Uganda parks, reserves & wildlife areas
Ten flagship national parks, major wildlife reserves (including Karamoja corridors and Nile wetlands), and hand-picked sanctuaries & forest reserves—each with the same nine planning chapters as our Kenya park hubs.
National parks
Uganda’s ten UWA national parks—from gorilla forests and chimp strongholds to Nile rapids, Albertine peaks, and remote Karamoja savannas.
National park~321 km²South-western Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Mountain gorilla trekking in afro-montane forest—Uganda’s flagship primate experience
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National park~795 km²Western Uganda (Fort Portal)
Kibale National Park
Chimpanzee habituation and East Africa’s richest primate forest density
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National park~1,442 km²North-eastern Uganda (Kaabong)
Kidepo Valley National Park
Semi-arid Narus–Kidepo pans, big cats, and remote Karamoja scenery
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National park~370 km²Western Uganda (Mbarara corridor)
Lake Mburo National Park
Zebra–eland acacia mosaic, boat on Lake Mburo, and easy Kampala–Bwindi break
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National park~34 km²South-western Uganda (Virunga volcanoes)
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Virunga volcanoes—gorillas, golden monkeys, and dramatic crater views on the Rwanda–DRC tripoint
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National park1,279 km² (Uganda portion)Eastern Uganda (Mbale)
Mount Elgon National Park (Uganda)
World’s largest mountain caldera, bamboo zones, and Sipi Falls trailheads
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National park~3,893 km²North-western Uganda (Nile)
Murchison Falls National Park
Victoria Nile rapids, Murchison Falls thunder, and big-game savanna north of the river
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National park~1,978 km²Western Rift (Kasese corridor)
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kazinga Channel boat cruises, tree-climbing lions, and savanna–crater diversity
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National park~996 km²Western Uganda (Kasese)
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Margherita glaciers, bog trekking, and Africa’s tallest mountain range by base-to-summit rise
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National park~220 km²Western Uganda (Bundibugyo)
Semuliki National Park
Ituri–Congo biome outliers, Sempaya hot springs, and bird-rich forest
Read guideWildlife reserves
UWA-managed reserves ideal for extensions—Kyambura chimps beside Queen Elizabeth, Bugungu and Karuma approaches to Murchison, Karamoja wilderness blocks, and Nile wetland birding at Ajai.
Wildlife reserve~166 km²North-western Uganda (White Nile)
Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Nile wetlands, birding safaris, and quieter savanna–floodplain wildlife encounters
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Wildlife reserve~2,056 km²North-eastern Uganda (Karamoja)
Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
Karamoja corridor linking Pian Upe and Matheniko—vast conservation landscape for adventure safaris
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Wildlife reserve~473 km²Southern Murchison / Lake Albert
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
Off-the-beaten-path savanna beside Murchison with Lake Albert views and classic plains game
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Wildlife reserve~831 km²Northern Uganda (Nile corridor)
East Madi Wildlife Reserve
Quiet Nile-edge reserve with off-grid safari feel and strong conservation potential
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Wildlife reserve~87 km²Western Uganda (Lake Albert escarpment)
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Escarpment views over Lake Albert—game drives, walking safaris, kob, and buffalo
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Wildlife reserve~196 km²Western Uganda (Katonga corridor)
Katonga Wildlife Reserve
Forest and riverine corridors for nature walks and primate tracking—not a classic big-game loop
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Wildlife reserve~265 km²South-western Uganda (Kigezi highlands)
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
Remote highland reserve for exploratory itineraries and low-impact adventure safaris
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Wildlife reserve~157 km²Western Uganda (Queen Elizabeth landscape)
Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
Kyambura Gorge chimp trekking beside Queen Elizabeth’s savanna circuits
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Wildlife reserve~1,600 km²North-eastern Uganda (Karamoja)
Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
Semi-arid Karamoja landscapes and dry savanna safari experiences
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Wildlife reserve~2,788 km²North-eastern Uganda (Karamoja)
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
One of Uganda’s largest reserves—remote wilderness with cheetah, ostrich, and roan antelope potential
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Wildlife reserve~542 km²Western Uganda (Semliki corridor)
Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Scenic Albertine landscapes with elephants, primates, and strong birding near Semuliki
Read guideOther notable wildlife areas
High-impact add-ons: on-foot rhinos at Ziwa, chimp trekking in Budongo before Murchison, and scenic Nile drama at Karuma.
Forest reserve~793 km²Western Uganda (Murchison approach)
Budongo Forest Reserve
Chimpanzee trekking in mature mahogany–ironwood forest on the way to Murchison
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Wildlife reserve~820 km²Northern Uganda (Victoria Nile)
Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Scenic Nile landscapes and bridge viewpoints on the approach to Murchison Falls country
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Wildlife sanctuary~70 km²Central Uganda (Nakasongola)
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Uganda’s premier on-foot rhino tracking experience on the Kampala–Murchison corridor
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