Wildlife is amongst the reasons why thousands of tourists pack for numerous destinations around the globe. Africa is one of those destinations. This continent invites travelers with its diverse wildlife which include unique species that are not found in other continents like Europe, Asia and more.

These species are scattered in different regions including East Africa, a home to mountain gorillas, chimpanzee primates, Golden monkeys, African big fives and the notable Wildebeests.

If you are a person who has saved for years just to have ultimate safari encounters with different Wildlife species, don’t hesitate to include East Africa on your bucket list.

This region is highly endowed and will leave you with everlasting memories. Below are some of the major hotspots that leave most wildlife addicts just contented with all what they offer.

Maasai Mara National Reserve

If you ask most tourists the reasons for their trip to Kenya, Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of them. This protected area is huge and a highlight for Tourism in Kenya.

It tempts tourists with its diverse wildlife that consist of different animals like the African big fives, wildebeests, zebras and a number antelopes. There are many activities to partake such as game drive, hot air balloon rides but most travelers come to see the great World’s Wildebeest migration.

Kidepo Valle National Park

Situated far in the north eastern part of Uganda, Kidepo is a park of its kind in Uganda. This protected area differs itself unique from other with a number of unusual species that are not found in other parks around the country. On your next safari to Uganda, don’t miss this less visited national park in Uganda.

Some of these species include ostrich, serval cats and more. Other animals that enjoy the beautiful habitats of Kidepo are elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes to mention but a few.

Serengeti National Park

For anyone who seek a glimpse of Tanzania’s rich Wildlife, Serengeti should be your first start. This Park covers an area in the northern part of Tanzania on the borders with Kenya.

Its luxuriant habitats (composed of savannah grasslands, woodlands and shrubs) plays host to a plethora of wild animals, species of birds, insects and reptiles. The list of animals and other species in this park is endless, but some of those that dazzle tourists are the Wildebeests, African big fives, Zebras and more.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Situated in the western part of Uganda, this Park was named to commemorate the visit by Queen Elizabeth II. It welcomes visitors with its wide range of Wildlife species.

The park is divided into different parts including the Kasenyi plains, Mweya peninsula, Kyambura gorge and the southern Ishasha sector.

Animals are plenty here including African big fives, antelopes, but the main highlight for tourists are the famous tree climbing lions that rest in the fig trees in Ishasha.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison is another spot that tempt travelers with its beautiful Wildlife. Located in the north western part of Uganda along the Albertine Rift, Murchison Falls Game Park is the largest Park in Uganda.

Travelers know it not only for its Wildlife but also the great Murchison Falls, a natural scenery within the Park boundaries. You get there by road from Kampala via Kampala – Masindi – Gulu highway or arrange private charters from Entebbe up to Pakuba airstrip.

Kibale Forest National Park

This is for Lovers of Chimpanzees. Kibale Forest National Park is positioned in the western part of Uganda. With its high numbers of primates, travelers around the globe refer to it as the primate capital of Uganda.

Its evergreen vegetation and stretch of trees is a great habitat to plenty of wildlife species including over thirteen primates and different bird species. Chimpanzee tracking, habituation experience and bird watching are the main activities offered in this Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is located just in the South western part of Uganda. It is one of the two Uganda’s Parks that are home to the rarely seen species of Gorillas. About 95 percent of Uganda’s Gorilla population is found in this protected area. Bwindi stretch of thick forest is a habitat not only to Gorillas, but also to a number of other species like monkeys, birds and more.

Akagera National Park

When it comes to Wildlife Safaris in Rwanda, Akagera National Park has to be the first on list. This protected area is nestled in the eastern part of Rwanda along the border with Tanzania.

Its beautiful habitats are inhabited by a number of animals including African big fives, birds and reptiles. Lakes within its boundaries like Lake Ihema are home to some aquatic species like crocodiles, hippopotamus and water birds.

Most animals in the park are sighted while on game drives, those who are after the species of black Rhinoceros, a helicopter is available to drive to the exact location of these species. Since these animals are dangerous to human life, you can only see them from the helicopter seat.

Both Uganda and Rwanda are the ultimate countries to visit if you love primates. These two tropical countries are endowed with primates. If you are looking to amazing primate tours in Eastern Africa, you should not miss planning a safari through any of these amazing destinations in Uganda or Rwanda.

Kibale Forest

The popular Kibale Forest National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa for chimpanzee treks in Uganda. The Park contains one of the most beautiful and with the most varying tracts of tropical forest in the whole of Uganda.

This is place to a number of forest wildlife, most especially 13 species of primate coupled with chimpanzees. The Forest covering predominates in the central and Fort portal side. It’s a 12km hike and usually done in the dry seasons. The months are mid November – February, June and September. Hiking helps discover Kibale Forest park’s assorted habitats such as river line forest, swamp, grassland and tropical rain forest. Visit Bigodi a top birders spot. It’s famous for wildlife such as chimpanzees, red colobus, black and white colobus, red tailed monkey, bush buck as well as mongoose. It has about 138 bird species seen on nature walks within.

The nature walk begins from Kanyanchu or Sebitoli and it takes about 2-6 days. The en-route will help discover the forest and late rest in the community-run campsites close to the villages of Kikoni, Nyakalongo and Nyaibanda. Other mammals are also present, though they are hardly seen. These consist of buffalo, leopard, bush pig elephant, and duiker. A neat viewer could also see amphibians and reptiles and a colorful variety of butterflies.

Nyungwe Forest

Nyungwe Forest is home to a whopping 13 primate species, 25% of primate species in all of Africa. Early breakfast before you enter the Nyungwe Forest National Park. Track the Chimps in this primate forest and once you meet them you will be awed by their resemblance to the human race. Wear good walking shoes, you will have to hike ~30-60 minutes (relatively flat) to reach the chimps. Your visit will be finished by mid-morning so book another activity for the rest of the day, like the canopy tour or one of the guided nature walks.

Nyungwe Forest is a hidden gem and there’s lot of nature activities to do. You can also decide to take up a chimpanzee track the next day. After breakfast at your lodge you will make an entrance to the chimpanzee sanctuary where you will have the chance to track the gentle Giants. Hike the bamboo forest in search for the chimpanzees and once you meet them, spend short time observing and taking pictures of the primates before you return to your lodge.

A self-drive trip is one of the exciting moments of exploring the world. A self-drive in Uganda is by no doubt the best way to explore Uganda especially when it’s a novice vacation. So, you are wishing to hire a 4×4 safari vehicle and wondering which park should visit while in Uganda. Uganda boasts for hosting 10 hot national parks. These parks have statured to offer unique moments of wildlife, and adventure encounters on your guided safari to Uganda.

Among these parks we’re selecting the best five parks in Uganda which you can plan to visit especially when on a self-drive. These parks offer different adventure experiences according to the nature and environment around. So, do you opt for a self-drive here, then you got to select from best five list.

1. Rwenzori National Park

The park is rare visited but even on the global scene is among the amazing places in Uganda. Mt Rwenzori National Park is located in western Uganda in Kasese, it shares borders with DR Congo. The park is also called the mountain of the moon. It’s among the three UNESCO heritage sites in Uganda, and was named for its glacier peaks.

Mt. Rwenzori is Uganda’s highest peak raised at an altitude of 5109m above sea level. It’s again East Africa’s and Africa’s 3^rd peak point, the park is mainly famous for hiking adventures and the longest route lasts for 7 days. Why are recommending mountain Rwenzori to be best park in Uganda for your self-drive? The mountain is formed of various ranges which makes it hiking very hectic. To climb and reach the peak is the most challenging adventurous hike in Africa. Someone can hike Kilimanjaro for 3 days, but Rwenzori at least for advanced hikers it takes 6 days.

However, there are various hiking trails which ranges from hours, one day, two days, three days and the maximum 7 days to and from the highest snow caped peak (Magharita peak 5109m). Along the hike through bamboo, valleys and montane vegetation you can encounter some wild species like, several antelopes, primate’s likes baboons and several bird species.

2. Queen Elizabeth National Park

The most famous park in Uganda, 2^nd largest among other parks in Uganda covering an area of 1,978km/q. Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda, seated within the arrays of the Albertine Rift Valley at the foothills of Mt. Rwenzori. The park is about 6 hours of driving from Kampala, Uganda’s capital by road. It’s one of the amazing places you would not wish to miss out on your self-drive trip here.

The park is bisected into various segments which have suggested to crown your drive with amazing adventures. These sections include the Mweya peninsular which common for a boat cruise at Kazinga channel, the Kasenyi section the most famous for greater wildlife watching especially on a game drive, Kyambura Gorge on the eastern arm of the park which is known for hosting chimpanzees, and the most unique Ishasha which hosts the world’s wonder wild scenes of lions climbing trees.

This park suggests the longest list of adventures one can engage in than any other parks in Uganda. Among the adventures to undertake here include; game drive, boat cruise, tree climbing lion tracking, bird watching the park hosts about 6 bird species which is the highest population in African in one destination. Other adventures include the experiential adventures like lion tracking, mongoose tracking, chimpanzee tracking, and hippo census. Also chimpanzee tracking, and hiking crater lakes, and community visits among others.

3. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park suggests the best gorilla trekking experience in the wild. This park accommodates 50% of the world mountain gorilla ruminants, and the rest of the population reside in the Virunga Conservation Areas shared among Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo. A self-drive through Bwindi rolling landscape, means a low gear drive.

A self-drive to this volcanic tropical rain forest take about 9 to 10 hours with en-routes. It’s indeed a long journey and on a self-drive to the park you need a stronger 4×4 rental with high ground clearance. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park seats in the lines of the Great Western Rift Valley, southwest of Uganda overlooking the Virunga massifs. The 331sq/km area is characterized by tropical rain forest covering volcanic landscapes favoring the existence of the mountain gorillas.

There are about 19 habituated gorilla families which are available and ready for trekking. And it’s only at Bwindi where trackers have an opportunity to do gorilla habituation which process if for making gorillas used to human presence. There are 4 tracking sectors of Nkuringo, Buhoma, Rushaga and Ruhija at the park.

A self-drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, expect several adventure encounters including; gorilla tracking, nature walks, bird watching, mountain biking, Batwa cultural experience, Lake Mutanda visits, Lake Bunyonyi exploration among many others.

4. Kidepo Valley National Park

One of the most interesting road trip on a self-drive drive is the northern circuit to Kidepo. Kidepo Valley National Park is the remotest park to be accessed road. It’s about 10 to 11 hours of drive right from Kampala taking the northern route. Called the “True African Wildness,” it’s located in the rugged northeastern region bordering Sudan and Kenya. The amazing feature of Kidepo Valley National Park is about the widest opening of the savannah landscape. It’s about 10hours of scenic drive reaching Kidepo Valley National Park by road and only about an hour by aircraft.

The parks has two popular sections of Kidepo Valley and the Narus valley which two persist with water even in driest season. These two sections have the highest concentration of wild animals. The eco-biodiversity of Kidepo consists of over 74 mammal species includes some of the big five mammals, antelope species, zebras, cheetahs, wild dog. These facilitate adventures like Game drives, nature walks, and birding, hiking, and community tours.

There are about 470 bird species including ostriches, secretary birds among others. In 2019, CNN named Kidepo Valley National Park among the best attractive destinations in Africa. And in 2021, the park featured in the World Tourism Awards list of best safari parks in African and safari booking in 2019 listed the park 11 among the best 50 national park in Africa.

5. Murchison Falls National Park

On a self-drive to Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is among the easily accessed park from Kampala capital, it’s about 4 hour’s drive Uganda Kichumbanyobo gate. When planning a self-drive holiday going to Murchison falls, it’s not a drive to worry about. And when with maiden safari rentals like 4×4 Rav4 model 1995-2005, and 4×4 customized safari vans.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s most visited national park. It’s by size the largest among other parks covering an areas of 3,879km/q. The park is located in the northwestern Uganda along Gulu-Kampala road.

The flowing Victoria Nile is the most interesting part of the park which is very vital for the formation of the Murchison Fall. These are arguably called the world’s most powerful waterfalls in the word. This is by considering how the rapids force into the narrow gorge of 7m wide and thunderously pour at 45m down. The river continue with an amazing flow towards Lake Albert forming the Delta which is the park’s hub for wildlife games. The northern section features the savannah woodlands of acacia and palms.

And adventure to Murchison Falls National Park is the highest chance for watching the Big Five on a safari to Uganda. Among the adventures expectations include some of the big five lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Herds of antelope species, towers of giraffes, schools of hippos, over 400 bird and many more species. En-route to Murchison is Ziwa rhino sanctuary the only home to rhinos in Uganda.

Among the activities to do at Murchison Falls National Park include game drive, boat cruise, visiting the top of the falls, climbing to the top of the falls, nature walks , community visits, wild camping, sports fishing among others.

Africa’s most iconic safari destination? It’s a tough call, but the Serengeti and Kruger National Parks can both stake a strong claim to the title.

The Serengeti dominating the wild northwest of Tanzania, lies at the core of a vast migratory ecosystem that incorporates the adjacent Ngorongoro Conservation Area and cross-border Masai Mara Reserve to cover an area comparable to Belgium or Switzerland.

The Madikwe Game Reserve belongs to the latest park developments in South Africa. It was opened in 1991 and comprises 75000 hectares of bush land east of the town Gaborone up to the Botswana border. It Is located in a malaria-free area.

It is currently the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa and one of the best-kept secrets.

The terrain is mainly open grasslands and bushveld plains, interspersed with rocky outcrops and single mountains.

Madikwe is regarded as one of the finest conservation areas in Africa, offering all the major species, including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, both white and black rhino along with almost all the plains antelope species.

A special feature of Madikwe lies in its unique location, a transition zone on the edges of the Kalahari, where a number of rare species, like wild dogs, occur naturally.

The climate is generally mild to hot, but winter nights can be cold.

Finally, please note Madikwe is not open to day-visitors. Thus, it is necessary to stay in one of the twelve lodges located in the reserve.