Wildlife safaris in Uganda

Wildlife Safaris in Uganda takes traveler for Wildlife viewing which is one of the main reasons why tourists visit Uganda. The beautiful Pearl of Africa with its tropical forests and savannah plains makes a backdrop for a variety of flora and fauna species. Uganda is home to about 330 mammal species. Among these include the big five African games which are the buffaloes, rhinos, elephants, lions, and leopards. These can be seen in 3 of the national parks which are Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park; however, rhinos can only be seen at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Therefore to see all of the big five, a tourist has to tailor their wildlife safaris in Uganda to any of those three national parks as well as a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Some of the wildlife species that can be seen on a wildlife tour in Uganda include the lions with tree-climbing lions at Queen Elizabeth National Park, giraffes, elephants, oribis, antelopes, zebras, hartebeests, waterbucks, bushbucks, dik-dik, cheetahs, side-striped jackal, buffaloes, elands, warthogs, Ugandan kobs, leopards, duikers, and many more.

Uganda is also home to 13 types of primates including over half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Gorilla trekking and chimp tracking are in many cases, however, referred to as different activities since they include tracking and getting up close to chimpanzees or gorillas on foot. Wildlife viewing, however, is mainly done in savannah parks where wildlife is seen on a game drive through the trucks of the park.

Uganda wildlife safari

Wildlife viewing/game drives

The top wildlife viewing parks in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Wildlife viewing or game drives are done in a safari vehicle with a Uganda safari guide and a park ranger in search of wildlife. Game drives in Uganda can be done either in the morning, evening and at night. These are referred to as morning game drive, evening game drive as well as night game drives. The day game drives are usually less expensive than the night game drive. A game drive lasts about 2-4 hours within the park.

Where to go for Wildlife Safaris in Uganda

BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK; Bwindi Impenetrable national park, 331 km, is located in South Western Uganda, on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, at an altitude range from 1.160 m to 2.607m. This is a real tropical rainforest, spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys. It is regarded as one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa. In the local language “Bwindi” (from “mubwindi”) means “dark place”, referring to the impenetrable nature of the swamp located southeast of the Park, according to legends. There are 11 species of primates, including chimpanzees, Hoest’s, red-tailed and blue monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons. Read More…

mountain gorillas

MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK; Mgahinga National Park, only 38 sq.kms in size, is the Ugandan part of the bigger Virunga Conservation Area, which is a jointly protected area with Congo and Rwanda. It includes three extinct volcanoes: Mount Sabinyo (3.669 m.), Mount Gahinga (3.474 m.) and Mount Muhavura (4.127 m.). “Mgahinga” is named after Mount Gahinga plus the initial of Mount Muhavura. The vegetation is the one typical of Afromontane areas, with a consistent bamboo forest. There are 76 mammal species recorded, including buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, golden monkeys, leopards. 115 bird species have been recorded, including Rwenzori turaco, crowned hornbill, black kite and crowned crane. Mgahinga hosts a population of golden monkeys and a few families of mountain gorillas. Read More…

MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK; Murchison Falls Conservation Area is the largest protected area in Uganda, 5.025kms, including Murchison Falls National Park. Read More…

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK; This park lies on 2.056 sq. km of land situated south of the Rwenzori Mountains, bordering Congo and including two lakes. Read More..

KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK; Kidepo national park was not a national park as it was just another area inhabited by the Dodoth pastoralists who are famously known. Read More…

KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK; Kibale National Park for Primate tours, 766 km, forms a contiguous block with Queen Elizabeth National Park for Uganda wildlife tour and Primate tour, at an altitude of 1.100-1.590m above sea level. Read More…

LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK; This park, 260 sq.kms, is located in Mbarara District, with an altitude range from 1220m to 1828m above sea level. The park is named after the lake which lies in this territory. Read More…

Uganda wildlife safaris tour itineraries

To have a wildlife safari of a kind, you need to have a well-planned trip. Here are sample itineraries to help you better plan your next trip to see wildlife in their natural habitat;

12 days jungle safari Uganda

7 days great primates Uganda safari

9 days Uganda wildlife tour

14 days Uganda safari Eco-explorer

18 days best of Uganda safari