This guide takes the parks in four regions and explains what each is best for, how long it deserves, what the main fees are, how the seasons affect it and how to link parks into circuits. It also notes where published details disagree, such as park sizes and fee dates, and where current health and travel notes apply this year. Our separate guides to gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, wildlife safaris and boat cruises explain individual experiences in more depth, and our earlier complete guide to all ten parks gives a fee-focused view.

Uganda’s National Parks at a Glance

The south-west and west hold most of the headline experiences, which is why most first-time circuits stay there.

The South-West: Gorillas, Golden Monkeys and a Savannah Stopover

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the headline act. It is one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa, with more than 120 mammal species recorded, and it is where most visitors track mountain gorillas, from four sectors with their own trailheads and families. A permit costs US$800 at peak, with US$600 in April, May and November 2026 and US$800 reported for 2027. Our separate guide to choosing a Bwindi sector explains how to match a sector to your fitness and your lodge.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest and quietest, offering gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking at about US$60 and volcano hikes, with Batwa cultural walks nearby. Lake Mburo, on the road west, is a gentle savannah park with zebras, antelope, a lake and the chance to walk with a ranger, which makes it a good first or last stop. Many travellers combine all three with a rest at Lake Bunyonyi after the trek.

The West: Queen Elizabeth, Kibale, Semuliki and the Rwenzori

Queen Elizabeth is the most varied park in the country, and it suits a stay of three to four nights split between two areas. Kibale is the best chimpanzee park, and it pairs naturally with Fort Portal’s crater lakes. Semuliki and the Rwenzori reward travellers with extra time. Our separate guides to Queen Elizabeth and to Kibale and chimpanzee trekking describe each in detail.

The North and East: Murchison Falls, Kidepo and Mount Elgon

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest and oldest park, where the Nile is forced through a narrow gap in the rock before running on to Lake Albert. It offers a boat cruise to the base of the falls at about US$30, a delta cruise for the shoebill, game drives for elephants, giraffes, buffalo and lions and chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest. Park entry is about US$45 per adult per day. It is the easiest of the big parks to reach from Entebbe, and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary lies on the way.

Kidepo Valley National Park, in the far north-east, is the most remote, with rugged mountains, open valleys rising from about 914 to 2,749 metres and a bird list of more than 475 species. It rewards travellers with time, and a flight from Entebbe is quoted at about US$250 to US$300 one way in one blog. Mount Elgon, on the Kenyan border, offers the Sipi Falls hikes, a summit hike of about four days to Wagagai Peak at 4,321 metres, caves where elephants and buffalo visit at night to lick salt and hot springs.

Which Park for Which Traveller

If you can only do two parks, choose Bwindi and Queen Elizabeth. If you can do three, add Kibale or Murchison Falls. Our separate guide to Uganda safari tours explains how to build the rest of a trip.

Fees: What You Will Pay

Primate permits include the day’s park entry, according to one guide. The total depends mostly on the lodge tier and the length of the trip. Our separate guide to Uganda safari prices for 2027 explains the daily ranges, and the gorilla permit guide explains the 2026 and 2027 permit reports.

Best Time to Visit the Parks

Gorillas and chimpanzees can be tracked all year. The Rwenzori and Mount Elgon summits are best in the driest months, and savannah game viewing is easiest in the dry seasons. Our separate guide to the best time to visit Uganda explains the calendar.

Circuits

Combining the north and west in a short trip is usually a mistake, since each major transfer takes most of a day. Choose a region, and use a flight only for the longest legs.