Uganda Game Parks, Uganda National
Parks, Game Sanctuaries in Uganda, Bwindi, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth
Murchison Falls
National Park
Area - over 4,000 square kilometres
Approx. distance from Kampala: 300 Km estimated transit time:
4 1/2 - 5 Hrs
The largest park in Uganda, renowned
for its scenic beauty and the spectacular Falls from which it
gets its name.No visit to Murchison Falls would be complete without
a visit to the magnificent falls. They can be viewed from the
top where the Nile River narrows from 50 meters to crash through
a 7-meter gorge, falling 45 meters to the rocks below. Avid birdwatcher
will want to seek out some of the 424 species identified in the
park. Fishermen can test their skills above and below the Falls,
waiting patiently for 20-70 kg. Nile perch. Other game fish found
in the Nile include Barbel, Electric Catfish and Tiger fish.While
on the game drives, Cape buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe, Uganda
kob, hartebeest and waterbuck are commonly seen. You may also
spot oribi, bushbuck, Bohor reedbuck, shy sitatunga, bush duiker,
warthog and bushpig. Large carnivores include lion, leopard and
spotted hyena.
Chimpanzees and olive baboons head
the list of six species of primates found in the park. Crocodile
and hippo will be seen along the banks of the Nile. Some of the
more common birds that can be seen include goliath heron, Egyptian
geese, pelican, bee-eaters, kingfishers, hornbill, cormorant,
saddle-bill stork and the rare shoebill stork. A boat cruise to
the delta is a highlight for the avid birdwatcher.
Lake Mburo National
Park
Area - 260 square kilometres
Approx. distance from Kampala: 230 km estimated Transit Time:
3-4 Hrs
It lies along Mbarara Road within
easy access of Kampala. It is ideal for a transit stop to/from
the gorilla sanctuaries or Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is
an attractive park of rolling hills and open grassy valleys, interspersed
with thickets, woodlands and rich wetlands. Find here herds of
zebra, Cape buffalo and eland. Oribi and Topi are easily approached.
Along with a game drive, many visitors enjoy a boat trip on Lake
Mburo. Birdwatchers, will enjoy the more than 250 species of birds
found in Lake Mburo including Papyrus Gonolek, Brown faced Lapwing.
Carruther's Cisticola, the extraordinary White winged Warbler
and Bare-Faced-Go- Away bird.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Area – 34 square kilometres
Approx. distance from Kampala: 510 km estimated transit Time:
8-10 Hrs
It is the Ugandan part of the
Virunga Conservation Area, where half of the world's mountain
gorillas make their home, this park shares boundaries with Rwanda
and Congo/Zaire. The park is comprised of parts of three extinct
volcanic mountains, Mt. Muhavura (4127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3475 m)
and Mt. Sabyinyo (3645 m). The vegetation of Mgahinga is typically
afro-montane, with a forest belt, a bamboo zone, an ericacious
belt and an alpine zone. The park supports a variety of animal
species including gorilla, rare golden monkey, buffalo, elephant,
leopard and several cat. There are also over 180 species of bird
found in the region. Among these are the handsome fancolin, the
Rwenzori touraco and the side-breasted tit.About 45 mountain gorillas
use the Mgahinga sector of the Virunga Conservation Area seasonally.
Gorilla trekking is available here
when the gorillas are in the park. They are usually resident in
the months of April, May and June and October, November and December.
Mgahinga also offers a number of other exciting half-day hikes
and the challenge of a full-day climb to the summit of Mt. Muhavura
or Mt. Gahinga, or the breathtaking Sabyinyo Gorge.
