I have compiled a complete list of national parks and wildlife game reserves in Uganda that are maintained by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, if there is any I have missed out please feel free to add in the comments section below. This page will be regularly updated.

National Parks in Uganda

    1. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park;
      It is very famous for mountain gorilla trekking and gorilla safari. Bwindi National park has a population of around 340 gorillas of which an estimated 116 are habituated.There are at least 120 mammal species living in the forest, the eleven primate species found here include black-and-white colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys, baboons and chimps. There are also forest elephants and several species of antelopes. Of Bwindi’s 200 butterfly species, 42 are endemic to the Albertine Rift.Also an estimated 350 bird species with 23 endemic to the Albertine Rift and 14 recorded nowhere else in Uganda.
    2. Kibale National Park
      Kibale is one in all the most attractive national parks in Uganda with tropical rainforest, and a multiplicity of animals.The most famous of its 13 species is the chimpanzee, our closest relative. Kibale’s 1450 chimpanzees represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. The forest is also home to East Africa’s largest population of the threatened red colobus and the rare I’Hoest’s monkey. Other primates include the black-and-white colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboon, bush baby and potto.Also an estimated 500 elephants are present, along with buffalos, leopards, warthogs, bush pigs, golden cats and duikers. A keen observer may spot reptiles and amphibians as well as a colorful variety of 250 species of butterflies. Kibale national park also boasts of more than 375 species of birds.
    3. Kidepo Valley National Park
      Kidepo valley is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks. It contains one of the most exciting faunas of any Ugandan national park. This national park is 1,442 square kilometers. Kidepo harbors scenery that cannot be found in any other parks in east Africa.It has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species.
    4. Lake Mburo National Park
      It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks and underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It is home to 350 bird species as well as zebra, impala, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, hyena, topi and reedbuck. Together with 13 other lakes in the area, making it one of a birding destination.
    5. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
      Mgahinga gorilla national park is the smallest park in the country, it sits high in the clouds, at an altitude of between 2,227m and 4,127m.It was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered golden monkey, the park also has a huge cultural significance, in particular for the indigenous Batwa pygmies.
      This tribe of hunter-gatherers was the forest’s “first people”, and their ancient knowledge of its secrets remains unrivaled.
    6. Mount Elgon National Park
      Mt. Elgon is an extinct volcano that first erupted more than 24 million years ago. With the largest surface area of any extinct volcano in the world (50 km by 80 km) The Park is named after Mount Elgon, an extinct shield volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya.The botanical diversity of the park includes giant podocarpus, juniper and Elgon olive trees cedar Juniperus procera, pillarwood Cassipourea malosana, elder Sambucus adnata, pure stands of Podocarpus gracilior and many orchids. 400 species have been recorded.The park is also home to a variety of small antelope and forest monkeys, including the Black-and-white Colobus and Blue Monkey. Over 300 birds can also be found in the area, Elephants and buffalo, Other scenery like cliffs, caves, waterfalls, gorges, mesas, calderas, hot springs, and the mountain peaks. The most popular areas are the four explorable, vast caves where frequent night visitors such as elephants and buffaloes come to lick the natural salt found on the cave walls. Kitum cave, with overhanging crystalline walls, enters 200 m into the side of Mt. Elgon.
    7. Murchison Falls National Park
      Murchison falls national park sometimes referred to as Kabarega National Park is the largest park in Uganda and the most visited. It is named after the Murchison falls where the mighty river Nile bangs through a narrow gorge flowing down to be converted into a placid riverIn the park you will see hippos, water bucks, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopard, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species including the rare shoebill. The flora and Fauna at Murchison is characterized by savannah, riverine forest and wood land.
    8. Queen Elizabeth National Park
      Queen Elizabeth national park along with kyambura and kigezi wildlife resource brings together the most diverse ecosystem in Africa. Thousands of hippos populate these water shores. Open savannah dotted with acacia and euphobia trees provide habitat for, leopards , elephants, lions, Uganda Safari kobs, in addition to big herds of buffaloes. The park also harbors primate species, ten in number which include chimpanzees and monkeys. Waterbucks, giant forest hog, topi, hyenas, and crocodiles are among the many animals distinguished frequently in Queen Elizabeth national park.The park is also famous for its volcanic features, comprising volcanic cones and deep craters, many with crater lakes such as Lake Katwe, from which salt is extracted.
    9. Rwenzori Mountains National Park
      UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park has Africa’s third highest mountain peak and many waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers. The park is known for its beautiful plant life.The Rwenzori Mountains are higher than the Alps and are ice-capped. Mount Stanley is located in the park. Margherita Peak, one of Mount Stanley’s twin summits, is Africa’s third highest peak with a height of 5,109 m (16,762 ft). Africa’s fourth and fifth highest peaks (Mount Speke and Mount Baker) are also located in the park.It has a high diversity of plants and trees. The park is noted for its botany, which has been described as some of the most beautiful in the world. There are five distinct vegetation zones in the park, which change according to changes in altitude. The park has 89 species of birds, 15 species of butterfly, and four primate species. You will find forest elephants, chimpanzee, hyrax, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, duiker, and Ruwenzori Turaco.
    10. Semliki National Park
      The rich habitat of grassland, savannah, forest and wetland is home to diverse fauna, in addition to 400 bird species and 300 butterfly species.It is one of the richest areas of floral and faunal diversity in Africa, with bird species being especially diverse. The park has two hot springs in a hot mineral encrusted swamp. One of the springs – Mumbuga spring – resembles a geyser by forming a 0.5 m high fountain. These hot springs attract a large number of shorebirds and they are a source of salt for many animals.The park has over 60 mammal species, including forest buffalos, leopards, pygmy hippos, Mona Monkeys, water chevrotains, bush babies, civets, elephants, the Pygmy Flying Squirrel (Idiuus zenkeri) and nine species of Duikers.




Wildlife game reserves in Uganda

  1.  Katonga Wildlife Reserve
    Many of the species of plants and animals in the Katonga Reserve are unique to the reserve’s wetland environment. The vegetation of the Katonga Reserve is mixed Savannah with acacia scrubland or woodlands.There are over forty animal species and over one hundred and fifty bird species found within the reserve, you will find Sitatunga, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Warthog, Bushbuck, Colobus monkey, Elephant, River otter
  2. Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
    The Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is a conservation area in the Karamoja subregion of northeastern Uganda. It is the second largest conservation protected area in Uganda.  Most of the Reserve is covered by undisturbed grassland and wooded grassland. Small areas of riverine woodland, kopjes also exist.Dominant tree species are red acacia and desert date. Also present are bushwillows, Harrisonia abyssinica and red spike-thorns. Shrubs include butterfly pea and wooly caper bush. It is home to enormous rock pythons and smaller but venomous puff adders. Harmless water snakes, lizards  are also found there.
  3. Matheniko Game Reserve
    The Matheniko Wildlife Reserve is a conservation area in the Karamoja subregion of northeastern Uganda. It is the fifth most-threatened conservation protected area in Uganda.matheniko is a part of the corridor of protected areas that stretches from Kidepo National Park down through Bokora and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserves. The Reserve’s northeastern boundary is also the Uganda-Kenya border.
  4.  Bokora wildlife Reserve