Uganda, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Kidepo Valley and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve are at the centre of a three-day tourism opportunity from September 25 to 27, 2026, when Uganda Wildlife Authority is offering free park entry during Open Park Days. The programme coincides with World Tourism Day on September 27 and removes the usual park entrance charge.
Five protected areas open for visitors
The participating destinations cover different parts of Uganda and offer distinct safari and nature experiences. Murchison Falls National Park is the country’s largest national park, with savannah, woodland, riverine habitats and the Victoria Nile running through the protected area.
Queen Elizabeth National Park combines wildlife viewing with varied landscapes around the Kazinga Channel and the Rwenzori Mountains. Lake Mburo National Park offers a different setting, with savannah, wetlands and opportunities for game drives, nature walks and other activities.
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the remote Karamoja region in northeastern Uganda. Its broad valleys, mountains and wildlife habitats create a safari destination that is geographically different from the western and central parts of the country.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, situated in the eastern part of Uganda, adds another landscape to the Open Park Days programme, with opportunities for wildlife viewing, birdwatching, nature walks and visits to surrounding communities.
Free entry changes the cost of a wildlife trip
Under the Open Park Days programme, eligible visitors can enter the participating parks and reserve without paying the standard entrance charge during the designated three-day period. Uganda’s normal conservation tariff lists entrance charges separately for different parks and visitor categories, making the temporary waiver a direct reduction in the cost of accessing the protected areas.
Travellers still need to account for transport, accommodation, meals, guides, vehicle costs and activities unless those services are specifically included in an organised Open Park Days arrangement.
Murchison Falls offers safari and river experiences
Murchison Falls provides one of the broadest tourism itineraries among the participating destinations. Visitors can combine game drives across the savannah with boat trips along the Victoria Nile and a visit to the waterfall itself.
The park covers about 3,840 square kilometres, with savannah, woodland and riverine forest.
Queen Elizabeth connects wildlife and landscapes
Queen Elizabeth National Park provides another major safari option during the three-day programme. The park covers about 1,978 square kilometres and is located in western Uganda near Kasese.
Visitors can plan game drives around the park’s wildlife areas and combine them with boat excursions on the Kazinga Channel. The Rwenzori Mountains provide an additional landscape for travellers.
Lake Mburo suits shorter wildlife itineraries
Lake Mburo National Park can fit into shorter Uganda travel plans because of its location between Kampala and western tourism destinations. The park is known for savannah and wetland habitats and provides opportunities for game drives and walking-based experiences.
The park can also be combined with journeys towards western Uganda.
Kidepo Valley brings remote safari travel
Kidepo Valley is the most distant option among the five destinations for visitors starting from Kampala. Uganda Wildlife Authority places the park about 700 kilometres from Kampala, while its location near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya gives it a distinct position within Uganda’s tourism map.
The park covers approximately 1,442 square kilometres and supports more than 77 mammal species and hundreds of bird species. Travellers should allow additional time for connections.
Pian Upe adds eastern Uganda to the route
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve expands the Open Park Days programme beyond Uganda’s established western safari circuit. The reserve can be included in eastern Uganda itineraries alongside destinations such as Mount Elgon and Sipi Falls.
For birdwatching, nature walks and landscape-based experiences, Pian Upe provides a different setting from the major national parks during the three-day September tourism window.
Planning the September wildlife break
The three-day window makes advance planning important, particularly for travellers arranging transport and accommodation around a specific park. Visitors should confirm eligibility, registration requirements, operating arrangements and activity availability before travelling.
The dates also allow travellers already in Uganda to add a wildlife experience to a city or cultural itinerary.
For international visitors, the free park entry does not replace Uganda’s normal immigration requirements. Passport, visa and other entry conditions continue to apply according to nationality.
With five destinations participating, Open Park Days creates routes into Uganda’s wildlife network, from Murchison Falls and the western safari circuit to Kidepo and Pian Upe.
