Uganda’s National Parks at a glance ‘Uganda’s ten national parks contain a fabulous variety of habitats, ranging from snow-capped mountain peaks and vast papyrus swamps, to dark tropical forests and open savanna plains. These diverse settings are home to an impressive range of wildlife including over 1000 species of bird, with many central African species at the eastern limit of their ranges. Mammals include numerous forest primates, among them chimpanzee and the rare mountain gorilla, while big game animals are to be found in the savanna parks.’Andrew Roberts Queen Elizabeth National Park Medley of Wonders Uganda’s most popular and diverse conservation area, Queen Elizabeth National Park enjoys a fabulous setting on the rift valley floor, surrounded by lakes, escarpments and the snow- capped Rwenzori mountain. A variety of habitats, including grassland, acacia woodland, forest, wetland and open water, sustains a wide range of mammals while the park’s 604 bird species is a quite remarkable tally for a protected area covering less than 2000km2 Highlights in QENP include the launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel, past resident hippos and waterbirds; the improbably scenic 24km Crater Drive which winds around the rims of extinct volcanoes; chimpanzee tracking in the deep, forested Kyambura Gorge; and the search for tree-climbing lions under vast rift valley skies in the remote, southerly Ishasha sector. 1 2 Rwenzori Mountains National Park The Mystical Challenge Africa’s highest mountain range, the 5,109m Rwenzori – or Mountains of the Moon – is the snowy source of the Nile referred to by early geographers, 17 centuries before European explorers marked it on their maps. The high Rwenzori is a montane wonderland, the trails to the snow peaks following glacier-carved valleys filled with fantastically coloured mosses and rare Afro-alpine plants that include giant forms of lobelias, heathers and groundsels. Expeditions use a chain of basic huts and campsites to ascend the mountain from trailheads at Kilembe, Mihunga and Katebwa. Though the peaks can be climbed, the main attraction is the opportunity to spend days exploring a stunning montane wilderness inhabited by the rare Afromontane botany peculiar to East Africa’s highest mountains. Visitors can also take shorter, day walks to look for birds and primates in the forests on the lower contours of the national park. 3 Mt. Elgon National Park World’s largest caldera The 1,145km² Mount Elgon National Park protects the higher slopes of Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano, on the Uganda-Kenya border. The mountain, which measures 80km in diameter, once towered above Kilimanjaro’s current 5900m. Though now reduced to 4321m, still rises 3000m above the hot, dusty plains of Karamoja to provide a cool respite for humans and a refuge for flora and fauna. Tourist activities on the mountain cater for varying levels of ambition. Visitors can make extended hikes, requiring a minimum of 3 days, to reach the summits which lie along the jagged rim on a giant caldera, 8km across. Less demandingly, visitors can take day/half day walks through forest on the lower edge of the park or simply relax in resorts overlooking a chain of delightful waterfalls just outside the park at Sipi. 4 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park The Ultimate Gorilla Experience One of Africa’s oldest forests – being one of few that predate the arid conditions of the last ice age – the 325km2 Bwindi Impenetrable has carpeted the margin of the Albertine Rift Valley for some 25,000 years. During this time it has accumulated a remarkable biodiversity. Species counts include 350 birds, 310 butterflies, 200 trees, 51 reptiles, 88 moths and 120 mammals. The latter includes several primates, among them chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, and the star of the Impenetrable show: the mountain gorilla. The global population of this endangered ape numbers just 800, half of which live in Bwindi and the remainder on the nearby Virunga volcanoes. With 15 family groups habituated for tourism, and with 4 trailheads, the Impenetrable is the region’s primary gorilla tracking destination. Eight permits are available each day to track each of these 15 groups, giving a daily total of 120 permits. There is much more to Bwindi than gorilla tracking. Forest trails lead to scenic waterfalls and rift valley viewpoints trails while Community Walks through local villages provide insights into the lives of the Bakiga and Batwa (Pygmy) peoples living beside the forest. Bwindi is one of Uganda’s top birdwatching destinations with many Albertine Rift endemics present, notably in the high, draughty Ruhija sector. 5 Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Where Gold Meets Silver Though Uganda’s smallest park covers just 38km2, it forms part of a far larger, transboundary protected area that protects wildlife and habitats on the Virunga volcanoes in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Mgahinga Gorilla enjoys a magnificent setting on the northern slopes of three of the Virunga’s six extinct cones; Mts. Muhuvura, Gahinga and Sabinyo. The park is home to two rare primates, mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, both of which can be tracked through their forest habitat. The volcanic peaks can be climbed; the 4127m Muhuvura provides a stunning 360° regional panorama while Sabinyo’s highest peak offers the rare privilege of standing over 3600m high whilst in three countries at once. A range of habitats, including forest, bamboo and moorland, support a wealth of birdlife including the beautiful Rwenzori turaco. On the lower contours, visitors can follow the Batwa Trail with Batwa (Pygmy) guides to learn about traditional forest life before descending into the Garama Cave, historically the home of the Batwa King, for an unforgettable performance of music and dance. 6 Kibale National Park The Primate Capital of the World This largely forested park, 795km2 in area, is best known for the number and variety of resident primates. An impressive list of 13 primate species includes Uganda’s largest population of chimpanzees – an estimated 1450. Habituated groups can be tracked with experienced ranger guides at Kanyanchu River Camp. Other notable primates are the nocturnal bushbaby and potto (these can be encountered during guided night walks in the forest); the L’Hoest’s Monkey (endemic to the Albertine Rift region); East Africa’s largest population of the threatened red colobus monkey; and Uganda’s only endemic monkey, the Uganda mangabey (Lophocebus ugandae). Kibale is a popular destination for birders. A list of 335 forest, grassland and swamp species includes 4 birds endemic to Kibale and a number of Central African ‘specials’ at the eastern limit of their range. These can be sought on the forest trails at Kanyanchu and Sebitoli tourism sites and in the community- run Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary on the edge of the park near Kanyanchu. 7 8 Murchison Falls National Park The World’s Most Powerful Waterfall Uganda’s largest protected area is a 5000km2 expanse formed by Murchison Falls NP and the contiguous Karuma and Bugungu wildlife reserves. The Nile traverses this wilderness, dividing grasslands roamed by big game on the northern bank from bush and forest inhabited by birds and primates on the southern side. The centrepiece is the river’s eruption through a narrow gorge at Murchison Falls; a spectacle that has captivated visitors since the explorer Samuel Baker added the feature to the map in 1864. The boat trip to the Falls, past hippos and crocodiles, is an essential activity, as is a game drive across the grassy Buligi peninsula to the banks of the river. The park also has much to interest birders. The iconic shoebill inhabits swampy islands along the river while rare and ‘restricted range’ Congo overspills can be checked off in the southerly Kaniyo Pabidi Forest. Visitors can also track habituated chimpanzees at this site. 9 10 Kidepo Valley National Park The True African Wilderness Located in Uganda’s distant northeastern corner, close to Kenya and South Sudan and forming the farthest extremity of the remote, sparsely populated Karamoja region, Kidepo represents one of Africa’s most magnificent wildernesses. Big game favourites, including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, eland, lion, cheetah and ostrich, roam grasslands that extend towards distant mountain ranges in all directions. This is also an area of rich cultural interest for the plains beyond the park are dotted with the manyattas (homesteads) of the fiercely traditional Karamojong pastoralists. The fastest route to Kidepo is by air but with security assured in northern Uganda and Karamoja, overland travel is also an option. Thanks to ongoing road improvements in the region, growing numbers of visitors are exploring an exciting new northeastern safari circuit including Murchison, Kidepo, Karamoja and Mount Elgon. 11 12 Lake Mburo National Park Whispers of the wild This compact jewel of a park is ideally placed for an overnight break between Kampala and the protected areas of western Uganda. Herbivores in the seasonal wetland valleys and acacia grasslands that surround Lake Mburo include species such as topi, eland and zebra that are rare or absent from other parks in Uganda. With 332 species recorded, birding is also rewarding with papyrus and acacia species being particularly well represented. Visitors need not limit themselves to game drives; the park can also be explored using mountain bikes, by boat, on foot, and on horseback. 13 14 Semuliki National Park The True Birders’ Haven The forested, 220km2 Semuliki National Park occupies an isolated slice of Ugandan territory beyond the Rwenzori mountain on the broad floor of the Albertine Rift Valley. Thanks to its great age (it predates the last Ice Age) and links with the Congo-Guinea biome (Semuliki represents the easternmost extent of the Congo’s huge Ituri Forest) the park contains an exceptionally rich and varied biodiversity.