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Despite the small size of Uganda, Uganda wildlife safaris/wildlife safari in Uganda tours are ranked among the best in East Africa! Uganda wildlife safari vacations enable you to explore a country blessed with a diversity of wildlife found in protected areas, including Uganda's national parks, game reserves, and sanctuaries.
Undertaking Uganda wildlife safaris gives you a great opportunity to encounter most of the amazing animals in Uganda, totaling over 345 animal species and many unique features.
On your Uganda wildlife safaris, expect to encounter the Big Five, such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos, and Buffalos. Giraffes, Hippos, Zebras, Crocodiles, Antelopes, Hyenas, Cheetahs, numerous primates, and several bird species can also be spotted.
Most of the game viewing tours in Uganda are done in parks such as Queen Elizabeth, Murchison, Kidepo Valley, and Lake Mburo National Parks. Usually, Uganda wildlife safari tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park are a must not miss!
In all the above parks, Uganda game viewing tours normally take 3-4 hours and can be done during the day and also at night. A night game drive allows you to spot elusive nocturnal animals like Leopards, Lions, and Hyenas.
For a rewarding experience, you should supplement gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking on your wildlife viewing tour. These are done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale Forest National Park respectively. Kibale Forest National Park offers the best chimpanzee trekking tours in East Africa as well as Africa.
Wildlife Uganda safaris are normally done by undertaking game drives. However, boat cruises and game walking Uganda wildlife safaris are possible in some parks.
During your wildlife safaris in Uganda, don’t worry about where to stay! There is a range of accommodations ranging from budget to midrange to luxury. Also, note that these expeditions are possible all year round.
When coming for Uganda wildlife safari tours, know that national parks offer the best experience! However, if you have time, there are game reserves and sanctuaries worth visiting for a memorable experience. All boast beautiful scenery ideal for photoshoots!
These are the top sites for Uganda wildlife safaris:
Like Murchison Park, Queen Elizabeth Park is a great paradise for Uganda wildlife safari trips and a must-see on your Uganda safaris.
Game viewing safaris in Queen take place on game drives in Kasenyi plains and boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel. Expect close encounters with Elephants, Cape Buffaloes, Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Leopards, Topis, Hyenas, Warthogs, Waterbucks, and more.
You can spot tree-climbing Lions in Queen within the Ishasha sector en route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
In Queen, you can also enjoy chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge or scenic nature walks in Maramagambo Forest.
Due to its abundant wildlife, Murchison Park, named after the stunning waterfalls, ranks among the top sites for Uganda wildlife safari trips.
In Murchison Park, you’ll see most of the game animals on the African continent, including 4 of the Big Five except Rhinos. Other species include Giraffes, Hippos, Oribis, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, Hartebeests, kobs, Hyenas, Warthogs, and numerous bird species.
Most game viewing tours in Murchison Park occur in the Buligi game area during a game drive.
Don’t end your Uganda wildlife tour in Murchison Park without enjoying a boat cruise to the base of Murchison Falls, the strongest waterfall in the world, found on the River Nile. Bird lovers shouldn’t miss a boat trip to the Lake Albert Nile delta area in search of the great prehistoric Shoebill.
If you have time, you can also enjoy chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest during your wildlife tour in Murchison Falls National Park.
Lake Mburo National Park is the most convenient for Uganda wildlife safari tours among national parks in Uganda.
During Uganda wildlife safaris in Lake Mburo National Park, you’ll see Leopards, Cape Buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, Impalas, Elands, Waterbucks, Topis, Hyenas, and Giant Forest hogs.
Apart from game drives, other great ways to enjoy Uganda wildlife safari tours in Lake Mburo Park include horseback rides, cycling tours, nature walks, and boat cruises on Lake Mburo.
Note: Elephants and Lions have not been spotted in Lake Mburo National Park for a long time.
Within East Africa, Lake Mburo National Park is the best place to spot Leopards, especially on a night game drive.
Although most Uganda wildlife safari expeditions miss Kidepo Valley Park, those who visit this scenic park in far northeastern Uganda have incredible stories to tell!
Due to its breathtaking natural beauty, Kidepo National Park is dubbed the true wilderness of Africa. During a game watching in the golden plains of Narus Valley, you’ll see Lions, large herds of Buffaloes, Elephants, Zebras, Cheetahs, Leopards, Hartebeests, Giraffes, Uganda kob, and Topis.
Other animals in Kidepo National Park include Kidepo endemics such as Cheetahs, Striped Hyenas, Bat-eared foxes, Aardwolves, and Greater and Lesser Kudus.
On your Uganda tour in Kidepo National Park, you’ll also encounter several bird species, such as the Karamoja Apalis, Red and Yellow Barbet, and Ostrich.
Travelers on Uganda wildlife safari tours usually visit Ziwa Sanctuary en route to Murchison Park, Uganda’s biggest national park.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only site to spot wild Rhinos in Uganda. In this picturesque sanctuary, you’ll enjoy Rhino tracking on foot, one of the rare amazing safari experiences in East Africa.
During a game viewing tour in Ziwa Sanctuary, expect to see other animals like Uganda kobs, Warthogs, Oribis, and Bushbucks. Bird lovers may spot Broad-billed Rollers, Grey-crowned Cranes, Barbets, and various other bird species.
Other National Parks for Uganda Wildlife Safari Tour Experiences
These include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National Park, famous for primate tours, such as gorilla tracking and chimpanzee trekking safaris.
In these parks, expect to encounter lovely primates such as Gorillas, Chimps, Red-tailed Monkeys, Baboons, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, and Blue Monkeys.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is the best place for gorilla trekking safaris in Africa. Other countries to spot gorillas in Africa include Rwanda and DR Congo.
Uganda’s Bwindi National Park is a lush, beautiful tropical rainforest home to almost 50% of the 1,063 Mountain gorillas on Earth.
During the gorilla trek in search of the endangered Mountain gorillas, lucky travelers may encounter amazing game animals such as Giant Forest Hogs, Forest Elephants, Duikers, and Bushbucks.
Apart from tracking gorillas, Bwindi Park is also a haven for Uganda bird-watching safaris.
Kibale National Park, known as the Primate Capital of Africa, is mainly visited by travelers interested in chimpanzee trekking safaris on top of their Uganda wildlife safari tour adventures.
This beautiful park, Kibale Forest National Park, holds the highest concentration and diversity of primates in the world. It boasts 13 primate species, including over 1,500 chimps, Red-tailed Monkeys, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Bush Babies, and Blue Monkeys.
All chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park takes over 2-5 hours. It’s easy to combine a Uganda wildlife tour to Queen’s Park with chimpanzee trekking safaris in Kibale National Park.
Uganda has 10 national parks. The most frequently visited by tourists on Uganda wildlife safari holidays include Queen Elizabeth Park, Murchison Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Kibale Forest National Park. Other national parks in Uganda are Lake Mburo National Park, Mgahinga Park, Kidepo, Rwenzori Mountains Park, Mount Elgon Park with its extinct volcano, and Semuliki Park, a birder’s paradise.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most visited park by travelers on Uganda wildlife safari expeditions. In Queen, you’ll spot most of the game animals in Uganda, such as lions, leopards, large herds of elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, topis, kobs, hippos, Nile crocodiles, etc. On your Uganda trip, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the only site to spot lions that climb trees. These are seen during game watching in the Ishasha sector.
Which game park is famous for lions in Uganda? On your Uganda wildlife safari, lions can be best spotted in national parks such as Murchison Park, Queen, and Kidepo National Park. Additionally, on your Uganda vacation, lions can be seen in game reserves around parks, such as Pian Upe.
On your Uganda wildlife safari, giraffes can be spotted in Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Kidepo. Of all these parks, Murchison national park is the best place to spot giraffes in Uganda.
During your Uganda safaris, Murchison Park is the best area to spot Nile crocodiles. They are well seen while on a boat cruise on the River Nile to the base of Murchison Falls, known as the strongest waterfalls in the world. Travelers on Uganda wildlife safari expeditions can also spot crocodiles in Queen Elizabeth Park and Lake Mburo Park.
Tourists on Uganda wildlife safari holidays can only spot cheetahs in their natural habitat within Kidepo Park and other protected areas in the Karamoja region, such as Pian Upe. It is also possible to see cheetahs in Uganda at Entebbe Zoo.
Uganda’s Big Five game animals include lions, leopards, Cape buffalo, elephants, and rhinos. Travelers on Uganda tours can best spot these Big Five game animals on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Park. Rhinos can only be seen in Ziwa Sanctuary.
Visitors on Uganda wildlife safari vacations can see these mysterious lions only in Queen. These lions are usually seen resting in big tree branches during the hot hours of the day in the Ishasha sector. During game drives in the Ishasha region en route to Bwindi Park, the best area in Africa to track the endangered mountain gorillas, you’ll spot topis, Cape buffalo, elephants, kobs, etc.
The biggest game animal in Uganda is the elephant. Mature ones can weigh about 5 to 6 tons. On your wildlife Uganda tour, you can find elephants in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, and Kidepo.
There are unreliable reports of sightings of wild dogs in Kidepo Park. These African wild hunting dogs have not been reliably spotted in any other game park in Uganda.
Game hunting in Uganda is not developed! However, for travelers interested in this experience, it’s possible within protected areas in the Karamoja plains, including Pian Upe, Matheniko, and Bokora Game Reserves. Common animals to hunt in Uganda include oribis, Buffalo, Uganda kob, and hartebeests.
What wild animals are in Uganda? The Pearl of Africa, Uganda, is home to over 345 animal species, including primates, carnivorous animals, and herbivorous animals. The following are popular wild animals in Uganda:
On your wildlife Uganda tour, expect to spot most of the primates on the African continent. Among these are mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, chimps, red-tailed monkeys, and bush babies. Uganda chimp tracking safaris in Kibale Forest Park offer the best experience for primate tours in Uganda. For gorilla trekking Uganda safaris, Bwindi is the best place to visit.
Note:
During your wildlife Uganda tour vacation, these animals include lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas, among others.
The most common include elephants, zebras, giraffes, Cape buffalo, rhinos, hippos, and numerous antelope species.
There are several bird species in Uganda, but the most popular include the great blue turaco, shoebill, African fish eagle, barbets, herons, kingfishers, and vultures.
REPTILES
There are many, but the most common is the giant Nile crocodile.
Mostly, Uganda is popularly known for mountain gorillas. Other key animals to look for on your Uganda wildlife safari trip include lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, Buffalo, hippos, and various antelope species such as Uganda kobs. These animals are best spotted during Uganda game viewing tours in Queen and Murchison Falls Park.
How much is a safari in Uganda? There is no fixed cost for Uganda wildlife safari trips, as it’s affected by several factors, including your travel style, group size, accommodation, transport means, and the activities you wish to do. Uganda’s wildlife safaris usually cost around 200 US dollars a day per person. For more details about the price of your game-viewing trip, talk to our expert now.
As you come for Uganda wildlife safaris, there are some crucial items you should have for a lovely game-viewing trip. Here is the pack list for Uganda wildlife safaris:
As you come for game-viewing Uganda tours, there is recommended clothing you should wear. Here is what to wear while on your Uganda wildlife safaris:
Note: Avoid body-revealing clothes while going on a community tour. Uganda’s culture recommends ladies wear knee-covering clothes.
Regardless of the destination you visit on your Uganda wildlife safari trip, you’ll find various accommodations to suit your needs. These facilities are classified into budget, midrange, and luxury lodges. Our experts will guide you on the best lodges to use on your wildlife safaris in Uganda.
The best time to go for wildlife tours in Uganda is during the dry seasons, which are from June to early September and December to February. During these months (peak season), there are fewer rainfall inconveniences, and animals are easier to spot around water holes.
The wet seasons are from March to May and October to November. In this period (the low season), rain is received during most hours of the day.
Note:
Yes, Uganda is a fantastic destination for safaris in East Africa. During your Uganda wildlife safaris, you’ll have the opportunity to see all of the Big Five and enjoy chimpanzee tracking, gorilla tracking, bird watching, and nature walks, among other activities.
Other thrilling adventures in Uganda include hiking the Rwenzori Mountains, bungee jumping into the River Nile, white water rafting, and kayaking on the River Nile.
We are available to guide you on the best expeditions to undertake on your Uganda safari vacation.
An African wildlife safari is a trip designed to watch wild animals in their natural habitats. Popular game animals include lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and various antelope and bird species. Most of these animals are spotted during game drives or boat cruises.
When planning a Uganda wildlife safari, booking with a reputable tour operator can enhance your experience. These companies will arrange all your airport pickups from Entebbe International Airport and other logistics.
Here are some of the best tour operators for wildlife safaris in Uganda:
We offer various wildlife tour packages that can be tailored to provide you with a remarkable African wildlife tour experience. Most of these tours start from Entebbe Town, close to Entebbe International Airport.
Here are some of the best wildlife tours in Uganda:
2 Days Murchison Falls Safari Tour
2 Days Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Trip
3 Days Chimp Tracking Uganda Trip in Kibale
3 Days Murchison Falls National Park Safari
4 Days Murchison Falls National Park Safari
4 Days Uganda Safari, Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Wildlife Viewing in Queen Elizabeth Park
5 Days Uganda Primate Tour: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi & Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest National Park
5 Days Uganda Safari Trip: Gorillas & Chimp Trekking, Wildlife Safari
7 Days Uganda Safari: Gorillas in Bwindi and Chimps in Kibale
8 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari Trip: Gorilla Trekking, and Chimp Trekking
9 Days Uganda Tour
16 Days Uganda Safaris Holiday
18 Days Uganda Safari Vacation
In conclusion, Uganda wildlife safari tours offer exceptional game-viewing expeditions in East African wildlife destinations! Unlike Kenya or Tanzania, Uganda provides the unique experience of gorilla trekking in addition to traditional wildlife tours. For more information about wildlife safari expeditions in Uganda, entry requirements to tourist destinations and much more, please contact us.
Let’s explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, together!
Cate
Samuel
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