National Parks: Unspoilt Nature in Uganda

Once in Africa, every traveller must go on a safari in a national park. The unspoilt nature, the tranquillity and the unfamiliar (wild) animal world make such a safari in Africa an unforgettable experience. Uganda is of course particularly well known for its mountain gorillas. But ornithologists and butterfly enthusiasts also find an extraordinarily large diversity of species in Uganda.

16 national parks leave little to be desired

For your safari in Africa, Uganda offers you a very wide choice with a total of 16 national parks (since September 2025). Almost all of these national parks lie in the western and therefore wetter half of the country. Nevertheless, each of them has its own special features. What all the parks have in common is that wonderful nature experiences await you here.

Name	Area in km²	Distance from Kampala
Murchison Falls National Park	3,877	230
Queen Elizabeth National Park	1,978	400
Kidepo Valley National Park	1,442	700
Mount Elgon National Park	1,145	250
Rwenzori National Park	996	390
Kibale National Park	766	350
Toro-Semliki National Park *	542	320
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	331	450
Kigezi National Park *	265	400
Lake Mburo National Park	260	240
Semliki National Park	220	390
Katonga National Park *	207	280
Kyambura National Park *	156	380
Bukaleba National Park *	97	120
Echuya National Park *	34	470
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park	33.7	500

* Upgraded to national park status in September 2025 (previously wildlife or forest reserve).

The three largest parks are also among the oldest: Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth were designated as early as 1952, and Kidepo Valley National Park followed in 1962. They owe their creation to sleeping sickness, which is transmitted by the tsetse fly. Its strong occurrence at the beginning of the 20th century meant that large areas had to be evacuated for several decades. During this time the animal populations and nature were able to develop undisturbed. In the early 1950s the regions were then declared national parks.

The seven further national parks were established for ecological reasons. They are located in areas that are of great importance for the supply and quality of drinking water.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is the largest of all national parks in Uganda. Across almost 3,900 km² … Read more…

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Only half as large as Murchison Falls National Park, but scenically even more varied, is Queen Elizabeth National Park … Read more…

Kidepo National Park

The third-largest national park in Uganda is Kidepo Park. It lies very remotely in the extreme north-east Read more…

Mount Elgon National Park

The heart of the 1,146 km² Mount Elgon National Park is its namesake: the 4,321 metre high … Read more…

Rwenzori National Park

The 996 km² Rwenzori National Park protects the central part of the mountain range of the same name on the border … Read more…

Kibale National Park

Kibale Park has emerged from a former forest reserve and was granted in 1993 the status of a … Read more…

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Since 1991 the 331 km² Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has existed in the south-west of Uganda. At altitudes of … Read more…

Lake Mburo National Park

The highlight of this just under 260 km² national park is the Lake Mburo within it as well as its wealth of … Read more…

Semliki National Park

This national park differs scenically from the others in that it lies at an altitude of on average … Read more…

Mgahinga National Park

The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, at around 34 km², is the smallest and youngest national park in Uganda. It belongs to the conservation area … Read more…

The six new national parks (since September 2025)

In September 2025, Uganda’s government declared six protected areas to be national parks. Uganda therefore counts 16 national parks – the new parks are spread across the whole country and ideally complement the well-known destinations:

• Bukaleba National Park (Mayuge, Lake Victoria; around 97 km²): forest and lakeshore landscapes with over 47 bird species – ideal for birdwatching, forest walks and boat trips.
• Echuya National Park (Kisoro/Rubanda; around 34 km²): bamboo and montane forest on the Albertine Rift with rare bird species and encounters with Batwa culture.
• Katonga National Park (Kyenjojo/Kamwenge; around 207 km²): wetlands and papyrus on the Katonga River – canoe trips, sitatungas and over 150 bird species.
• Kigezi National Park (Rukungiri; around 265 km²): savannah corridor to Queen Elizabeth National Park with elephants, buffalo and cranes.
• Kyambura National Park (Rubirizi; around 156 km²): the famous Kyambura Gorge with its human-habituated chimpanzees.
• Toro-Semliki National Park (Ntoroko/Kabarole; around 542 km²): savannahs and forests between the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Albert with Uganda kobs and elephants.

Note: The tourist infrastructure of the new parks is partly still being developed. Up-to-date information is provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).