Bwindi Impenetrable National Park contains more than 325 square miles of dense jungle forest and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearly half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorilla subspecies lives here.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the nation’s most-visited park and home to nearly 100 mammal species and more than 600 bird species. Elephants roam between here and neighboring Kibale National Park. In western Uganda, Kibale protects chimpanzees and other large primates. Buffaloes, hippos and other mammal populations flourish in Murchison Falls National Park, and bird-watchers will enjoy Lake Mburo National Park, where wetlands comprise 20 percent of the surface and make for great sightings throughout the year.

Uganda safaris are available year-round, although the best trekking and game-viewing periods are during the dry months of June through early September and late December through February. The rainy season peaks from mid-September to November and from March to May, and gorilla tracking during these times can be more difficult.