October 8, 2024
Uganda Wildlife Authority which is mandated to manage Uganda’s parks and wildlife reserves has offered two days of free entry to the country’s top game parks and wildlife reserve. The free entry days are 17th and 18th October 2024, and the free entry is to these parks; Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, and Lake mburo national park. Also, free entry to Pian Upe wildlife reserve.
Who is eligible for free entry?
Only Ugandan citizens and foreign residents in Uganda have been given this awesome opportunity to visit the parks without paying for entrance. Ugandan citizens have to provide their national IDs as proof of citizenship, while the residents have to provide their resident permits.
Other international travelers have to pay entry fees accordingly.
Below is an overview of what to expect in these parks
Murchison Falls National Park
This is the largest of Uganda’s parks measuring about 3893 square kilometers. It is located along the mighty River Nile in the north of the country, and is named after the legendary Murchison Falls which are found on the Nile. You cannot go to this park without visiting the top of the falls because they are what make this park unique.
Murchison falls National Park has a lot of wildlife which you get to observe during the game drive in the savannah on the northern bank of the Nile and during the boat cruise on the River Nile. Some of the animals you will see in the park include; lions, leopard, hyena, giraffes (Nubian/Rothschild), antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, etc… On the southern bank of the Nile you find the Budongo Forest which home to chimps that you can track.
Murchison Falls National Park is 6 hours drive from Kampala and Entebbe. It is therefore easy to reach. For good planning, have a look at this 3-day Murchison Falls National Park tour
Queen Elizabeth National Park
It is located in western Uganda near the rift valley and Rwenzori Mountains and this is why it has such amazing landscape and scenery. With lush hills offering lovely views across plains and into crater lakes, the kazinga channel connecting lakes Edward and George filled with wildlife, a unique underground forest in Kyambura gorge, and the local communities living harmoniously near lions, Queen Elizabeth National Park gives one of the most fulfilling safari experiences beyond just watching the animals.
When you visit Queen Elizabeth Park you will have a lot of activities to choose from including the game drives, boat cruise on kazinga channel, salt mining experience at a salt lake, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, lion tracking, mongoose tracking, and local community tours.
Queen Elizabeth Park is located about 7 hours drive from Kampala and Entebbe and therefore not that far to reach. You however need at least two days for a proper experience and the 2 day free offer is very ideal.
Lake Mburo National Park
This is not only the smallest of Uganda’s parks but it is also the closest to Kampala and Entebbe that is reachable in only 3 – 4 hours of drive. It can therefore be visited within one day without needing to spend at least a night like the other parks in the offer. This makes it the cheapest option on the list.
What can you see and do in this park? Lake Mburo National Park does not have lions and elephants and therefore if you want to see these it is not the place to visit. But it makes up with plenty of other animals including buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, and many types of antelopes including impalas which cannot be seen in any other park. It is also the best place to find the massive eland antelope.
Lake Mburo National Park also has arguably the best nature walk as you get to watch plenty of wildlife up-close and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
And, like in the first two parks above, you can do a boat cruise on Lake Mburo where you will spot crocodiles and hippos, and potentially other animals coming to drink water.
Kidepo Valley National Park
This park is a gem hidden away in the north eastern corner of Uganda. Kidepo Valley National Park has featured predominately in international travel publications (e.g. CNN Travel) being ranked as one of the best parks in Africa due to the breathtaking semi-arid wilderness, rugged landscapes and big game.
It however takes more than a day’s drive to get to the park, and because of this long distance few venture to Kidepo.
Kidepo has several animals that are not found in the savannah parks above such as cheetahs, ostriches, kudu etc… Other common animals you see in Kidepo include; giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, antelopes, etc..
If you are a seasoned safari goer who has visited all the above parks, this is the time to visit Kidepo Valley national park as you take advantage of the free entry to somehow compensate on the high amount of fuel incurred in getting there.
As you travel to Kidepo, you can plan to include the stop over to at Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve in the north east as well. Pian Wildlife Wildlife Reserve will increase your chances of seeing the cheetahs and ostriches which are also found in Kidepo National Park.
