There's so much that's beautiful to see and exciting to do in Uganda, as we discuss in Top 20 things to do in Uganda. But what if we whittle it down to discussing just national parks? Which parks should be on your to-visit list, particularly from a scenery and beauty point of view?
Here's our expert choice of the top eight most beautiful national parks to visit in Uganda ...
1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is probably Uganda's most famous national park. It's also one of its prettiest!
Located in southwest Uganda, it was created to protect the country's endangered mountain gorilla population. And gorilla trekking is by far the park's biggest drawcard.
That said, nature lovers will delight in the gorgeous mountain views and dense rainforest scenes as well. A hike here is a true adventure. Bwindi Forest truly captures the hearts of all who visit it.
The park is dominated by montane rainforest, and is often shrouded in mist.
Gorilla treks start in the lower regions of the park
But you soon enter steep, forested valleys
The rainforest is thick and ancient
This is the environment that mountain gorillas love
2. Semuliki National Park
Semuliki is a relatively unknown national park that visitors always fall in love with and recommend to others.
Located in western Uganda, Semuliki National Park is most famous for its two geothermal hot springs. They're hot enough to cook an egg!
The park's lowland tropical rainforest is one of the most biodiverse spots in all of Africa. This is because it sits at the intersection of several climatic and ecological zones. It's a particularly great destination for anyone who loves birds and butterflies. 🦋
You can explore many fascinating microhabitats on a visit to Semuliki. Yay!
One of the park's geothermal hot springs
A gorgeous wetland landscape typical of the park
Walkways help visitors to explore the park
3. Kibale National Park
As we discuss in 5 great reasons to visit Kibale Forest, this is an incredibly beautiful park in western Uganda. The park is home to very pretty moist evergreen rainforest. And it's chockfull of wildlife, including over 300 species of colourful birds!
The best way to see Kibale Forest is on a nature walk. Most people go to Kibale Forest to go on a chimpanzee trek. The chimps spend most of their time up in the trees, but also come to the ground during the day.
Our clients always rave about the beauty of Kibale Forest and how exciting it is to see chimpanzees. So we highly recommend adding Kibale to your itinerary!
The lush forest is home to many chimpanzees
There are also many species of Old World monkeys
You can also find MANY beautiful birds
And go on a walk through papyrus stands
4. Rwenzori Mountains National Park
We just can't get enough of the ethereal beauty and dramatic landscapes of the Rwenzori Mountains!
A truly unique spot on the globe is the high Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda. Here, soaring peaks rise up into the clouds and are covered in snow and glaciers.
Hikes and multiday treks are the only ways to explore and see all that the Rwenzori Mountains have to offer. As you climb, you encounter striking vegetation like giant groundsels, which grow only in a few alpine locations in equatorial East Africa.
Hiking and trekking the the Rwenzoris is bucket-list stuff
Lower trails have walkways as the ground can be very boggy
Beautiful tree heather (erica arborea) grows in the park
The park's Margherita Peak (5,109 m) is the third highest summit in Africa!
5. Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park in northwest Uganda is one of our favourite parks in the entire country! Not only does it offer amazing game and boat safaris, it also has a real variety of gorgeous landscapes.
There's the powerful Murchison Falls along the Victoria Nile, and the wetlands where the Nile empties into Lake Albert. There's the palm-filled grasslands, riverine woodlands, dense rainforest, and more!
We highly recommend taking a boat ride to the base of Murchison Falls, where the Nile hurtles through a small crag with daunting power. From here you can hike to the top for another fantastic view.
Rothschild giraffes among the palm trees of Murchison Park
The beautiful Murchison Falls along the Nile River
Our client Seraina captured this sleeping leopard
The sunsets inside the park are breathtaking!
6. Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon (4,321 m) is an extinct volcano that sits on the eastern border of Uganda with Kenya. The park has various beautiful ecosystems at its different elevations.
Most visitors make an effort to hike to Sipi Falls, which is a fabulous waterfall in the foothills. The main waterfall is 100 m, and there's the option to abseil down the adjacent cliff face. You can also do an 11 km hike to the stunning Tutum Cave.
Higher up the mountain you can go hiking or mountain biking among beautiful moorland vegetation and enjoy incredible views.
A hike to Sipi Falls is a must!
The park has incredible biodiversity
Sunlight pours into Tutum Cave
Giant groundsels can be found high up on Mt Elgon
7. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
There's no overstating the drama of the landscapes in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in the extreme southwest of the country. Here you have the thickly forested Virunga Mountains, a volcanic range of peaks.
The mountain gorillas of the park move freely between Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. Most visitors head to Mgahinga to go on a gorilla trek.
But there are also many beautiful – and very challenging – hikes to enjoy too. Climbing up Mt Sabyinyo (3,669 m), for instance, takes you high enough to see some unusual and primeval vegetation. And on a clear day the views are sensational!
A silverback gorilla in Mgahinga
The Virunga Mountains wreathed in mist – and look at that ladder!
Mt Sabyinyo is an extinct volcano in the Virungas
You can hike Mt Sabyinyo within a day
8. Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is in the far northeast of Uganda. As such it offers a completely different sort of environment and beauty to the other parks in this list.
The park is also much more seasonal than most of the country's other parks – it becomes very dry in winter, but turns very lush in summer. The dry season is optimal for animal spotting, but the wet season offers some gorgeously green views.
The wide open spaces of Kidepo Valley National Park are often bathed in glorious sunrises and sunsets.
A herd of elephants strolling in the green grasses of the wet season
Sunset rays add magic to this campsite view within Kidepo
The wildlife adds to the beauty of Kidepo
Storm clouds and sun rays create drama
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