Uganda's Southwestern Safari Circuit

The southwest of Uganda is the site of what is arguably the most ecologically diverse safari circuit in Africa. The main attraction is a circuit of national parks that collectively showcases a combination of East African Savannah and Central African rainforest as well as a full range of Afro-montane and wetland habitats. The highlight of the region is undoubtedly the opportunity to track habituated mountain gorillas in the forested wilds of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks – for many the ultimate African wildlife experience. There is also organized chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, which hosts the greatest primate ...

The southwest of Uganda is the site of what is arguably the most ecologically diverse safari circuit in Africa. The main attraction is a circuit of national parks that collectively showcases a combination of East African Savannah and Central African rainforest as well as a full range of Afro-montane and wetland habitats. The highlight of the region is undoubtedly the opportunity to track habituated mountain gorillas in the forested wilds of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks – for many the ultimate African wildlife experience. There is also organized chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park, which hosts the greatest primate diversity of any African reserve. Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks support good numbers of elephant, lion, buffalo and various antelope. Launch trips in both parks offer the opportunity to see hippos and crocs up close, while the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth is the best place in Africa for tree-climbing lions. For hiking and mountaineering, the snow-capped Rwenzori National Park protects Africa’s third-highest peak as well as the otherworldly vegetation associated with the moorland zone of it and other large African mountains. And if primates and plains wildlife are well represented, there is simply no better birdwatching destination in Africa, with more than 1,000 species recorded in an area the size of Great Britain, and the Semliki Valley alone hosting several dozen bird species otherwise only known from the Congo Basin.

About the Expert

Philip Briggs has written or contributed to 50-plus editions of Bradt, Insight, AA and Berlitz guidebooks to African destinations.