Uganda Wildlife Safaris
Animals that survive in the wild within their natural habitats have always been the main reason for safari. Wildlife in Uganda plays a very big part in attracting many to go see how life unfolds in the jungles. Uganda wildlife safaris are available in the country within designated or conservation areas of the national parks and nature reserves.
Uganda is luckily home to the great and sought after Big Five African wild animals which are Buffaloes, Rhinos, Elephants, Lions and Leopards. The Big Five are sought after by many wildlife enthusiasts. If any person is to plan a Uganda wildlife tour choosing a short or long trip will depend on the interests and budget of the person yet can be well planned for a glimpse of numerous wildlife species.
To explore wildlife there are several activities that can be undertaken in the park including especially safari game drives as well as boat safaris. Here are the different kinds of wildlife species that can be seen in the top Uganda wildlife safaris destinations.
- Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its amazing wildlife and wilderness experiences within. The park hosts 4 of the big five cats with utmost chances of seeing them, these ‘big four’ are Elephants, Lions, Leopards and Buffaloes. Other animals in the park include the Ugandan kob, hippopotamus, giant forest hog, warthog, Nile crocodile, African bush elephant, African leopard, 95 mammal species and many more.
To enjoy the beauty of wildlife in the park, take a wildlife safari game drive. The trails offer an opportunity to see an array of wildlife. The game drive lasts about 4 hours and can be undertaken in the morning, afternoon or evening.
Tree climbing lions: Tree climbing lions are very intriguing and amazing to watch, in Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park prides in being the only destination that hosts them. Tree climbing lions are found along the ishasha sector of the park where one can get a chance to see the rare tree climbing lions. When you get chance to see the tree climbing lions, they are very captivating and gentle yet shrewd while hunting their prey. Don’t miss out on seeing these tree climbing lions during a game drive in the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Kidepo Valley National Park Wildlife
Kidepo Valley National Park has numerous numbers of animals including especially endemics that cannot be seen anywhere else in Uganda. The park has a very impressive mammal list with 20 species of mammals.
The cheetah and blackbacked jackal are endemic to the park and cannot be seen anywhere else. Common animals usually spotted in the park include lions, zebras, buffalos, Rothschild’s giraffe, elephants, jackals, eland, Ugandan kob, klipspringer. Rare but present wildlife include caracal, aardwold, lessed kudu, greater kudu, mountain reedbuck, Guenther’s dike-dik. These animals can be seen on a game drive in the park.
- Wildlife in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo is especially home to herbivores which makes the park very safe and great for game viewing be it by game drives or nature walks hence the slogan “whispers of the wild”.
The sight of galloping lmpalas in full flight can take your breath away. The park is known for its abundance of zebras that relish their beauty by prancing and preening themselves in front of bored buffaloes, impalas, kobs and many more.
You will find quite a number of wild animals around Lake Mburo, including; bushbucks, elands, warthogs that have found the park entirely to their liking, but you won’t miss herds of buffaloes roaming around the park.
Game drives allow for closer viewing and exceptional photographs. Other activities to see wildlife in the park include nature walks, boat cruise, horse riding and cycling.
- Murchison Falls National Park wildlife
Murchison Falls Safari
Being host to numerous wildlife species, Murchison Falls National Park is a great game viewing destination in the vast park. The park has several wildlife species including buffalos, rhinos, a big number of the Rothschild giraffes, lions, baboons, and many more.
To view wildlife, tourists undertake game drives in open roof 4×4 safari vehicles that enable good viewing of wildlife and photography. Game viewing is possible all year round since the animals are available.
The best time to have a wildlife game drive in Murchison Falls National Park is during the dry season which is from July to September and December to February. However, the park is generally good for game viewing all year round.
The top national parks are the best places for Uganda wildlife safaris, however, there are also other places to see wildlife and these include Pian-Upe wildlife reserve, Matheniko wildlife reserve, Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve. Wildlife can also be seen in other national parks of the country as well as wildlife reserves and sanctuaries.