Uganda packs an unusual amount of variety into a country the size of the United Kingdom: montane rainforest along the Congo border, open savanna in the north, papyrus swamps around Lake Victoria and glaciers on the Rwenzori range.
Below is every national park and wildlife reserve in the country, together with the forest reserves, sanctuaries, lakes and towns that Uganda safaris are built around. Each one links to a guide to the place and, where operators list trips that go there, to those safaris. Every safari on this site is sold and run by an independent Ugandan tour company.
National Parks 10
Uganda has ten national parks, from montane rainforest on the Congo border to open savanna in the far north-east.
-
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Western Uganda
A UNESCO World Heritage montane rainforest in south-western Uganda holding roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Trekking is run from four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Full guide 31 safaris
-
Kibale National Park
Western Uganda
The best place in East Africa for chimpanzee tracking, with thirteen primate species in a tall tropical forest. Treks start at Kanyanchu; the neighbouring Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a community-run birding walk.
Full guide 17 safaris
-
Kidepo Valley National Park
Northern Uganda
A remote semi-arid wilderness in the far north-east, hemmed in by mountains on the South Sudan border. The Narus Valley holds the wildlife concentrations; most visitors fly in to the Apoka airstrip.
Full guide 2 safaris
-
Lake Mburo National Park
Western Uganda
A compact acacia and wetland park on the Kampala–Mbarara highway, and the easiest place in Uganda to see zebra, impala and eland. One of the few parks allowing walking safaris, horseback rides and night drives.
Full guide 5 safaris
-
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Western Uganda
Uganda's smallest national park, on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Known for one habituated gorilla group, golden monkey tracking and Batwa cultural trails.
Full guide 4 safaris
-
Mount Elgon National Park
Eastern Uganda
An extinct shield volcano on the Kenyan border with the world's largest intact caldera. Trails via Sasa, Sipi and Piswa reach Wagagai Peak at 4,321 m without technical climbing.
Full guide 1 safari
-
Murchison Falls National Park
Northern Uganda
Uganda's largest national park, split by the Victoria Nile as it is forced through a 7 m gorge. The classic day pairs a northern-bank game drive with the launch trip to the base of the falls at Paraa.
Full guide 11 safaris
-
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Western Uganda
Uganda's most visited savannah park, spanning the Kazinga Channel between Lakes Edward and George. Famous for the channel launch cruise, the Ishasha tree-climbing lions and chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge.
Full guide 14 safaris
-
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Western Uganda
The glaciated "Mountains of the Moon" on the DR Congo border, rising to Margherita Peak at 5,109 m — Africa's third highest summit. Multi-day treks leave from the Central Circuit and Kilembe trailheads.
Full guide 1 safari
-
Semuliki National Park
Western Uganda
A lowland Congolian rainforest in the Semliki Valley, unlike anywhere else in Uganda. The Sempaya hot springs and a bird list packed with Central African specials are the main draws.
Full guide 2 safaris
Wildlife Reserves 12
Twelve wildlife reserves buffer the parks and protect migration corridors. Most see very few visitors.
-
Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Northern Uganda
A West Nile reserve on the Albert Nile in Madi-Okollo district. It once held a resident white rhino population and is being rehabilitated as part of Uganda's rhino recovery plans.
Full guide
-
Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
Northern Uganda
A Karamoja reserve linking Pian Upe with Matheniko, forming a migration corridor across open Acacia and grass plains. Good for roan antelope, Bright's gazelle and dry-country birds.
Full guide
-
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
Western Uganda
A reserve between Lake Albert and the Budongo escarpment adjoining Murchison Falls National Park, crossed on the approach to the southern sector and holding Jackson's hartebeest and oribi.
Full guide
-
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Western Uganda
A small reserve on the Lake Albert escarpment in Hoima district, combining rift valley views with Uganda kob, oribi and hippo. Quad biking and horse riding are offered alongside game drives.
Full guide
Photograph by Vaibhave Nagori, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Northern Uganda
-
Katonga Wildlife Reserve
Western Uganda
A wetland reserve along the Katonga river between Lake George and Lake Victoria. One of the few places in Uganda to see sitatunga antelope, explored on foot and by canoe rather than by vehicle.
Full guide
Photograph by Peter Archdale, licensed under CC BY 4.0
-
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
Western Uganda
A buffer reserve adjoining the southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, sharing its elephant and buffalo populations and forming part of the wider Greater Virunga landscape.
Full guide
-
Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
Western Uganda
A reserve on the eastern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park containing the Kyambura Gorge, a 100 m deep forested trench cut by the Kyambura river and home to a small habituated chimpanzee community.
Full guide 2 safaris
-
Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
Northern Uganda
A semi-arid reserve east of Moroto against the Kenyan border, in the driest corner of Karamoja. Visited for its landscape, Karamojong manyattas and specialised dry-country wildlife.
Full guide
-
Otze Forest Wildlife Reserve
Northern Uganda
A West Nile forest reserve near Moyo on the South Sudan border, gazetted in the 1930s as a northern white rhino refuge. An Important Bird Area today, with no gate, ranger post or visitor facilities.
Full guide
Photograph by Christopher Liberty, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Eastern Uganda
Uganda's second largest protected area, a semi-arid plain below Mount Elgon. One of the few places to look for cheetah, roan antelope and the ostrich populations of the Karamoja plains.
Full guide 1 safari
-
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Western Uganda
Uganda's oldest protected area, gazetted in 1926, on the floor of the Albertine Rift beside Lake Albert. Known for chimpanzee tracking on the Mugiri river, Uganda kob and night drives.
Full guide 1 safari
Forests & Sanctuaries 9
Central forest reserves and sanctuaries hold chimpanzees, Albertine Rift birds and some of the best forest walking in East Africa.
-
Budongo Forest
Western Uganda
Uganda's largest mahogany forest, on the southern approach to Murchison Falls. Chimpanzee tracking and the "Royal Mile" birding walk run from the Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro sites.
Full guide 1 safari
-
Bugoma Forest
Western Uganda
A mid-altitude forest on the Lake Albert escarpment in Hoima district, holding one of Uganda's larger chimpanzee populations and the endemic Ugandan mangabey.
Full guide
-
Echuya Forest
Western Uganda
A bamboo and montane forest between Kabale and Kisoro, bordering Lake Bunyonyi. An Albertine Rift birding site for Grauer's swamp warbler in the adjoining Muchuya swamp.
Full guide
Photograph by Bruno ashimwe winks, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Western Uganda
A forest reserve on the Ishaka–Kasese road beside Queen Elizabeth NP, offering lower-cost chimpanzee tracking, six primate species and guided nature trails.
Full guide 1 safari
-
Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest
Western Uganda
A forest reserve east of Queen Elizabeth National Park holding chimpanzees, crater lakes and the Lubale river. Rarely visited, with no visitor centre, no published tariff and no lodge.
Full guide
Photograph by Jim Joel, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Mabira Forest
Central Uganda
-
Maramagambo Forest
Western Uganda
A large medium-altitude forest inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for the bat cave and its resident rock pythons, forest walks and crater lakes such as Nyamasingiri.
Full guide 3 safaris
Photograph by Rudy Algera, licensed under CC BY 4.0
-
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
Central Uganda
A forested island sanctuary on Lake Victoria, 23 km from Entebbe, caring for orphaned chimpanzees rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Reached by boat as a day trip or overnight stay.
Full guide 1 safari
-
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Central Uganda
The only place in Uganda with wild southern white rhino, in Nakasongola District on the road to Murchison Falls. Rhino tracking is done on foot with sanctuary rangers.
Full guide 3 safaris
Lakes, Rivers & Wetlands 5
Lake Victoria, the crater lakes of the west and the papyrus wetlands that hold the shoebill.
-
Lake Bunyonyi
Western Uganda
A deep, island-studded crater lake near Kabale, bilharzia-free and free of hippos and crocodiles. The standard rest stop before or after gorilla trekking, popular for canoeing and island walks.
Full guide 6 safaris
Photograph by PatriciaUganda, licensed under CC BY 4.0
-
Lake Victoria
Central Uganda
Africa's largest lake and the source of the White Nile. The Ugandan shoreline supports sport fishing for Nile perch, island getaways and shoebill wetlands.
Full guide 5 safaris
-
Mabamba Bay Wetland
Central Uganda
-
Sipi Falls
Eastern Uganda
A three-tier waterfall series on the north-western foot of Mount Elgon, near Kapchorwa. Guided falls hikes, abseiling and Arabica coffee-farm tours are the standard activities.
Full guide 3 safaris
-
Ssese Islands
Central Uganda
An archipelago of 84 forested islands in north-western Lake Victoria, administered as Kalangala District. Reached by ferry from Entebbe or Bukakata for beaches, fishing and quiet lake time.
Full guide 1 safari
Cities, Towns & Regions 16
Where safaris start and end, and the towns worth a day in their own right.
-
Arua
Northern Uganda
The commercial centre of the West Nile sub-region near the DR Congo border, and the access point for Ajai Wildlife Reserve and the Albert Nile crossings.
Full guide
Photograph by Sandra Aceng, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Entebbe
Central Uganda
The lakeside town holding Uganda's international airport, the botanical gardens and the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Boats run from here to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Full guide 21 safaris
-
Fort Portal & the Crater Lakes
Western Uganda
The tourism town of the Toro Kingdom, ringed by the Ndali–Kasenda crater lake field and tea estates. A base for Kibale, the Rwenzoris and Semuliki.
Full guide 7 safaris
Photograph by B722N, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Gulu
Northern Uganda
The largest town in northern Uganda and the gateway to Murchison Falls from the north. A centre of Acholi culture, music and the post-conflict recovery of the region.
Full guide
Photograph by Micheal Kaluba, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Hoima
Western Uganda
The historic seat of the Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom and the centre of Uganda's Albertine oil region, on the route to Lake Albert, Kabwoya and Bugoma Forest.
Full guide 1 safari
Photograph by Jephath, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Jinja & the Source of the Nile
Eastern Uganda
East Africa's adventure capital, where the Nile leaves Lake Victoria. White-water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping, quad biking and river-boat sunset cruises all operate here.
Full guide 5 safaris
-
Kabale
Western Uganda
A highland town in the terraced hills of Kigezi, often called the Switzerland of Africa, and the access point for Lake Bunyonyi and the Bwindi southern sectors.
Full guide 4 safaris
Photograph by Zenith4237, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Kampala
Central Uganda
Uganda's capital, built across a set of hills north of Lake Victoria. City tours take in the Kasubi Tombs, the Uganda Museum, the Baha'i Temple, Owino market and Ndere Centre dance performances.
Full guide 25 safaris
Photograph by Todd Huffman, licensed under CC BY 2.0
-
Karamoja
Northern Uganda
Uganda's north-eastern pastoralist region around Moroto and Kaabong, visited for Karamojong manyatta culture, Mount Moroto hikes and access to Kidepo.
Full guide 1 safari
-
Kasese
Western Uganda
A town at the foot of the Rwenzori range beside Queen Elizabeth National Park, with an airstrip and the trailheads for both the Central Circuit and the shorter Mahoma Loop.
Full guide 1 safari
Photograph by SharonDawn, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Lira
Northern Uganda
A Lango sub-region town on the route between Kampala and Kidepo, close to the Karuma crossing of the Victoria Nile and the wetlands of Lake Kwania.
Full guide
Photograph by Aqoragye, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Masaka
Central Uganda
A town on the Kampala-Mbarara road near the Equator marker at Kayabwe, and the road access for the Bukakata ferry to the Ssese Islands and Lake Nabugabo.
Full guide
Photograph by BalukuBrian, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Mbale
Eastern Uganda
The main town below Mount Elgon and the base for Sipi Falls, Wanale ridge and the Elgon trailheads. Known for its Arabica coffee country and the Imbalu circumcision ceremonies of the Bagisu.
Full guide 2 safaris
-
Mbarara
Western Uganda
The largest town in western Uganda and the usual lunch stop between Kampala and the gorilla parks. Home to the Igongo Cultural Centre and the Ankole long-horned cattle country.
Full guide 3 safaris
Photograph by Owobusingye, licensed under CC BY 4.0
-
Soroti
Eastern Uganda
The main town of the Teso sub-region, set beneath the volcanic Soroti Rock. A staging point for Lake Kyoga fishing villages and the wetlands of eastern Uganda.
Full guide
Photograph by SharonDawn, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
-
Tororo
Eastern Uganda
A border town dominated by Tororo Rock, an eroded volcanic plug climbed in about an hour for views across the Kenyan border and the surrounding plains.
Full guide
Photograph by Dixon099, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Attractions and Sites 153
The individual places within each destination: the falls, caves, hot springs, palaces, tombs, rocks and landing sites. Grouped by the destination they sit in. Several are written up because the name circulates and the site does not, which is worth knowing before you plan a drive around one.