The Pearl of Africa: A Survey of Uganda's National Parks
June 24, 2015
Uganda's natural beauty has hardly escaped notice. In 1909, Sir Winston Churchill famously called it “the
Pearl of Africa,” a sentiment echoed more prosaically today whenever contemporary travelers ooh and
ahh over the country's diversity of people, wildlife and ecosystems.
Uganda occupies a special geographical position, spanning the land where western and eastern Africa
come together. Its rainforests are home to the famous mountain gorillas and teeming with beautiful
birds, with savannas populated by big game nearby. This also explains the wide range of habitats,
including woodlands, wetlands, moorlands, mountains, rivers and lakes (approximately 20% of the
country is covered by water).
No wonder Lonely Planet ranked Uganda first on its Best in Travel list for 2012, the 50th anniversary of
the country's independence.
It's easy to get overwhelmed by its 10 national parks, its status as one of Africa’s most popular birding
destinations (with around 1,050 species – 50% of those on the continent and 11% in the world), its 18
primate species and its impressive panoply of outdoor activities. But in a country of superlatives – the
world's largest free-standing volcano, the world's second-largest freshwater lake, African's highest
mountain range, the headwaters of the world's longest river– how did International Expeditions choose
what's essential to see on safari?
Here's a look at the primary attractions of some of Uganda's best national parks:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Located in the southwest about 400 km from Kampala, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most
popular conservation area. Its 1,978 square kilometers were first gazetted in 1952 as Kazinga National
Park, but its name was changed two years later in honor of a visit by the British monarch.
The park's popularity is principally due to its breathtaking biodiversity. Spread across the Albertine Rift
Valley, the park offers savanna, acacia woodlands, tropical forests, fertile wetlands and lakes within its
borders, providing safe haven to over 600 bird species and 95 mammals (including 10 species of
primates). No wonder the QENP has been recognized by Birding International as an International Birding
Area.
Two of the park's unique wildlife experiences are chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge and
sighting the unusual tree-climbing lions, which perch in the giant fig and acacia trees of the Ishasha
sector. Other highlights are the two-hour boat ride along the Kazinga Channel; guided walks through the
dark Maramagambo Forest; and cultural encounters with local communities, like the salt workers at the
Lake Katwe evaporation pans.
Murchison Falls National Park
The sprawling 3,840 square kilometers of Murchison Falls National Park, found 300+ kilometers
northwest of Kampala, make it Uganda's largest protected natural area. It is also the oldest, originally
established in 1952.
Famous as the location of Murchison Falls – the thunderous cataract where the Nile River squeezes
through a six-meter gap and then plunges 43 meters – the park is also a magnet for birders and animal
lovers.
The 450 species of fowl recorded here include the rare shoebill stork and many endemics, while the 76
mammals include four of the Big Five (all but the rhinoceros, which live in special protected isolation at
the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary).
Although game drives are a customary means of scouting for wildlife here, a special game cruise along
the Nile is a relaxing way to take in the park’s changing landscape. The views of the water's edge and up
to the falls are not to be forgotten, as is the hike from the boat landing to the falls, which are visible
from below and then above.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Although small – just 321 square kilometers – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is of crucial
importance as home to the world's largest population of critically endangered mountain gorillas. The
park contains half of the 900 or so alive today, with the remainder in the Virunga conservation area
shared by Rwanda and Congo. (For more about the gorillas and the experience of visiting one of Bwindi’s
10 habituated gorilla groups, see Tracking Gorillas: The Bigger Conservation Picture.)
Preserved on the edge of the Rift Valley in southwest Uganda, Bwindi was established in 1991 as part of
the conservation effort to save the mountain gorillas. Three years later, this island of remnant forest–
one of Africa's richest and oldest (dating back about 25,000 years) – was recognized by UNESCO as a
natural World Heritage Site.
Beyond the gorillas, Bwindi is full of other life, including 120 species of mammals, 350 species of birds
(earning it the title of the Best Birding Destination in Africa by Travel Africa magazine), 200 trees, 310
butterflies, 88 moths and 51 reptiles.
The humans of Bwindi are also notable. The indigenous Batwa people were exiled from their historic
lands when the park was created. They now reside in an adjacent buffer zone, from which they lead
tours that teach visitors about their age-old hunting, hut-building, honey-harvesting, agricultural and
trapping practices, as well as sharing traditional music and dance.
How to Explore Uganda's National Parks
International Expeditions offers ecologically sensitive, small-group Uganda tours which feature the
opportunity to track mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in five national parks, including Murchison Falls,
Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Bwindi and Lake Mburo.
After decades of hardship under politically oppressive regimes, Uganda is finally coming back into its
own and trying to right many wrongs. Tourism plays a big part in that, as one of the core sectors driving
the country's socio-economic transformation.
With this in mind, remember that the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which oversees Uganda's parks, gives
20% of all park collections to communities that border the parks to develop facilities such as schools,
hospitals, water infrastructure and roads. Any money spent on appreciating wildlife is also helping to
improve quality of life and establish a more stable equilibrium between humans and animals.
As a writer, Ethan Gelber has agitated tirelessly for responsible/sustainable travel practices, a focus on keeping things local, and
quality and relevance in publishing and destination marketing. He started The Travel Word blog and is co-founder of travel
content curation site Outbounding.
Direct Link: http://www.ietravel.com/blog/uganda-national-parks