Uganda’s National parks and wildlife reserves are a primary attraction to all her visitors whether or not they decide to visit. This is undoubtedly because they are among the most diverse and best in the region in the quantity, quality and range of living species and natural habitats. Not only do they contain an incredible range of endemic, rare and endangered species of animals, birds, butter flies, reptiles, amphibians, trees and plants, but tropical and riverine forest, montane, savannah grassland and woodland found in them support this diversity and wide species range.
Her National Parks are;
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,
- Queen Elizabeth National Park,
- Lake Mburo National Park,
- Murchison Falls National Park,
- Kibale Forest National Park,
- Semuliki National Park,
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park,
- Kidepo Valley National Park,
- Mount Elgon National Park
- Rwenzori Mountains
Wildlife Reserves are
- Karuma Wildlife Reserve
- Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
- Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Forest Reserves are
- Maramagambo Forest,
- Mpanga Forest
- Mabira Forest
Each of these Parks, Wildlife and Forest Reserves possesses a uniqueness of it’s own distinct from the other.
By way of illustration, Bwindi ranks among Africa’s most bio-diverse forests for as far as forests go it is extremely old and it’s matted vegetation has been intricately weaving itself in tangles for over 25,000 years, and this together with it’s afromontane vegetation contains an impressive biodiversity including 340 of the world’s remaining 700 population of the critically endangered mountain, 350 species of bird, 310 of butterfly, 51 of reptiles, 200 of trees, 88 moths and an exceptional 120 of types of mammal including 10 primates. The latter include Chimpanzee, L’Hoests, Red Tailed and Blue Monkey, Black and White Colobus and Baboon.
Although mountain gorillas are only found in Bwindi and Mgahinga which is home to the endangered Golden Monkey, Semiliki is unique in that it’s the park with the highest primate density in Uganda and together with other parks primate lists, make Uganda rank first in this category in Africa, if not the world. Whereas Lake Mburo is the only park in Uganda that is home to the Burchell’s Zebra and Impala, Kidepo Valley is the only one that is home to the gigantic Ostrich, Bat-eared Fox and Cheetah while Rwenzori Mountains is home to the rare Rwenzori Turaco.
However, what they collectively offer is the fantastic opportunity of communing with nature, appreciating and enjoying her awesome gifts and being at one with her through.