UGANDA’S MOST FAMOUS NATIONAL PARKS AND WHY

With 10 national parks, Uganda is undoubtedly one of the excellent African destinations with diverse attractions for you to explore while you are on safari in Africa. However, not all these national parks are visited frequently and that why you need to be aware which ones are feature on the top list and why is it so?

Murchison Falls National Park

This park was first gazetted around 1926 and it covers an area of over 3840 square kilometers making it not just Uganda’s largest savanna grassland national park but one of the oldest parks. It first gained its status as a national park in 1952 and it is located northwest of Uganda just along the northern edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. The park mainly characterized by spectacular savanna and borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland that thrives mainly in the northern part and the woodland and forest patches in the south. It boasts of its over 76 mammal species, 451 bird species and it is divided by the Victoria Nile where the Mighty Murchison Falls squeezes itself in a 8 meter narrow gorge with a powerful roar into the devil’s cauldron that makes up a permanent rainbow. The park is popular for big game especially elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes as well as other wildlife species like hippos, giraffes, warthogs, baboons, chimpanzees, the Nile crocodiles and both resident and migratory bird species. It is mainly visited for birding, game drives, boat cruise and many other exciting activities.

                                 Murchison Falls

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Best described as a medley of wonders for many reasons! Queen Elizabeth National Park covers an area of about 1978 square kilometers and it was established around 1952 as Kazinga National Park but later, it was renamed after 2 years in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth the second after her visit at the park. This park offers refuge to more than 95 species of mammals, 620 bird species and the Katwe explosion craters feature as the highest points of the park and stand at altitude 1350 meters and the lowest point at altitude 910 and it is at Lake Edward. It is Uganda’s second largest national park after Murchison Falls National Park and mostly famous for its diverse ecosystem that comprise of spectacular savanna, humid forests, wetlands that make it a significant habitat for exceptional big game, 10 species of primates which include chimpanzees and more than 620 avian species. It lies at the backdrop of the rugged Rwenzori Mountain ranges and because of its strategic location; the park is undeniably one of the most spectacular natural wonders Uganda has in offer for the world. Besides wildlife, there are also several rolling green hills that offer breathtaking views of the Kazinga channel and its banks that come with hippos, elephants, buffaloes as well as endless Ishasha plains that feature fig trees where tree climbing lions usually hide. The park is situated in western Uganda and the leading safari activities for you to enjoy include chimpanzee trekking, game drive through Kasenyi trail, launch cruise along the Kazinga channel, bird watching and others.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in the semi arid valleys along the Karamoja area northeastern Uganda approximately 700 kilometers away from Kampala which makes it the most isolated protected areas. Despite its isolation, the park still features as one of the most explored national park. It covers an area of about 1442 square kilometers and it was gazetted around 1962. It is a home to more than 75 mammal species, 470 bird species which make it one of Africa’s most exceptional national parks.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

If you are interested in tracking the rare mountain gorillas then Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park shouldn’t miss out in your travel plan. The park is situated in the southwestern side of Uganda and famous for its over 400 mountain gorillas which represent about half of all those that still exist in the world today. Besides, there are more than 350 bird species for you to spot in addition to mountain gorilla tracking. The park also features several accommodation facilities and visitors on Uganda safari have wide range of options to choose the best lodge for a night stay. The other alternative is Mgahinga National Park which features only one habituated gorilla family. Permits for gorilla trekking in Uganda cost $600 per visitor.

Mountain gorillas at Bwindi

 Kibale Forest National Park

This park lies in western Uganda and comprises of 70 mammal species, 13 primate species with over 1500 chimpanzees which makes it one of the excellent destination in African continent where chimpanzees thrive from and where you can track them while in their natural habitat. Other primates for you to look out at this park include blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabeys, pottos, bush baby, black and white colobus monkeys and many more. Chimpanzee tracking is however a major safari highlight at this park but you can also incorporate it with bird watching where you will have a chance to sight bird species like the blue headed sunbird, black capped apalis, little greenbul, dusky crimson wing, red faced woodland warbler, blue breasted kingfisher, green breasted pitta, yellow spotted nicator black eared ground thrush, yellow rumped tinker bird and others.

Chimpanzees

In conclusion, if you are planning to have your next trip in Uganda, then the above listed national parks shouldn’t miss out in your travel plan. However, you can also combine your safaris in these parks with other national parks like Lake Mburo National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Rwenzori Mountain National Park, Semuliki Valley National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

DISCOVER THE SECRETS IN KASENGE FOREST

Kasenge Forest is situated in Mukono approximately 30 kilometers off Kampala capital. It covers 60 acres, comprising of Kasenge Forest Resort Beach, small Lakes and streams. Kasenge Forest features variety of tourist activities and due to its strategic location; it serves best for visitors on safari to or from Jinja.

Below is a list of exciting safari activities for you to enjoy in Kasenge Forest Resort Beach;

Birding

When it comes to birding tours, Kasenge Forest is undeniably one of Uganda’s best and safest bird watcher’s paradises. It boasts of over 200 bird species and while on birding adventure at this forest, expect to strike variety of bird species like slender billed green bull, African grey parrot, giant kingfisher, red tailed greenbul, Madagascar bee eater, open billed stork, Great Blue Turaco, hadada ibis, lizard buzzard, cattle egret, western nicator, woodland kingfisher, bronze sunbird, crowned hornbill, green capped Eremomela, Red fronted tinker bird, black headed weaver, bronze manikin, hamerkop, yellow wagtail, pin tailed whydah, red chested cuckoo, tawny eagle, Egyptian geese, willow warbler, yellow wagtail, little bee eater, marsh sandpiper, white headed saw wing, brown throated wattle eye, Jameson’s wattle eye, black and white casqued hornbill, white spotted flat tail, lesser blue eared starling, grey heron, blue Turaco, veillot’s black weaver, African blue flycatcher, dusky flycatcher, pied kingfisher, fork tailed drongo, African thrush, speckled mouse bird and not to forget the rare green hylia (Hylia Prasina). The best areas for you sight most of this forest’s bird species include the Lake and at the extreme side of the forest reserve.

Forest walks/nature walks

To compliment your birding experiences, the Kasenge Forest is also perfect for nature walks. For nature lovers, this is an opportunity for you to explore in depth what this natural wonder holds for the world. While on nature walk, you will be amazed by views of genets, squirrels, various monkeys, butterflies and other unique tourist attractions. Nature walk in this forest involves hiking along its trails to Ssezibwa waterfalls, approximately seven kilometers. The large area around the Lake is also perfect for camping safaris and other functions. This means you can come with your tent or hire one at the resort and interestingly, pay a visit to the Dating Island especially for couples. The Dating Island expands for a few meters and forms part of the larger mysterious Lake at Kasenge Forest Resort Beach in Lama Sub county, Mukono district just a few kilometers away from Mbalala Trading Centre on Kampala-Jinja highway.

Sport fishing

This is another most dramatic water sport that you shouldn’t miss while on safari in Kasenge Forest. Sport fishing at this forest resort is conducted on the Lake. Locals use the Lake as main source for food and income. Other rewarding activities for you to engage at this reserve include canoe rides, camping and boat tours.

In conclusion, Kasenge Forest features among the very few most spectacular natural wonders that wait for you to explore while you are on safari in Uganda especially for bird watching. Interestingly, you can incorporate your birding safari in Mabira forest with Kasenge.

UGANDA’S OLDEST CHIMPANZEE ‘ZAKAYO’ DIES AT 54

The 54 year old male chimpanzee famously called Zakayo who lived at Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe unfortunately passed on 26 April 2018 making him the oldest captive chimpanzee. He believed to have died of chronic gastroenteritis also known as stomach flu and because of his old age, he became very susceptible to any kind of infectious disease. Zakayo was a dominant male chimpanzee at UWEC and nurtured 2 (two) Alpha males-Matooke who led the troop till 2013 and Aluma who succeeded from 2013 up to date. He lived at UWEC for about 42 years.

Zakayo was rescued on 10^th June 1964 from Semuliki Valley National Park, southwestern Uganda when he was about one year old. He was discovered by a white man in Bundibugyo district who then raised him till his 14^th year when he was handed over to Entebbe Zoo where he survived until he passed on. He was an alpha male from 1970-2011 and then handed over his leadership to Matooke. Zakayo was believed to be a peace maker at Entebbe and passed on as a highly respected member of the 18 UWEC chimpanzees.  The lifespan for chimpanzees at captivity goes up to 60 while those in the wild can live up to 45 years. This is really a big blow to Uganda's tourism sector. May his soul RIP!!