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Kibale National Park is renowned for being one of East Africa’s premier primate destinations! Home to a total of 70 mammal species, including 13 primate species and is famous for being the stomping ground to the highest concentration of chimpanzees anywhere in East Africa! The park also contains over 375 species of birds making it an alluring bird watching destination, all set to the backdrop of one of the most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Dense forest cover is interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominating the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau. Kibale Forest also adjoins Queen Elizabeth National Park to the south to create a 180km-long corridor for wildlife between Ishasha, the remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Sebitoli in the north of Kibale National Park.

The immense Rwenzori mountain range sometimes known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ is Uganda’s most alluring hiking destination and for good reason! The mountain range runs along the Uganda / Congolese border rising from the north of Lake Edward and south of Lake Albert. Offering one-to-nine day hiking trips, which pass through several different attitudinally-defined vegetation zones. The upper-regions of the Rwenzori Mountains, ranging between 4000m and 5109m, is regarded a much tougher hiking conditions than that of Mount Kilimanjaro or Kenya and requires above average fitness and stamina. The national park hosts some of the world's rarest vegetation as well as 70 mammals and 217 bird species including 19 Albertine Rift endemics.

There is no doubt why Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. It boasts a diverse range of ecosystems including vast savannah plains, tropical forest, glassy lakes and dense green wetland. Within its boundaries live large herds of elephant, prides of tree-climbing lions and other classic big wildlife species. It also contains over 600 species of bird and 10 species of primate including chimpanzees. The park itself has a backdrop of the mighty Rwenzori mountains and the far north of the park is made up of dramatic craters scattered between rolling hills. The Kazinga channel offers panoramic views where you can see much of the highly anticipated wildlife such as hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and many species of birds. On top of all this Queen Elizabeth has a captivating cultural history for you to experience as well.

Lake Mburo National Park’s rolling hills, acacia woodland and expansive wetland system offer a stunning backdrop to view the park's large game herds including impala, zebra, eland and buffalo. This park is also home to a small breeding group of Rothschild's giraffes, introduced from Murchison Falls National Park in 2015. With zebras and giraffes absent from Queen Elizabeth National Park, but lions and elephant herds absent from Lake Mburo National Park combining a visit to both parks will certainly compliment your safari adventure! Lake Mburo National Park also offers plenty of additional activities to game drives, such as walking safaris, mountain biking, and horseback riding on the savannah plains, as well as a nocturnal game drives to seek out the elusive leopards! Despite being Uganda’s smallest park, it is a compact gem that is conveniently located close to a highway that connects Kampala to Uganda’s western region, the perfect stop off point on your journey through the west of Uganda!

Sitting high in the clouds is Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This stunning park consists of three conical, extinct volcanoes that can be hiked which are part of the spectacular Virunga range that lies along the border region of DRC and Rwanda. The volcanoes’ slopes contain various ecosystems and are biologically diverse, and their peaks provide a striking backdrop to this gorgeous scenery. As its name suggests, it was created to protect the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit the dense rainforest slopes, it is also an important habitat for the forest buffalo and endemic golden monkey. As well as being important for wildlife, 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 unrivalled!

Nakasongola district lies in the heart of Uganda with the main commercial centre, Nakasongola town located 125km north of Kampala and 200km south of Gulu along the Kampala - Gulu highway making it a popular stop off point on the north - south route and to Murchison Falls National Park. As you drive you view a landscape that is predominately low ululating hills, wide grassy plains and large farmsteads punctuated by large rocky hills dotted in the landscape. For those travellers interested in birding it’s worth a stop off at Kakooge Swamp, with the chance to spot the Purple-banded Sunbird, Western-banded Snake-eagle and Fan-tailed widowbird. The most popular activity though is a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where you can also take a canoe tour on Lugogo Swamp, another birders paradise with a good chance to spot the Shoebill. The sanctuary is also home to Uganda’s only population of rhino, with the hopes of one day releasing them back into Murchison Falls National Park. Tracking these rhinos of foot no only give you an intermit viewing of these fantastic animals but also supports their reintroduction efforts.

The dense tropical rainforest of Budongo Forest lies on the southern boundary of Murchison Falls National Park, with the connecting Kaniyo Pabidi Forest located in the south of the national park. This is one of the largest natural rainforests still surviving in Uganda, which covers 825 square km in total. This is thanks to its protection as a royal hunting forest by the King of Bunyoro, until it was gazetted as a reserve in 1932 from when the National Forest Authority continued its protection. The rainforest is a well known destination for chimpanzee tracking, which takes place in Kaniyo Pabidi Forest. There’s also the option to take part in the chimpanzee habituation experience, where you spend a full day tracking a group of un habituated chimps and contribute towards the habituation process. The Royal Mile is also considered to be one of the best rainforest birding sites anywhere in Uganda and can be found in Budongo Forest. This 2.5km stretch of dirt road runs through the forest offering you the chance to spot the Puvel’s illadopsis which is found nowhere else in East Africa, the Ituri batis, chestnut-capped flycatcher, and brown crowned eremomela to name a few. The forest also has a network of well maintained paths allowing access for nature walks to spot some of the 280 butterflies varieties, 9 species of mammals and 465 species of plants, including the Mahogany trees which can grow up to 80 meters in height.

Located on a peninsular stretching out into Lake Victoria, the world’s largest freshwater lake is Entebbe town. Also home to Uganda’s only international airport this is the first taste of Uganda most visitors experience on arrival, as well as being the hub for domestic flights to Uganda’s national parks. A few kilometres away is Kajjansi airfield from where flights can be chartered if you are looking for something extra special. If you wish to cross the waters of Lake Victoria to reach the tropical beaches of Ssese Islands, Entebbe Is also home to the docks from where a daily ferry service departs. The word ‘Entebbe’ in the Luganda means ‘seat’, most likely because this was the place where the Baganda chief would adjudicate legal cases, it was then the seat of governance until Uganda achieved independence in 1962. To this day is also still the location of State House, the official residence of the president of Uganda, which you’ll pass in the heart of the town. There’s a wide variety of activities for you to add to a half or full day stop over on your arrival and departure from the airport. You can take a stroll in Entebbe Botanical Gardens, a boat trip to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, bird watch in Lutembe Bay or explore the lake with a fishing trip or unwind at the end of the day on a sunset cruise. The town also offers a variety of comfortable hotels, set in the town's leafy suburbs.

Adjoining the rainforest of Kibale National Park is Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary, part of the larger Magombe wetlands system. This protected 8km long area acts as a wildlife corridor for wildlife to move between the northern and southern sections of Kibale National Park. The swamp is tranquil place for nature and birding walks, with the wetlands being home to 138 birding species including the Great blue turaco, Brown illadopsis and Papyrus gonolek to be spotted. A ramble along the boardwalks following the swamp edge also offer you fantastic primate spotting with seven monkey species living here including the red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, L’Hoest, vervet, black and white colobus, blue monkeys and baboons. The guided walks support the local village of Bigodi through KAFRED, an award winning community project which provides employment for the local villagers and the proceeds from guided walks support the local school.

Set on the shores of Lake Victoria is Mabamba Wetlands part of a 100km2 wetlands system, protected as a RAMSAR site in 2006 and is a site of international importance for its high diversity of bird species. Located off the Kampala - Masaka highway the swamp is easily accessed from Kampala and a popular stop off point when travelling onto Lake Mburo National Park. The swamps most famous resident is of course the prehistoric looking Shoebill, which is best spotted early in the morning. As you glide through the water you will be struck by the lush green vegetation, dotted with bright purple water lilies and feathered papyrus flowers swaying over your head as you seek out these giant birds. With over 300 bird species recorded here you will also be able to spot other birdlife such as the Lesser jacana, Papyrus gonolek and the Saddle-billed stork! Also just off the main Kampala - Masaka is Mpanga Forest, an unmissable birding hot spot and popular break for any journey. The protected 45km2 rainforest reserve was first gazetted in the 1950’s and to this day protects the habitat of some 180 bird species including the African grey parrot, Black and white casqued hornbill and the great blue turaco which can be spotted by taking nature walks along the forests guided network of paths. You’re also likely to spot the red-tailed monkey which is common to the area as well as an abundant number of butterflies. Just 1km from the forest edge you can also visit Mpambire village which is home to the Buganda drum makers, an interesting stop to pick yourself up a souvenir, and watch the craftsmen at work.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the iconic rare mountain gorillas and with more than a thousand flowering plant species, protects the richest floral diversity of any forest in East Africa. This ancient rainforest has blanketed the edge of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley for some 25,000 years, giving rise to a diverse population of wildlife including 120 mammal species, 350 species of birds, 310 species of butterfly and 51 reptile species. In recognition of its biodiversity the park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Around half of the world's mountain gorillas roam the impenetrable forest, 14 groups of which have been habituated for tourism purposes and can be tracked on a daily basis. Additionally one more group is monitored for research purposes and can be tracked by tourists on the gorilla habituation exercise, for a more intimate experience. These gorilla groups are tracked from 4 locations; Buhoma and Ruhija trailheads on the northern side of the park, served by flights to Kihihi airstrip and close by to Ishasha Plains, Queen Elizabeth National Park. Then on the southern side of the park with views towards the Virunga Volcanoes and close by to Lake Mutanda are the Rushaga and Nkuringo trailheads, which are served by Kisoro airstrip. The park is also known for its nature walks along a well maintained set of trails, longer hiking route such as between Buhoma and Nkuringo and community visits including meeting the Batwa who once lived in the rainforest. The park is also a renowned birding destination, with 23 Albertine rift endemics recorded here such as the Blue-headed Sunbird, African green broadbill and Short-tailed warble. With popular sites to explore such as ‘The Neck’, Buhoma Waterfall Trail and Mubwindi Wetlands, drawing enthusiastic birders from across the world!