Uganda is a country located in East Africa. Its size is 236,037 sq km. The country is blessed with a great mix of habitats including several lakes and rivers. Victoria Nile flows out of lake Victoria into a dam and later becomes Albert Nile. Many parts of the country lies on a plateau at an elevation of 1000 to 1400 meters. The terrain is mostly wooded Savanna but there are also papyrus swamps, montane forests, rain forest and semi arid areas.
UGANDA WILDLIFE PARKS
Murchison Falls National Park
Its size is 948,500 acres and located 304 km from Kampala. Victoria Nile divides the park into two. Boat rides can be practiced in the river gliding past crocodiles and hippos all the way to the western base of the falls which drop about 40 meters. Many parts of the land is rolling grass land with patches of forests. Animals found here include elephant, buffalo, Jacksons hartebeest among many others. Over 350 species of birds have been recorded which include the rare shoebill. Budongo forest west of Masindi town is a remnant of Congo basin rain forest and home to Chimpanzees and many types of birds.
Ruwenzori Mountains National Park
The park protects a spectacular range of mountains towering the Western Rift Valley. Referred as mountains of the moon, they have glacier flanked peaks with Mount Stanley as the highest at 5109 meters. Primates and rare birds are found in the montane forests. The weather is usually cloudy, misty and rainy. Guided treks are popular in the park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Its size is about 489,000 acres flanking both Lake George and Lake Edward. Boat rides on the Kazinga channel between the two lakes are popular passing many hippos, pelicans and numerous bird species. Wildlife viewing game drives are also popular, with the park having abundant animals like elephants, kobs, buffalos among many others. Chimpanzee population in the park is also very healthy.
Kibale National Park
The size of the park is about 189,000 acres and it is thought to have the worlds highest density of primates. Kibale national park is one of Uganda’s popular park drawing in a lot of visitors. It receives a high amount of annual rainfall which supports the dense forest, grassland and swamps. Primates found in the park include pottos, gray cheeked mangabeys, chimpanzee, bushbabies, red tailed monkeys among others. The park is also home to over 300 bird species and animals like elephants, the golden cat and several others.
Bwindi National Park
It protects impenetrable forest located in western Kigezi. The national park is made up of lowland and montane forest in non volcanic mountain range. Popular wildlife found here include gorillas, chimpanzees, otter shrews and L’Hoest’s monkeys. The rich forest also supports a wide range of avifauna which includes great blue-billed turacos. Mount gorilla treks are very popular in this park.
Lake Mburo National Park
The park has a size of about 132,000 acres located 200km southwest of Kampala. It is made up of undulating grasslands dotted with acacias and papyrus- bordered lakes. Lake Mburo national park hosts Uganda’s only impala population along with roans, oribis, reedbucks,, buffalos, zebras, spotted hyenas and leopards. There are over 400 species of birds which includes Southern red bishop and rufous – bellied heron.
Mahinga National Park
Its size is 6039 acres and located west of Kabale town. The park protects montane forest and bamboo on the north slopes peaks. The south slope peaks are located in Rwanda volcanoes national park. Mountain gorilla treks are organized here and visitors are also able to see the golden monkey, regal sunbird and Rwenzori Turaco.
Kidepo Valley National Park
The size of this park is 332000 acres and it close to Sudan border. Kidepo valley national park is mainly semi desert with seasonal rivers fringed with borassus palms and some forests. It is also surrounded by mountains some rising up to 2750 meters with dry montane forest and grassland. It is the only park in Uganda that hosts greater and lesser kudus, the beisa oryx, bat eared fox, Ostrich, cheetah, kirks dik-dik, and Chanler’s mountain reedbuck. There also other wildlife like the elephant, Zebras, Rothschild giraffes as well as a large variety of avifauna.
Semliki National Park
It is located on the DRC border along the Semeliki river west of port Portal. Its wildlife resembles those of the Congo basin hosting the likes of black mangabey, De Brazza’s monkey, the giant forest squirrel and over 400 bird species.
Entebbe wildlife Education Center
It is located north of Lake Victoria with a size of about 12646 acres. Wildlife found here are sitatungas, black and white casqued hornbill, grey parrots and Ross turacos.
Mount Elgon National Park
This is a mountain shared with Kenya and rises to 4321 m. The park protects the mountain together with montane forest and heathland.