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Uganda Safaris

WWS-54 UGANDA NATIONAL PARKS

Uganda possesses three national parks, the wenzori National Park in western Uganda between Lakes Edward and George; the Kabalega Falls National Park farther north, astride the Victoria Nile and bounded on the west by Lake Albert; and the Kidepo Valley National Park in the wilds of Karamoja on the border of Sudan in north-eastern Uganda.

Each of these National Parks lies within a distinct ecological region and each has a fauna complementing the others.  The three together provide a remarkably complete cross-section of the wildlife of Uganda.  In character they are quite unlike any other of East Africa's faunal preserves.

WWS-55 RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK

The Ruwenzori National Park, immediately to the south of the snow-capped ‘Mountains of the Moon'-the Rwenzori Range-is a region of lush green vegetation and rolling grassy plains, of great lakes and swamps and stretches of imposing tropical forests – outliers of the great forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.  It includes the Kazinga Channel joining Lake Edward to Lake George, where in a launch one can approach to within feet of elephant and buffalo at the water's edge.  To the north there is an extensive zone of old volcanic craters and crater lakes, with superb scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains. In the Kigezi section-famous for its tree-climbing lions and herds of topi – the Ishasha River boundary abuts the Zaire Parco de Virunga, previously known as the Parc National Albert.

WWS-56 KABALEGA FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Kabalega Falls National Park has the attraction of the famous water – fall from which it derives it name.  The launch trip on the Victoria Nile to the foot of the Falls is a highlight of a visit to East Africa: the river banks are lined with big game animals and some of the largest crocodiles in Africa bask on sand-bars in the river.  Fishing is allowed in the Nile, both above and below the fall, for Nile Perch which run up to 84kg. Most of the Kabalega is open rolling grasslands, with areas of savanna woodland, an isolated forest where chimpanzees are found, and forest strips along the river.

Uganda's third Park, the Kidepo Valley National Park, is situated in what used to be one of the most inaccessible and wild parts of the country, northeastern Karamoja.  An extensive road construction program now enables anyone to visit this supremely beautiful country of wide sand rivers, forests of borassus palms and rugged mountain terrain, all unusually rich in mammals and birds.

It mist be stressed that on account of recent political upheavals in Uganda the status of certain mammals, such as Rhinoceros and Elephant, is at present uncertain.  Uganda'' National Parks, Game Reserve and Animal Sanctuaries suffered terribly from neglect and organized poaching during Idi Amin's reign in the 1970s.  Some species, such as the White Rhino, have disappeared from Uganda Entirely, and only a very few Black Rhinos remain, confined to the Kidepo National Park. Other animals have been drastically reduced in numbers by poaching and the encroachment of Human habitation.

An ambitious programs for the rehabilitation of Uganda's National Parks, Game Reserves and Animal Sanctuaries suffered terribly from neglect and organized poaching during Idi Amin's reign in the 1970s.  Some species, such as the White Rhino, have disappeared from Uganda entirely, and only a very few Black Rhinos remain, confined to the Kidepo National Park.  Other animals have been drastically reduced in numbers by poaching and encroachment of human habitation.

An ambitious program for the rehabilitation of Uganda's National Parks, Game Reserves and Animal Sanctuaries is planned to commence in late 1981.  Meanwhile all hunting in Uganda is banned until at least July 1984.

Since the situation is not static the reader may find it useful to check on the latest information with local sources: