Uganda wildlife safari experiences are done across different parts of the country where tourists can see the various wildlife species in the wilderness. Throughout the year, wildlife safaris in Uganda can be done around the different destinations which include wildlife reserves and the national parks.
Destinations for Uganda wildlife safaris
Some of the popular wildlife safari destinations in Uganda include national parks such as Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park, Kidepo valley national park.
- Murchison falls national park
Wildlife safaris in Murchison falls national park take place in the oldest and largest wildlife viewing destination in Uganda.
Murchison falls in the north western part of Uganda is home to a variety of wildlife species including elephants, giraffes, buffalos, lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, hippos, elands, warthogs, dik dik, Uganda kobs among others.
Activities to do during safaris in Murchison falls national park include game drives in the morning and afternoon or evening, boat rides to the bottom of the falls, top of the falls hikes, viewing of the top of the falls, bird watching, guided nature walks among others.
- Queen Elizabeth national park
Another destination in Uganda where wildlife safaris can be done is Queen Elizabeth national park located in the western part of the country.
In Queen Elizabeth national park, there are different wildlife species which can be seen including elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, impalas, buffalos, antelopes among others. Tours are done across different parts of the park such as the Kasenyi plains, Mweya peninsula, Ishasha sector, Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest, Katwe salt lakes among others.
Activities which take place during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park include game drives, guided nature walks, bird watching, boat rides on Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking, lion tracking, hikes, community tours, mongoose tracking among others.
- Kidepo valley national park
In the north eastern part of Uganda, Kidepo valley national park is another destination for wildlife safaris in the country.
Kidepo valley national park is home to a variety of wildlife species including elephants, zebras, impalas, hyenas, topi, elands, buffalos, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs among others.
Activities to do around Kidepo valley national park during safaris include game drives, cultural tours with tribes like the Ik and the Karamojong people among others, bird watching tours, guided nature walks and also hiking in destinations such as Mount Moroto and Mount Morungole.
- Lake Mburo national park
Lake Mburo national park in western Uganda is another destination where Uganda wildlife safaris take place.
The national park is small in size but offers amazing safari experiences with a wide range of activities to be enjoyed during safaris including day game drives and night game drives, guided walking safaris, boat rides on Lake Mburo, cycling, horse riding, bird watching, community tours among other activities.
Wildlife species which can be seen during tours in Lake Mburo national park include giraffes, antelopes, zebras, buffalos, among others. During night game drives around the park, tourists can also enjoy seeing various nocturnal wildlife species.
Wildlife safaris in Uganda can also involve taking part in primate tours in destinations such as Kibale forest national park, Bwindi national park, Mgahinga national park, Semuliki national park. In destinations such as Mount Elgon national park and the Rwenzori mountains national park, tourists can enjoy hiking tours and also see wildlife species along the way.
Wildlife species found in Uganda
Wildlife species found in Uganda include primates which can be seen in destinations such as Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park as well as in Kibale forest national park.
In savannah destinations such as Kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Lake Mburo national park and Queen Elizabeth national park, tourists can see different wildlife species including predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs among others.
Other wildlife species which can be seen in the savannah parks of Uganda include elephants, buffalos, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, Roan antelopes, Defassa waterbucks, hartebeests, oribi, hippos, dik dik, klipspringers, impalas, reedbucks, Grants gazelles, duikers, lesser kudu, sitatunga antelopes, greater kudu, common elands, jackals, hyenas and many others.
Rhinos can also be seen in Uganda during rhino tracking tours which can be done at the Zziwa rhino sanctuary where tourists engage in walks around the natural habitat and enjoy watching the rhinos closely accompanied by ranger guides.
Primates which can be seen during tours in Uganda include chimpanzees which can be seen during chimpanzee trekking tours and habituation experiences. The chimpanzees can be seen in their natural habitat in places such as Kibale national park, Budongo forest and also the Kyambura gorge. Other destinations where chimpanzees can be seen include the Ngamba island chimpanzee sanctuary, Kalinzu forest, Semuliki national park among others.
Gorillas in Uganda can be seen during tours in Bwindi national park and also in Mgahinga national park which are located in the south western part of the country. Gorilla trekking experiences and habituation tours can be done during encounters with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
Other primates which can be seen in Uganda include black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’hoest monkeys, baboons, De brazza monkeys, blue monkeys among others.
Golden monkeys in Uganda can be seen during safaris to Mgahinga national park which is also home to mountain gorillas which are found around the bamboo forests of the park.
Best time for wildlife safaris in Uganda
Wildlife safaris in Uganda can be done throughout the year with the best time for these tours being the dry season.
During the dry season in the months around June, July, August, September and October, wildlife species can be seen as they gather around the water points. The dry season also occurs around December, January and February.
Driving around the savannah plains in search for the wildlife species is also easier during the dry season as tourists enjoy wildlife safaris in Uganda. In the rainy season, the vegetation is lush and wildlife species can also be seen around the different safari destinations in the country.
