With up to 340 mammal species in Uganda any wildlife enthusiast is in treat to discover a wide range from terrestrial to aquatic and avian diversity. Away from the high density of over 20 species of primates across several dense rainforests and 1080 species of birds that are well known, Uganda’s savanna and grassland national parks are highly stocked with Big game and highlights include game drives, wild camping, boat cruises and wild nature walks.
Uganda’s savanna national parks host herds of Elephants, Nubian Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, over 29 species of Antelopes, Plains Zebra, while the water ways host Nile Crocodile, Hippopotamus. Cats are well represented from the elusive Leopard, Lion and Serval Cats, with Hyena and Jackal occurring plus many smaller angulates.
How to encounter Wildlife Experience in Uganda
Game drives
Uganda’s protected national parks host unique vegetational diversity ranging from savanna woodland, underground forests and large expanses of water ways where aquatic life flourishes. While on game drives through the golden savanna plains, take it slow and enjoy the remote and uncrowded wild places to get up-close and personal to diverse game of the Big 5 list, including Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Nubian Giraffe, several Antelopes. Carnivores include Climbing Lion prides, the elusive Leopard, Hyena and Jackals. Watch the interactions, behavior and sounds in a company of enthusiastic guides to gain insights into the ever-shrinking eco-system of these animals.
Epic Boat cruise
A wildlife safari experience in Uganda is an unmatched due to a variety of habitats one is able to explore. Boat safaris offer access to rather excluded habitats along river banks, wetlands and swamps where a plethora of aquatic resident mammals and other herbivores that come to drink and quench the tropical savanna heat of the day. A popular boat trip along the Victoria Nile in Murchison falls NP will bring you into the full view of the mighty and magnificent Murchison Falls that occur here while riverbanks also teem with Nile crocodile, variety of birdlife and other wildlife. In Queen Elizabeth National Park a boat cruise safari on Kazinga Channel, offers an incredible wildlife experience to see schools of hippos and a diversity of avian life plus elephant, buffalo, Nile crocodile and more. On highland lakes of Bunyonyi and Mutanda boat safaris explore historical islands for incredible view and birding.
Walks and Wilderness Camping
Explore the untamed Uganda wilderness for an authentic exposure to the natural beauty. On foot you go far along the unbeaten paths where normally safari jeeps don’t go and there you marvel at nature’s secret beauties. Uganda’s popular walking safaris are led by wildlife ranger guide highly knowledgeable of local flora and fauna offering you an immersive experience in nature. Other options include biking and horse safaris that will bring you up-close to local wildlife that include giraffes, topi, Zebra, Impala, Eland plus a host of birdlife.
Tracking Rhino on foot
In Uganda, the rhino was declared extinct in the wild after years of hunting. Today rhinos exist in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary an extensive woodland habitat where a breeding program is underway to re-introduce this Big5 member in its native habitat range. A visit to the sanctuary will provide you a guided nature walk along these the rhino herds learning of various social structure and its relationship to its environment. Ziwa rhino sanctuary lies some 180km from Kampala along the high way that connects to Murchison Falls and other attractions further north making it a perfect location to break off the journey.