National parks in Uganda
For a long time, the East African country of Uganda suffered from the unrest in the country, which also had a negative impact on the flora and fauna. The local nature suffered greatly under the tense conditions in Uganda.
With political stability, the situation for the animal and plant world also improved significantly. The state on Lake Victoria has become a popular tourist destination among visitors, also due to the state's fascinating national parks, making it an attractive destination.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park
The image of the Queen Elizabeth National Park is characterized by a varied landscape. Tropical savannas with lush grasses alternate with dense swamps, numerous wetlands, and a lush crater landscape. The park encompasses several lakes, including Lake Edward and Lake George. The designation of the protected area as well as the lakes dates back to the time of British colonial rule.
The fauna in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is located in the far west of the country, is just as diverse as the flora.
In the swamps, where denser papyrus grows, live crowned cranes, which are the national animal of the country. In the forests, lions and giant forest hogs are native, and in the numerous crater lakes of the park, huge populations of flamingos make their home. The resident lions, which like to climb trees, are worth seeing. An extremely rare characteristic of predators on African soil.
The biodiversity of the Queen Elizabeth National Park is estimated at over 700 different species, including nearly 100 mammal and more than 600 different bird species.
The Murchison Falls National Park
In the northwest of the country lies the second notable park in Uganda - the Murchison Falls National Park. With its size of almost 3,900 km², it is the largest protected area in Uganda. Its history dates back to the year 1910, when the area was still considered a wildlife reserve. In 1954, the wildlife reserve became the Murchison Falls National Park, which, thanks to its good infrastructure, is a popular destination for tourists on safari. It connects with adjacent parks to form a protected area of 5,000 km².
The vast grasslands in the north are home to lions, elephants and buffaloes, which are found all over Africa. Unique, however, is the presence of the Uganda Kob, an antelope species native only to this country. A few specimens of the rare Rothschild giraffe also roam the savanna.
In the area of the Murchison Falls, which gave the park its name, the wildlife is quite different. Here, crocodiles live on the banks of the river, waiting for victims of the waterfall. Here also lives the shoebill, which is also known as the whale-headed stork.
