Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, celebrates the creation of six new national parks, and this continues to reveal how it is gifted by nature.

This move from 10 to 16 national parks was done as a way of strengthening biodiversity protection and diversifying tourism opportunities. The newly created national parks were transformed from the existing forest and wildlife reserves.

A Snapshot of The Six New National Parks in Uganda 

Below are Uganda’s six new national parks that were added to the existing 10 parks, which are under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Kyambura National Park

Kyambura, a new Uganda national park, is located in the southwestern part of the country, and it was upgraded from the Kyambura Game Reserve, which was established in 1952.

This park, which covers an area of 156 km², is popular for Kyambura Gorge (Valley of Apes), which is a primate sanctuary adjoining the large Queen Elizabeth National Park.

It is a forested area, home to a significant number of chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and numerous bird species.

Some of the activities to expect in this new park include chimpanzee trekking, nature walks, and bird watching, among others.

Bukaleba National Park

Located in the Mayuge District along the shores of Lake Victoria, Bukaleba National Park is a hidden gem to visit on a Uganda safari.

This park, which is 97 square kilometers, was transformed from the Bukaleba Central Forest Reserve, which was established in 1932.

This protected area was once a colonial plantation forest, but it has slowly regenerated into a biodiverse habitat providing a home to reptiles, birds, monkeys, and antelopes, among other wildlife species.

The park promises opportunities for game viewing, bird watching, hikes along the shores of the lake, and visits to Jinja City, which is renowned for the source of the Nile.

Kigezi National Park 

Kigezi National Park, as an upgrade from Kigezi Wildlife Reserve, is an open savannah grassland adjoining Queen Elizabeth National Park. in the Rukungiri District.

This wildlife area, which covers an area of 256 km², serves as a migration corridor for antelopes, elephants, buffalo, and other animals that keep moving to different sections of Queen Elizabeth National Park. These are worth seeing on a Uganda wildlife safari.

Besides animal life, this place is also home to numerous bird species, which make it the best spot for birding tours in Uganda.

This park promises improved community tours, game drives, bird watching, and scientific research.

Echuya National Park

Located within the Kisoro and Rubanda districts, Echuya National Park is one of the six new Uganda national parks to consider when on a Uganda safari.

This park, formerly known as Echuya Central Forest Reserve, established in 1939, is renowned for its extensive bamboo and montane forest, which covers 34 km².

It is inhabited by primates like monkeys and rare bird species such as the Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, among others.

Echuya serves as a convenient stopover for visitors on gorilla safaris in Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. It is located along the Kisoro-Kabale Rd, a road that leads to Mgahinga National Park.

Tours to Echuya can now be combined with tours to Bwindi NP or Mgahinga NP. Among the activities to enjoy in this new safari park are visiting the Batwa for fascinating cultural experiences, forest walks, and birding, among others.

Toro National Park 

Toro National Park is located in western Uganda in the Ntoroko and Kabarole districts, spanning an area of 542 square kilometers.

It was first gazetted as Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve in 1926, primarily to protect the large population of Uganda Kobs and to conserve the region’s rich biodiversity.

This protected area features diverse ecosystems, including riparian woodland, dry savannah grasslands, and rainforests, and it offers breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountains and the Blue Mountains of Congo.

It is home to diverse wildlife, including primates, like the red-tailed monkeys, numerous bird species, and stunning landscapes, among other things worth seeing on a Uganda wildlife tour.

This park is expected to offer an intriguing birding safari since it has an impressive checklist, game drives, hikes to Nyaburogo Gorge, and cultural encounters with the Bakonjo, Batoro, and Bakiga, among other activities.

Katonga National Park

This park, spanning 207 square kilometers, was formerly the Katonga Game Reserve, which was created in 1998 to act as a wildlife corridor for animals migrating from Uganda to Tanzania and Sudan.

The reserve was elevated to national park status, providing stricter legal protection for its resources and unlocking its potential to draw tourism, thereby expanding Uganda’s conservation network.

The park is home to various wildlife species, including sitatunga, elephants, elands, and hippos. It also has over 150 bird species, which makes it a wonderful place for birding in Uganda.

Amazing things to do in this park include boat rides on the Katonga River, bird watching, and game viewing, among other activities.

Reasons For the Expansion of Uganda’s National Parks 

The Uganda Wildlife Authority created the new national parks in response to the increasing cases of encroachment, poaching, and illegal logging, among other challenges.

Upgrading forest and wildlife reserves to the status of national parks gives them stronger statutory protection and management capacity under the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The elevation from reserves to national parks also aligns with the broader conservation goal of enhancing protection in diverse ecological systems.

The exciting new Uganda national parks are expected to revolutionize the country’s tourism industry. With diverse attractions, they are set to draw more visitors, and embarking on a Uganda safari will feel like exploring the entire world on one journey. Book your trip with us so as not to miss out on new safari experiences.