail to the Top of the falls offers a marvelous experience that and unbelievable views of the massive water falls.
Launch Trips;
An up-stream launch trip presents an amazing wildlife viewing experience and culminates into memorable frontal views of the massive falls. Up-stream Launches depart at 9:00am and 2:00pm daily. The morning downstream cruise provides the best chance in Africa to spot the rare and nearly extinct Shoebill stork while the return voyage lets you sock in all the amazing wildlife views.
A tranquil sun-downer boat cruise at 5:30pm offers incredible views of the sunset, reflected on the river Nile.
Sport Fishing;
At the bank of the Nile below the Murchison Falls, anglers are treated to an exciting challenge from the Nile perch fish species as they tussle it out with strong river currents to catch a 100kg fish. Fishing is permitted at designated sites with prior booking. Anglers have to bring their own fishing equipment, as
we assist them to secure fishing permits from The Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Bush Camping;
For a night in the midst of the park’s wildlife you can set up camp in the Bush. Campers can choose to go on guided nature walks, night game drives and enjoy camp fire story telling from seasoned Park rangers and local tribesmen expounding your knowledge about the Park and the customs of the local people.
Hiking and Nature walks;
Tourists enjoy the Nature Hikes to the top of the falls as they watch waves of whitewater tumble through a 6m chasm in a hypnotic manner as they listen to roaring sounds from the falls with droplets from the Nile water spraying their faces and feal the rock shake beneath their feet. If hiking to the top of the Falls
is not your thing, you can choose to get off at the north bank during your game drive, walk down a set of steps to stand within meters of the rapids. Short treks of between 1-2 hours are suitable bird lovers and nature lovers and can be enjoyed from Sambiya River Lodge or Mubako junction on the southern bank as they walk towards the northern bank close to the Emmy River.
Birding
Both the game drives and launch trips offer equal opportunities for birding enthusiasts to come across distinct birdlife that includes savannah birds, forest birds and Albertine rift endemics alongside other migratory species. The rare shoebill stork is surely the highlight for birding enthusiasts.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park: The Mystical Challenge
Mt. Rwenzori is East Africa’s tallest mountain range and the most challenging to climb. The legendary snow-capped peaks have trails that lead through tropical rainforests rattling with monkeys and birds, huge tree heathers and colourful mosses draped across the mountainside with giant lobelias and everlasting flowers create an enchanting fairytale scene worth the strenuous hike. Found in western Uganda along the Congo border, the mountains of the moon cover an area of 995km² and are made up of 6 mountain ranges that have permanent snow and glaciers; Mt. Stanley (5,109m), Mt. Speke (4,890m), Mt.Baker (4,843m), Mt. Emin (4,798m), Mt. Gessi (4,715m) and Mt. Luigi di Savio (4,627m), these are separated by deep gorges. A 9-day trek gets skilled hikers to the summit of Margherita, the highest peak.
Rwenzori mountains National Park protects the highest parts of the 120km-long and 65km-wide Rwenzori Mountain range. Unlike other parks that offer excellent game viewing opportunities, this park is better known for its spectacular scenery and unique bio-diversity. The National Park hosts 70 mammals and 177 bird species including 19 Albertine rift endemics, as well as the world’s rarest vegetative species.
The misty, boggy, glacier-carved valleys of the high Rwenzori form a strange botanical worldly setting which over the years has been compared to the forests of the Seven Dwarves, the Jabberwocky and the Tolken’s middle earth. The strange plants are regarded as some of the world’s botanical treasures, found only on the highest mountains of East Africa. The Park has over 20 lakes with the lowest and most accessible being Lake Mahoma (2,651m) which lies in a bird-rich forest on the central circuit.
Activities in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park:
Hiking and Nature Walks; There are guided forest walks of various lengths just outside the park, Visitors
can follow River Mubuku to get a glimpse of Baker and Portal peaks as they hike up to hike up to 2,300m above sea level. On a clear day it is possible to view the snow-capped Margherita peak. Along the way, look out for chameleons, vervet monkeys and many birds.
Birding;
Great Opportunities are in the montane forest, few bird species choose to make their home in the unfriendly neighborhood of the high Rwenzori. Sights to enjoy are the Bee-eaters, Robins, Sunbirds, and Barbests, these are just some of the 177 bird species found in the park.
Mountain Climbing;
Providing a circular tour of the high Rwenzori, the central circuit trail is a challenging 7-day climb. From the trailhead at Ruboni, the route ascends the Bujuku valley and crosses the Scott Elliot and Fresh field to descend through Mubuku valley. The snow peak scenery is breathtaking and a true mountaineering reward.
The Kilembe trail is another route used to ascend the southern slopes of the Rwenzori along the beautiful Nyamwamba Valley that borders glacial lakes up to the central circuit at Lake Kitandara.
Cultural Encounters;
Discover the peaceful farming village of Ruboni which is home to the Bakonzo community in the foothills of the Rwenzori. Meet the community blacksmith, the traditional healer, basket weavers, village storytellers and enjoy vibrant dance performances accompanied with enchanting drumming. Aside from the Ruboni village trail, the 6-hour Bulemba-Ihandiro cultural trail through the “holy valley” and several cultural sites of the Bakonzo community.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: Where Gold meets Silver
This Park is situated on 33.7km², making it the smallest National Park in Uganda and the habitat for Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkey, which are 2 of the world’s rarest and most endangered apes. Located in the southwestern corner of the country, the park shares a border with Virunga National Park in
the D.R Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The three form The Virunga conservation area.
The park’s striking features are three conical volcanoes, namely; Mt. Muhavura(4,127m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474m) and Mt. Sabyinyo (3,645m), which provide a good challenge to mountain climbers. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various eco-systems are biologically diverse while their peaks provide a striking
backdrop to the gorgeous scenery. This National Park is home to the habituated Nyakagezi gorilla group, a fairly nomadic bunch that is known to cross borders in to Rwanda and D.R Congo. The lead silverback in this Gorilla family is named Bugingo and is approximately 50 years old, he is a father to most of the members of this gorilla group, He has two silverback males, namely; Mark and Marfia and two blackback sons named Rukundo and Ndugutse who love to pose for the camera and to play in the trees. The two females, namely; Nshuti and Nyiramwiza both have babies named Furaha and Nkanda respectively. The Park offers a chance to tourists to track the endangered Golden monkey in the dense bamboo forests on the Gahinga trail. The estimated population 3000-4000 individuals in the Virunga area of which 60 are habituated in Mgahinga. Various birds also call this park home, where 184 bird species have been so far recorded.
Activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park:
Gorilla Tracking;
Trackers leave Ntebeko entrance at 8:00am daily. The Nyakagezi gorilla group may be tracked when in Uganda and visitors are allowed a maximum of 1 hour with the group in order to minimize human interference.
Mountain/ Volcano climbing;
All three volcanoes are summited. Mt. Sabinyo takes about 8 hours to cover the 14km trip following a steep ridge that leads to the Peak. Mt. Gahinga is topped with a swamp-filled crater plus giant lobelia, a 6 hour walk will see you up to the mountain’s summit while Mt. Muhavura takes 12 hours of climbing in
order to reach its peak in a 12km round trip. The climber is rewarded with views of the Virunga volcanoes, Lake Edward, Bwindi Impenetrable forest and the peaks of the Rwenzori mountains on a clear day’s ascend.
Birding;
On a 3-4 hour Gorge hike between Gahinga and Sabinyo culminates into spectacular sightings of the Olive thrush, brown-crowned tchagara, bronze sunbird, among others. Other birding spots are at the bamboo belt about 2000m above sea level and the tall montane forest at 2660m above sea level.
Cultural Encounters;
Enjoying Nature walks and learning about the cultural heritage of the Batwa helps expound the tourist’s knowledge of the indigenous occupants of the Mgahinga forest.
Queen Elizabeth National Park: A medley of wonders
Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori mountains, the park is hometo a diverse eco-system of sprawling savannah, shady & humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands offering a habitat for classic big game, 600 bird species, and 10 primate species including chimpanzees.
Top of the list of the most popular tourist destinations in Uganda, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills up to the vast Lake Edward, The Kazinga channel, a marvelous waterfront setting in the shadows of the Rwenzori mountains, its banks are lined with Africa’s most iconic hippo species, Buffaloes and Elephants; The Ishasha plains whose fig trees provide a hiding place for tree-climbing lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting antelopes;
The Maramagambo Forest which is home to an alluring selection of forest monkeys and home to the Batwa pigmy community which tourists can visit to experience the culture, music, dance, cuisine of the Batwa community.
Activities within Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Game Drives;
This activity provides the best photo opportunities especially along the tracks through the Kasenyi plains, north Kazinga plains and the Ishasha sector which offer guaranteed sighting of Buffalo, Elephants, Antelopes, Warthogs and Baboons. Driving with an experienced guide at dawn or dusk is the most
successful way to track a pride of lions or hideous leopards. Ranger Guides are available from 6:30am.
Chimp tracking;
The 3hour Kyambura Gorge experience is more than a discovery of chimpanzees in their natural environment; it expands the tourists’ knowledge of the eco-systems of Kyambura Gorge’s underground rainforest, vegetation types, bird identification and behaviour as well as chimp and monkey ecology.
Launch trips;
The Perfect way to view the different species that inhabit the Park is by taking a 2hour launch trip. A boat tour on Kazinga channel lets you cruise just meters away from hundreds of Hippos and Buffaloes while Elephants linger on the shoreline. Be sure to spot over 60 bird species on the Boat tour on Kazinga
channel.
Research and monitoring;
If you yearn to get close to African fauna, the research trip is your adventure. This unique experience enables the researcher to monitor the exotic birds and mammals that fill this Park by use of locator devices as well as learning habituation calls, weather patterns, surrounding eco-systems and animal
behaviour. Research trips typically last up to 3hrs at a time.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: The Ultimate Gorilla Experience
At 331km², it is home to half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas, whose encounter and consequent eye contact have been described as the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter in the whole of Africa. With mist covered hillsides, this impenetrable forest is the oldest and most biologically diverse rainforest, with over 400 species of plants. It lies on the edge of the rift valley in southwestern Uganda, and protects at least 120 species of mammals, 346 species of birds, 202 species of butterflies, 163 species of trees, 100
species of ferns, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos, and other reptiles. It is a UNESCO designated World Heritage site popular for Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees; these are 2 of the great Apes that are listed as endangered animals in the IUCN Red Data Book.
Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:
Gorilla Tracking;
Gorilla Tracking is the major tourist attraction in this park with 4 Gorilla tracking trailheads with 9 groups of Mountain Gorilla families that have been habituated and a maximum of 8 tourists can book to observe these gentle giants per day. Observing man’s distant cousins as they eat, play and bond with their young is unique experience. The tracking can last anywhere between 3hours to a whole day, depending on the location of the Gorillas as they freely move in the impenetrable forest.
Bird-Watching;
Birding in this Park provides an opportunity to spot various Albertine rift endemics such as the Short-tailed warbler. A 6-hour bamboo trail leads to Rwamunyonyi peak, at 2,607m, is the highest peak and among the best spots for bird-watching while a 3-hour descend to Mubwindi swamp could lead a
visitor to an endemic and localized population of African Green Broadbills.
Mountain Biking and Nature Walks;
Mountain Biking and Nature Walks to the waterfalls take you along beautiful streams and rivers especially in the Buhoma area that borders the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Community Tours;
With summits swirling with mist, Buhoma offers a dramatic setting for the Batwa pygmy cultural tour. A 3-hour village walk starts with a visit to the handcraft shop filled with beautiful hand-made pieces of collectables which tourists can purchase for a few dollars and proceeds to the Batwa pygmy village where the Batwa pygmy people treat the Tourists to vibrant traditional dance performances, religious practices and hunting demonstration as well as a showcase of Batwa weaponry which mainly consists of Bows and Arrows.
Kibale National Park: The Primate Capital of the World
This Park is the primatologist’s dream destination. It is home to a total of 60 mammal species with Chimpanzees and Red Colobus monkeys being the most popular. These two species have been assessed as critically endangered by IUCN.
The Park contains the most varied tracts of Tropical Forest in Uganda. The forest cover is interspersed with patches of grasslands and swamps, making it home to over 375 species of birds, 250 species of butterflies, an estimated 500 elephants along with buffaloes, leopards, warthogs, bush-pigs, golden cats, duikers, several reptiles and amphibians. Kibale National Park adjoins the Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south creating a 180-km long corridor for wildlife between the two parks.
The Kanyanyu trail in Kibale National Park is the main trail for the Park’s famous Primate walks offering guaranteed encounters with 13 primate species of which the habituated Chimpanzees are the most popular.
The Northern area of the Park harbors sizable populations of Red-Colobus Monkeys, Black-and-White-Colobus Monkeys and Vervet Monkeys making it ideal for forest walks. This area also offers splendid views of the Mpanga River.
Activities in Kibale Forest National Park:
Chimpanzee Tracking and Habituation;
This is the park’s most popular activity, 13 species are sought and a variety of diurnaul monkeys invariably encountered. But the most outstanding is the Chimpanzee walks which start at 8:00am. They have been tracked since 1993 and have greater chance of locating them.
There is full-day chimpanzee habituation. Visitors can see them leave their nests between 6:00am to 6:30 am before feeding, copulating, hunting and everything in between before they build new nests at around 7:00pm.
Birding
Birding Walks start as early as 6:45am with prior booking recommended. Rare species to expect include the papyrus gonolek, white-winged warbler, white-collared olive back and the papyrus canary.
Hiking/ Nature Tours
If the half-day primate walk is a bit short for your liking, you can supplement it with 12km forest hike that passes through the rainforest. When some forest residents go to sleep at night, a night time shift of rarely seen creatures awake providing for an opportune time for Night walks through darkened forest to seek nocturnal creatures like the potto, bushbaby, civet and tree hyrax. The night walks last for 2 hours and 30 minutes and begin at 7:00pm.