Beste Nationalparks in Uganda: Ein sortierter Leitfaden

The best national parks in Uganda depend on what you want to see: Bwindi and Mgahinga for mountain gorillas, Kibale for chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth for variety, Murchison Falls for big game and the Nile, Lake Mburo for an easy first safari, Kidepo for remote wilderness and the Rwenzori and Elgon mountains for hikers. Uganda has ten national parks, and they differ more than most travellers expect. This guide describes the main ones, what they offer and who they suit.

Use it to choose three or four for a trip. Few travellers see more than that without feeling rushed.

Bwindi is a dense, ancient forest in the south-west that shelters about half of the world's mountain gorillas. Treks are organised in four sectors, and each has several gorilla families. The park is also rich in birds and butterflies. Read the best gorilla trekking sector in Bwindi to choose, and see the 5-day gorilla trek in Bwindi.

Mgahinga is small and sits on the Virunga volcanoes at the border with Rwanda and the Congo. It has one habituated gorilla group, golden monkey tracking and volcano hikes. It is quieter than Bwindi. Read is Bwindi or Mgahinga better for gorilla trekking.

Kibale holds thirteen primate species and some of the best chimpanzee tracking in Africa. Read is Kibale the best place for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda and the 6-day chimpanzee tracking and Kazinga Channel safari.

Savanna, lakes, forest and wetlands in one park, with game drives, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge. Read the best things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Uganda's largest park has elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalo, hippos and crocodiles, with the Nile pouring through a narrow gorge at the falls. Boat trips, game drives and a hike to the top make it a complete short safari. Read is Murchison Falls worth visiting and the best Uganda safari tours including Ziwa and Murchison Falls.

A small, accessible park in the south-west on the way to Bwindi, with zebras, impalas, giraffes and birds. Walking, horse riding and boat trips are available. See the 5-day Uganda family safari at Lake Mburo.

In the far north-east, Kidepo is a wild park of wide valleys and mountains with lions, elephants, buffalo and cheetahs. It is hard to reach, so most visitors fly, and it suits travellers who want a remote safari with few other vehicles and a rich local culture.

Semuliki is a lowland forest with Central African birds and hot springs. The Rwenzori Mountains offer multi-day hikes to glaciers and alpine lakes, for fit and well-prepared walkers. Mount Elgon, on the Kenyan border, has caves, waterfalls and forest walks. These parks suit specialists and hikers, and they need more time. Read the best bird-watching spots in Uganda for Semuliki and others.

Pick by priority:

• Gorillas: Bwindi or Mgahinga.
• Chimpanzees: Kibale.
• Big game and boat trips: Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth.
• Easy first safari: Lake Mburo.
• Remote wilderness: Kidepo.

Then consider the route. Western Uganda links Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi. The north links Ziwa, Murchison Falls and Budongo. Read Uganda safari tours from Entebbe Airport for travel times.

• First-time visitors: Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Lake Mburo
• Primate lovers: Bwindi and Kibale
• Adventurers: Kidepo and the mountains

• Travellers with fewer than five days, who should choose two parks at most

Uganda charges separate fees for park entry and for special activities. The activities with the highest demand have limited permits:

• Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga: the permit is the largest single cost on most trips. The standard foreign non-resident permit is widely quoted at US$800, with seasonal offers at times.
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale: about US$250 for the standard permit and US$300 for the full-day habituation experience.
• Rhino tracking at Ziwa and boat trips at Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth: modest fees compared with the primate permits.

Fees change, and were checked in October 2026, so we confirm them in each quote. Read how much it costs to trek gorillas in Uganda and how much Kibale chimpanzee tracking costs.

The parks fall into three clusters. The west links Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, and suits primates and savanna. The north links Ziwa, Budongo and Murchison Falls, and suits big game and the Nile. The south-west links Lake Mburo, Bwindi and Mgahinga, and suits an easy start and gorillas. Kidepo and the mountain parks stand alone and need their own days. Plan one cluster per trip unless you have ten days or more. Read Uganda safari tours from Entebbe Airport for drive times.

Roads are long, and some are rough. Driving shows you the country and costs less per person for a group. Flying saves a day and suits travellers with limited time, with scheduled and charter flights between Entebbe, Kajjansi and airstrips near the parks. A soft bag with a weight limit of about 15 kilograms is needed on small aircraft. A common choice is to drive one way and fly back.

Three at most, and two is more comfortable. A seven-day trip that works well is Entebbe, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi, with two nights in each of the last two. A northern seven-day trip is Ziwa, Murchison Falls and Budongo. The 7-day Bwindi gorilla trekking safari and the 10-day Uganda primates and wildlife expedition show how these clusters are built.

Most visitors need a visa, which can be applied for online before you travel. Carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate, since it is checked at entry, and speak to a doctor or travel clinic about malaria prevention and other vaccinations well before you leave. Pack insect repellent, long sleeves for the evening and a small first-aid kit. Uganda uses plug types G and the British three-pin style, so bring an adapter. Plastic bags are banned in the country, so use cloth bags.

Roads are long and sometimes rough, and a good driver guide is as important as a good lodge. Read the visa guide, and ask us about free visa application consultancy.

Uganda also protects wildlife in sanctuaries and reserves, which add depth to a trip. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary offers rhino tracking on foot. Mabamba Swamp is the best place for the shoebill. Ngamba Island shelters orphaned chimpanzees. The Budongo Forest Reserve has chimpanzee tracking and a long list of forest birds. These places are not national parks, but they are among the most rewarding stops on a route. Read can you see rhinos in Uganda and can you see shoebills at Mabamba Swamp.

Gorillas live in Bwindi and Mgahinga, chimpanzees in Kibale, Budongo, Kyambura, Kalinzu and others, and golden monkeys in Mgahinga. If you can choose only one primate experience, choose by priority: gorillas for a once-in-a-trip encounter, chimpanzees for a more accessible and varied walk, golden monkeys for a gentle outing. If you can choose two, gorillas and chimpanzees complement each other. Read can you combine Kibale chimpanzee tracking with gorilla trekking.

• Trying to see everything. Distances are long.
• Skipping a rest day. After a gorilla trek, you need one.
• Choosing by photographs. Match the park to your interests.
• Booking permits last. Book gorilla permits first.

Ten, plus wildlife reserves and sanctuaries such as Ziwa.

Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls for variety.

Yes in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo, but sightings are not guaranteed.

The dry months, June to September and December to February, are the easiest.

Lake Mburo and Murchison Falls are the least expensive for wildlife. The primate parks cost more because of the permits.

Yes. A four-day trip to Mabamba, Ziwa and Murchison Falls, or a flight to Bwindi for a gorilla trek, fits in a long weekend.

Tell us your interests and days, and we will pick the parks and the route. Talk to Our Tour Specialist, or see the Uganda destination page.