Bwindi is on the South Western border of Uganda with The Congo, 414 kms from Kampala. The park covers an area of over 330 sq kms and comprises mostly jungle with dense undergrowth.

Most visitors come to the park to view the Mountain Gorillas, but the park is home to over 120 species of mammals, including chimpanzees, black & white colobus, blue monkey, bush pig, duiker, leopard, jackal and elephants in the south east of the park. There are also over 350 species of bird, 202 species of butterflies and over 200 species of trees found within the park.

A 4 wheel drive vehicle is recommended to get around the park. Gorilla tracking is limited to small groups and it's advisable to book well in advance of your intended visit. Bookings can be made through most tour operators or directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Kibale Forest National Park is located in Western Uganda 35 kms south of Fort Portal and adjoins with Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kibale which covers an area of 760 sq kms is mostly tropical rainforest. The park contains the largest population of forest elephants found in Uganda though they are highly elusive. The park is rich in wildlife and particularly noted for is primate population including the red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, olive baboon, chimpanzee, black, white and red colobus and white cheeked mangabey. Other mammals found are bushbuck, red and blue duiker, Uganda kob, Scaly-tailed flying squirrel, buffalo, waterbuck and hippo as well as a large number of birds.

Located in the extreme North of the country bordering Sudan and Kenya, Kipedo Valley National Park covers an area of 1,344 sq.km. Due to it's remote location this park is less visited, but it has the most spectacular scenery of mountains and vast savannah landscapes.

The park is home to the Karamojong pastoralists. Animal species found in the region include; giraffe, ostrich, elephant, cheetah, leopard, kudu, zebra, buffalo, amongst others.

It is 840km from Kampala and although the journey by road can be tough, taking up to two days, the diverse landscape passed makes the journey worthwhile. There is also a light aircraft airstrip at Akopa.

Lake Mburo National Park covers an area of 260 sq km and is located 420kms south west of Kampala. It is one of the more popular parks, due to its relatively close location to Kampala, being particularly busy with city weekend visitors.

The landscape consists mainly of savannah and the area contains four lakes. The open valleys on the western side of the park offer the best game viewing opportunities, with large herds of elephants and buffalo roaming the land. Other wildlife encountered include; leopard, hyena hippo and a large variety of antelope including the rare Impala. It is the perfect destination for ornithologists, as it boasts a huge variety of birds including Bronze-tailed starling, Marabou stork, Crowned Crane and bee-eaters.

Boats are available for hire on the Lake Mburo Swamp from the Park Office in Rwonyo.

Mgahinga is located on the south western tip of the country on the border with Congo (Zaire) and Rwanda, 510km from Kampala.

It is Uganda’s smallest park, covering an area of just 34 sq kms and is one of the last remaining habitats of the mountain gorilla found on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Access to visit the gorillas is strictly controlled, with only small groups being allowed at any one time and always accompanied by a ranger. Booking to see the gorillas must be made well in advance. Other wildlife found in the park include bushbuck, elephant, leopard, aardvark, honey badger, jackal and a wealth of birdlife.

Three extinct volcanos rise within the park, Mt. Muhuvura, Mt. Gahinga and Mt Sabinyo. The peak of Muhavura has a small crater lake and is the highest point in the park rising to 4,127 metres.

The Ugandan side of Mt. Elgon National Park covers an area of 1155 sq kms. It is an extinct volcano with a gradual slope to the crater rim, lying at 4,321 metres above seal level. Mountaineering skills are not required. The whole region is excellent for hikers and climbers, with caves, rock paintings, gorges and waterfalls providing excellent scenery.

The parks has a variety of game including, duiker, hyena, leopard, chimpanzee, buffalo and elephant and numerous species of birdlife.

The largest park in Uganda covering on area of over 3,840 sq kms, Murchison Falls park is also one of the most famous for its scenic beauty, magnificent falls and high concentration of game. It is situated approximately 350 kms north west of Kampala.

The mighty River Nile divides the park into the north and south sections with the spectacular Murchison Falls dropping some 40 meters through a narrow crevice. The river attracts large numbers of game, and a boat ride up the river provides the perfect opportunity to see and photograph the animals. Wildlife found in this park include elephant, giraffe, hippo, lion, leopard, buffalo, Nile crocodile, monkeys, and over 450 species of birds including the magnificent shoebill stork.

There are plenty of activities in the park including river trips, game drives, forest walks, fishing and bird watching.

The park has two light aircraft airstrips operating air charter services from Kampala.

The park covers and area of almost 2,000 sq kms and lies between the Rwenzori Mountains to the east and Lake Edward to the west, approximately 470kms from Kampala.

Poaching was once a serious problem, but recent conservation efforts have restored much of the game and it now claims to be one of the best places on the continent to see high concentrations of hippo. Other animals found are elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob, various antelope, baboons and chimpanzees and the famous tree-climbing lion. There are also over 500 different specifies of bird making it an excellent destination for ornithologists.

A boat trip along the Kazinga channel between Lakes George and Edward is a rewarding way of game viewing. The best time of the year to visit the park is just after the rains, between October and November and March and April when high concentrations of animals roam the whole area.

This mountain range along the western Uganda border has six peaks, with permanent snow and glaciers and spectacular scenery. In the centre of the range is Africa's third highest mountain, Mt. Margherita reaching a height of 5,109 mtrs. This is an excellent destination for keen hikers and climbers, although the higher slopes are demanding and require some mountaineering skills. The best time of the year for hiking is during the dry seasons from mid December to end of March and from June to mid August.

The park covers an area of 995 sq kms and wildlife encountered in this park includes, elephant, genet, Vervet Monkey, Rwenzori Colobus, Chimpanzee and Duiker.

Tarangire National Park covers 2,600 sq km and is located 118 kms Southwest of Arusha.

Tarangire is the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem - a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.

Tarangire's mobs of elephant are easily encountered in both the wet and dry seasons.

The swamps, tinged green year round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world. Tarangire's pythons climb trees, as do its lions and leopards.

Getting there is an easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara following a surfaced road to within 7km of the main entrance gate. One can also continue on to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Charter flights from Arusha and the Serengeti are also available to connect to Tarangire.

Activities available include guided walking safaris, day trips to Maasai and Barabaig villages, as well as to the hundreds of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo on the Dodoma Road.

It is a park well worth visiting all year round but is especially spectacular in the dry season (June - September) for sheer numbers of animals.