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Uganda Wildlife Safaris Guide, Best Wildlife Safari in Uganda & Destinations

Are you looking for the best tailor-made Uganda wildlife safaris? Find amazing Wildlife safaris in Uganda out of a range of our wildlife safari in Uganda packages taking you on amazing game viewing tours in the best Uganda wildlife safari parks. Uganda has a wide range of wildlife because she presents the point of meeting between the East African Savannah and the Equatorial bulge of West and Central Africa and as a result, the country presents a rich habitat for a myriad of species both remarkable flora and fauna that have formed the basis for wildlife tours in Uganda.

Are you looking for the best tailor-made Uganda wildlife safaris? Find an amazing African wildlife safari in Uganda out of a range of our wildlife safaris in Uganda packages taking you on amazing game viewing tours in the best Uganda wildlife safari destinations.

Uganda has a wide range of wildlife because she presents the point of meeting between the East African Savannah and the Equatorial bulge of West and Central Africa and as a result, the country presents a rich habitat for a myriad of species both remarkable flora and fauna that have formed the basis for wildlife tours in Uganda.

Our popular Uganda Wildlife Safaris or Uganda Wildlife Safari Packages take you on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to see the unique wildlife of Uganda in breathtaking natural landscapes of savannah grasslands, rainforests, mountains, hills, woodland, freshwater lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Our Wildlife safaris in Uganda take you to over 10 Uganda National Parks and 12 Uganda wildlife safari reserves, where you will see 4,500 plant species, 1074 bird species (11% of the world’s total bird species), 142 reptile species, 1,253 butterfly species and 345 mammal species including 20 primates species, African Big 5 and so much more!

Top Uganda Wildlife Species

Uganda’s wildlife includes some of the world’s most fascinating species. Great apes, Monkeys and Snakes inhabit its dark, dense forest while Big Game and antelope roam the sweeping savannahs. Some wildlife is migratory, for example, birds while others like snakes and frogs may hibernate during the wet season/dry season so you may not see them during your Uganda wildlife safari.

Below are some of the top species of wildlife in Uganda in their categories;

Great Apes 

Uganda is home to 2 species of great apes and these include;

  • Mountain Gorilla
  • Chimpanzee

Monkeys 

There are 18 species of monkeys in Uganda including;

  • Golden monkey
  • Black-and-white colobus monkey
  • L’hoest’s monkey
  • Red-tailed monkey
  • Red colobus monkey
  • Grey-cheeked mangabey
  • Olive baboon
  • Patas Monkey
  • Vervet monkey
  • Blue monkey
  • Bushbabies or Galagos
  • Pottos

Carnivores 

About 38 species of carnivores reside in Uganda and these include;

  • Ground dwelling Lion
  • Tree-climbing lion
  • Leopard
  • Cheetah
  • Spotted Hyena
  • Side-striped jackal
  • Black-barked jackal
  • Bat-eared fox
  • Mongoose
  • Otters
  • Caracal
  • Serval
  • African golden cat
  • African civet

Large Herbivores 

  • African Elephant
  • African buffalo
  • Southern White Rhino
  • Hippopotamus
  • Rothschild’s giraffe
  • Plains Zebras/Burchell’s Zebras

Antelopes

  • Common elands
  • Defassa waterbuck
  • Jackson’s hartebeest
  • Greater kudu
  • Lesser Kudu
  • Uganda Kob
  • Bushbuck
  • Impalas
  • Sitatunga
  • Reedbucks
  • Oribi
  • Gunther’s dik-dik
  • Klipspringer
  • Common duiker
  • Forest duiker

Reptiles 

  • Nile Crocodiles

Birds

About 51% of bird species in Africa are found in Uganda. Some of Uganda’s top bird species include;

  • Shoebills
  • African green broadbill
  • Green-breasted pitta
  • Fox’s weaver
  • Dusky Crimsonwing
  • Great Blue Turaco
  • Rwenzori Turaco
  • Jackson’s francolin
  • Nahan’s Francolin
  • Grey-crowned crane

Best Uganda Wildlife Safari Activities/Experiences

Experiencing wildlife in Uganda is especially magical. From dinosaur-like shoebills to the magnificent mountain gorilla, Uganda is full of wildlife experiences you will never forget. Here are some of the best wildlife safari experiences in Uganda;

Gorilla Trekking

Best Uganda Wildlife Safaris

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is often described as one of the most life-changing of all wildlife experiences in the world. Being face to face with a wild gorilla is on many people’s ‘must-do before you die list. Whether it’s because of their intimidating size combined with their unexpected gentle grace or because they behave so much like us, it’s easy to see why gorilla tracking is such an amazing experience.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Trekking wild chimpanzees of Uganda is another unforgettable Uganda wildlife safari experience. Unlike the majestic mountain gorillas that tend to sit and feed chimps squabble and socialise, climb up and down trees, feed, and fight and generally keep you entertained.

Current estimates for the total wild population of chimpanzees range from 150,000 to 250,000, with Uganda home to about 5,000 individuals. Almost 1,500 are found in Kibale National Park, the most popular place for chimp tracking in the country. You can also track chimps in Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest and the Semliki Valley. Most of our Uganda holidays focus on Kibale, which has a very high success rate for sightings.

Wildlife Game Drives

Game drives are a highlight of your visit to the Uganda Savannah National Parks while on your wildlife safaris. They provide the best way to explore the parks in custom-made safari vehicles i.e. Safari vans and Land cruisers which are comfortable enough while on safari.

Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Best Uganda Wildlife Safaris

Taking a 2 hours boat tour on the Kazinga channel is a real must-do activity when visiting the park. It will give you the chance to view some of the world’s highest concentrations of hippos in Africa, as well as African Buffalo, African Elephants, and Nile Crocodiles on the shoreline, along with waterbirds including African Skimmers, Pelicans, White-breasted Cormorants, African Openbill, Saddle-billed Stork, Glossy Ibis, African Wattled Lapwing, Water Thick-knee, Grey-hooded Gull, and White-winged and Gull-billed Tern) and Nile Crocodiles.

Cruising Along the Nile River to The Bottom of Murchison Falls

This 3-hour hour boat ride takes you on the legendary Nile River’s more relaxed waters as it joins the Lake Albert delta. On the banks and in the water you see many Hippopotamuses, Nile crocodiles and, if we are lucky, even the iconic and sought-after Shoebill. Other birds to look for include African Darter, Goliath and Purple Heron, Woolly-necked and Yellow-billed Stork, Hamerkop, Egyptian Goose, African Fish Eagle, Black Crake, Senegal Thick-knee, Spur-winged Lapwing, African Jacana, Malachite, Pied and Giant Kingfisher,

Upon arriving at the bottom of the falls, you marvel at Murchison Falls which have been described as the most spectacular thing to happen to the Nile along its entire 6,700 km length. The 50-metre-wide river forces itself through a rocky gap less than 8 metres wide before falling 45 metres to what has been termed the “devil’s cauldron” below, forming a plume of spray marked by a thunderous roar and a permanent rainbow. It is a truly unforgettable experience!

Birding/Birdwatching

It boasts several fantastic birding sites and an incredible 1,074 species, accounting for 50% of the total number found in Africa and 11% of the bird species in the world. Uganda Birding Tours promises to be an unforgettable birding experience.

Rhino Tracking on Foot in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

You can get up close to Uganda’s only rhinos in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Watching these prehistoric-looking heavyweights on foot is a thrilling experience. And since proceeds go toward breeding and ultimately reintroducing Rhinos into Uganda’s parks, visiting this popular destination is a must.

Searching for the tree-climbing lions

Spotting a lion, the king of the savannah is always a treat. But can you imagine seeing the biggest, and possibly most clumsy, of the big cats perched high up in a tree? In the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth NP, big pride reliably spends their days in ancient fig trees. They look quite comfortable, too. That is until they want to come down. Let’s say, you won’t confuse any of them with a graceful leopard.

Game walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park

This is one of the most interesting game walks in Uganda. On the walk, you see various species of birds, antelopes like Common Eland, Waterbuck, Impala, Tsessebe, Bushbuck and Klipspringer among others, as well as Spotted Hyaena, African Buffalo, Giraffe, Plains Zebra and Common Warthog. All this in a beautiful savannah landscape dotted with great Acacia trees.

Night Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park

For the wildlife enthusiast, this opens up a whole new world of crepuscular wildlife species that usually go unseen – from Bushbabies, owls nightjar to civets, genets, African wildcats and leopards, the most secretive of the big cats.

Golden Monkey Tracking in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga National Park is a great spot for these primates, named after the golden patch on their backs. This is because of the prolific highland bamboo forest in these regions, which is the staple diet of the golden monkeys. They are particularly prolific in the rainy season, as they enjoy eating the young fresh bamboo that erupts during this time.

They sleep surrounded by their food, at the top of bamboo plants, which they weave together to create a bed. It is important to support the conservation of these animals as they are on the IUCN Red List for endangered animals, caused by illegal deforestation of the bamboo forest, much of which is linked to the recent war in DRC, home to part of the Virunga volcanic range.

Tips For Wildlife Viewing In Uganda During Uganda Wildlife Safari Game Drives

  • Binoculars are essential, particularly for observing birds and smaller mammal species. When larger animals are spotted at a distance, binoculars will enhance the enjoyment of those particular sightings.
  • Patience is a good virtue for wildlife viewing. Spend a little more time at each sighting and quietly observe fascinating behavioural traits coming to the fore.
  • Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to be out looking for wildlife. This is the ‘golden hour’ for photography and animal activity peaks, with nocturnal species (e.g., leopard) often still active.
  • During the heat of the day, many animals will drink at waterholes (e.g., elephant, zebra), making this a good time to be there.
  • Night drives (where available) can also be rewarding for nocturnal mammals such as genets, Bushbabies, white-tailed mongoose and Leopards.
  • The best months for birdwatching are December to April when resident birds are most active and intra-African and Palaearctic migratory species are in the sub-region.

Other Uganda Safari Activities/Things To Do On Your Uganda Wildlife Safari 

  1. Kampala City tour
  2. Community visits
  3. Adventure activities in Jinja – Source of the Nile
  4. Trekking to the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains
  5. Volcano hiking
  6. Hike to Sipi Falls
  7. Have fun on Lake Victoria
  8. Encounter Lake Bunyonyi
  9. Uganda Equator Crossing Experience

Best Lodges for Your Uganda Wildlife Safaris

Best Lodges to stay while on a Uganda wildlife safaris.

A brief introduction

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Midrange

Luxury

Uganda Wildlife Safaris Covid-19 SOPs

For Park Access and Exit

UWA shall provide handwashing/sanitization facilities at the entrances of all its premises and protected areas.  All persons, including tourists and researchers accessing the PAs, shall wash and or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) at all entry points.

All UWA staff, tourists, researchers, research assistants and other categories of visitors, shall, at all times correctly and consistently wear the recommended masks prescribed by GoU/MoH.  The mask shall cover the nose and mouth at all times when in use.

All tourists and researchers shall come with their masks and correctly and consistently wear them as prescribed by MoH.

Tourists and researchers to Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla, Kibale and  Kyambura Wildlife Reserve shall be required to wear N95 masks, surgical masks or cloth masks with filters.

Tourists with disposable masks such as the N95 and surgical masks shall be required to carry at least two (02) or more masks to ensure single-use for each day of visitation.

It is mandatory for all tourists going for primate tracking activities to carry at least two N95 masks /surgical masks or double-layered cloth masks with filters.

Visitors without masks or those who do not abide by the handwashing and sanitisation measures shall not be permitted to enter protected areas.

UWA staff shall use non-contact infrared thermometers to conduct body temperature screening of all visitors at the tourism gates of the various protected areas.

Visitors with temperatures body above 37.5 degrees Celsius shall be denied entry into the protected areas and shall be reported to the respective district medical teams through the mechanisms set by MoH.

International tourists shall be required to provide proof that they have undergone the necessary Gou / MoH measures for inbound travelers as shall be advised from time to time.  The required documentary proof may include but is not limited to clearance by the MoH of mandatory quarantine or rapid test results where applicable and any other documentation that the MoH shall prescribe as a requirement for entry into Uganda and the wildlife-protected areas.

SOP`s For Specific Uganda Wildlife Safari Activities

SOP’s For Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking

At the briefing points, visitors and staff shall wash hands or sanitise and have their body temperature taken.

Briefing and debriefing shall be done in small groups of 8 tourists after they have been assigned gorilla families for tracking.

Tourists, staff, and porters who, during the briefing, are observed to be sick shall not be allowed to track.  These include anyone with signs of flu and those who report having diarrhoea, stomach upsets and malaria among others.

All the visitors, staff and trackers must wear masks.

A maximum of eight (8) tourists shall be allowed to track a gorilla group per day.

A maximum of six (6) tourists shall be allowed to track a chimpanzee group at a time.

The tourists must keep a distance of not less than 10 metres away from the gorillas and chimpanzees during this period.

The assigned UWA guides shall ensure there is a social distancing of 2 meters among the tourists while tracking, where practical.

Before the gorilla and chimpanzee viewing commences, all people in the group shall sanitise their hands again.

Due to the reported side effects of wearing masks for long periods and in high altitudes, visitors shall take frequent breaks during the tracking to give themselves time to breathe fresh air.

During these breaks, social distancing shall be strictly observed.

In case a tourist or accompanying members of the team experience a  health-related problem,  UWA  staff shall apply the established evacuation and first aid guidelines to move the affected individual from the field.

During Game Drives

The regular park rules in place shall apply.

The vehicle guidelines in section 6 above shall also apply.

Where a guide is requested to accompany tourists on a game drive, the guide shall sit in the front of the vehicle and shall continuously remind the tourists to observe social distance requirements.

Masks shall be worn at all times and disposed of appropriately following the guidelines on the use of masks.

Where a tourist experiences side effects due to wearing a mask for long, the tourist shall inform the guide who shall find a safe and secure place to park the vehicle and allow the tourists to get fresh air while maintaining social distancing. Should there be no improvement, UWA shall arrange immediate evacuation and transfer to the nearest health facility. The game drive activity shall be suspended.

During Boat Cruises

The regular park rules shall apply.

The boat and launch guidelines in section 6 above shall apply.

All boats operating in the protected areas shall be cleaned and disinfected daily before deployment on any boat cruise activity.

The guide shall ensure that passengers on the boat strictly observe social distancing requirements – one free vacant seat between any two occupants.

All passengers and crew shall wear masks at all times while on the boat.

When a tourist experiences side effects due to wearing a mask for a long time, the tourist shall inform the guide who shall find space within the boat for the client to get some fresh air for a few minutes.

 Best Time to Go on A Wildlife Safari in Uganda

The best time to go on a wildlife safari in Uganda is between June to August and December to February, which is during the Dry seasons. Wildlife viewing is at its peak. Primate walks in the forest are a big part of any Uganda wildlife safari. The habitat of rainforests is, by default, very wet, and one can’t avoid rain completely. However, after heavy rain, the skies often open up to bright sunshine.

Uganda Wildlife Safaris in Dry Season (June to August and December to February)

  • This is the best time for gorilla trekking because these are the drier months.
  • In the savannah reserves, vegetation is less, and animals gather around water sources, making wildlife easier to spot.
  • Even during the high season (June to September) the parks don’t feel crowded.
  • The skies are clear; there is less rain and more sunshine.
  • Gorilla permits need to be booked very far in advance.

Uganda Wildlife Safaris in Wet Season (March to May and September to November)

  • The scenery of the savannah reserves is greener – it’s low season, resulting in lower rates.
  • Although wildlife in the savannah reserves is easier to spot in the Dry season, you’ll still see plenty.
  • There are many newborn animals.
  • Some of the roads get very bad and cars often get stuck; forest trails can become slippery and challenging.
  • You won’t be able to change your expensive gorilla permit if it pours with rain; departures go as scheduled.

Uganda National Parks | Uganda Wildlife Safari Parks | Wildlife Safari Reserves in Uganda, Tourist Sites – Attractions – Destinations.

With over 10 Uganda national parks/national parks in Uganda-game parks, Uganda is one of the top African safari destinations.  The ten Uganda Parks are well-positioned and uniquely endowed or gifted by nature to offer you a memorable African Uganda safari.

Here is a full list of ALL National Parks in Uganda/Uganda Wildlife Safari Parks/Game Parks & Reserves in Uganda

These Are the Best Destinations for Wildlife Safaris in Uganda

Uganda’s incredible 10 National Parks and her 12 wildlife reserves, sanctuaries, and several forest reserves form her major Uganda wildlife safari destinations that teem with a plethora of incredible wildlife and their beautiful landscapes, once-in-a-lifetime activities such as gorilla trekking, and cultural encounters by her unique and amazing local tribes. Here are the best destinations you should know about as you plan your wildlife safari in Uganda.

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a Natural World Heritage Site, boasts stunning scenery and almost half the world’s surviving mountain gorillas as the main Mountain Gorilla trekking Uganda safari destination and that of the world at large. Encompassing over 321km2 of steep mountain rainforest, the park is home to about 459 Mountain gorillas. It is the best place to visit if you want to see these gentle giants – the world’s largest primate, weighing in at up to 220kg – in their misty mountain homes. Staring into the liquid brown eyes of a giant silverback is the highlight of almost all Uganda Gorilla safaris and tours.

In addition to its famous gorillas, the park harbors 120 other species of Uganda mammals/animals in Uganda– though sightings are less common due to the dense forest. Lucky visitors might see Forest elephants, 11 species of primate (including chimpanzees and L’Hoest’s monkeys), Forest duikers, bushbucks, African golden cats and the rare Giant Forest hog.

For birders, Bwindi is one of the best forest birding destinations in Africa with over 351 species, including 23 Albertine Rift Endemics, among them the gorgeous African green broadbill. On the greener side of the aisle, Bwindi contains 324 tree species and 1,000 flowering plant species which also provide a perfect refuge for 200 species of colorful montane butterflies.

2. Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is another amazing Uganda wildlife safari park with a lush tropical rainforest of 766 km2 and is home to one of the highest diversities and concentrations of primates in Africa. It is the best place to visit in Uganda and Africa if you want to get close to the man’s closest living relatives in the wild.

This Uganda safari park’s 350 tree species offer a great habitat for over 1500 Chimpanzees in addition to 12 other primate species including the Vulnerable L’hoest’s Monkeys, endangered Uganda Red colobus Monkeys, Black-and-white colobus monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Olive baboons, Red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, Bushbabies and Pottos.

Larger but rarely seen residents include Elephants, bushbucks, sitatungas, buffaloes, leopards and quite a few forest elephants. There are also an incredible 250 species of butterflies that live here. While on the smaller side, Kibale also has a great bird list with 375 species including the rare and beautiful Green-breasted pitta. 

3. Queen Elizabeth National Park

The scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park is on nearly all Uganda wildlife safari itineraries. The park resides in a fertile, equatorial area on the floor of the Great Rift Valley in the shadow of the ‘Mountains of the Moon’. Measuring 1978 km2, it is primarily associated with rolling savannah grasslands, but this fabulous park also includes within its boundaries leafy rainforests, acacia woodland, freshwater lakes, dense papyrus swamps and natural volcanic crater lakes. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world, including a total of 95 recorded species of Uganda animals and 611 species of Uganda birds.

You have a chance to see a variety of animals of Uganda including Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalos, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Warthogs, Jackals, Hyenas, Uganda kobs and Topis.  The famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of the park are a fascinating highlight, but many travellers also come specifically to cruise on the 45km long Kazinga Channel to view some of the world’s highest concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles.

Besides wildlife drives, boat cruises, nature walks and birding, ‘Queen’ offers Chimpanzee trekking in the gorgeous Kyambura Gorge, a little Eden brimming with chimps, monkeys and birds.

4. Murchison Falls National Park

Covering 3,840 km2, Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park and one of the best destinations for Uganda wildlife safaris. Mammals are plentiful (76 species) and the raging Murchison Falls (the world’s most powerful waterfall), where the world’s longest river (River Nile) thunders through a 7-meter wide gap in the rift valley escarpment and falls 45 meters below, is an unforgettable sight.

In terms of wildlife, expect to see Elephants, Buffalos, Lions, Leopards, Rothschild giraffes, Ugandan kobs, Hartebeest, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Oribi, Warthogs, Patas monkeys, Hyenas, Hippos and crocodiles, not to mention some 451 species of bird including the iconic shoebills.

A boat trip to the base of the waterfall is not to be missed. The river is home to one of the largest concentrations of Nile Crocodiles and hippos in all of Africa, and, in the afternoon, you’re likely to see buffalo and elephants on the shore.  Murchison Falls is not a complete Big 5 destination as a Rhino is missing, but many visitors stop in at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route for an exciting rhino tracking encounter on foot.

5. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park 

Uganda’s smallest National Park, the beautiful Mgahinga National Park in the Virunga Mountains also harbours the rare Mountain gorillas. Verdant tropical rainforest wraps the park’s 3 dramatic extinct volcanoes; Mt Sabinyo at 3,645m, Mt Gahinga at 3,474m and Mt Muhavura at 4,127m above sea level

Wildlife safaris in Uganda boast of Gorilla trekking– the main activity in Mgahinga Park, but it’s less popular than Bwindi due to the one habituated family. But there’s more on offer here than just gorillas; about 184 species of colourful birds flutter through the forest and this is the only park in Uganda where you can track and see the beautiful Golden monkeys.

Here, you can also enjoy a scenic volcano hike on Mt Sabyinyo which takes you through mystical alpine vegetation. At the summit, you can stand in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC at the same time! Also, forest walks led by local Batwa pygmies give an insight into the lives of an indigenous tribe that has survived as hunter-gatherers in this forest for over 1,000 years.

6. Lake Mburo National Park

If you are looking for a Uganda wildlife safari park closest to the capital city, Kampala will want to check out Lake Mburo National Park. This 260km2 park is a superb wetland and Acacia savanna sanctuary that is a famous spot for bird lovers – it is home to 350 species of Uganda. It not only shelters birds but many mammal species which are not easily seen elsewhere in Uganda, including Burchell’s zebra, Impala, Rothschild’s giraffe, and Common eland.

Other animals include Buffalos, Defassa waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, warthog, hippo, Topis, Southern Reedbuck, Slender, Banded, and Dwarf Mongoose. Leopards are present, although mostly seen on night game drives.  Here you can enjoy birding, game drives and game walks in the company of an expert guide who will reveal the secrets of the flora and fauna of the park. Boat cruises on the lake reveal a host of hippos and birds – like the African finfoot – that will leave you with a fantastic overview of this fascinating ecosystem.

7. Kidepo Valley National Park

Wild and remote Kidepo Valley National Park ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses and makes for exceptional wildlife safaris in Uganda. The 1442 km2 park is hidden away in the lost semi-arid valleys in the extreme north-eastern corner of Uganda. Its rolling, short-grass savannah is ringed by mountains and cut by rocky ridges.

Uganda wildlife here includes 475 bird species and 77 species of mammals with many species that are found nowhere else in Uganda. These include Cheetahs, Bat-eared foxes, Aardwolves, Caracals, Greater kudus, lesser kudus, Black-backed jackals, Mountain reedbucks and Common Ostriches.

Kidepo also has a healthy population of the Big 5 (except for a lack of Rhino). Other wildlife includes Rothschild’s giraffe, Burchell’s zebras, Patas monkeys, Jackson’s hartebeests, Bohor reedbucks, Oribi, Common Elands, Uganda kobs, Klipspringer and dik-dik. As the most remote of all Uganda safari parks, Kidepo receives less than 10 visitors per day. This means you have the land of Eden for yourself to view a plethora of games on game drives and nature walks.

8. Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is unique from other Uganda wildlife safari parks. It is an ancient forest that covers an area of 220 km2 on the DRC border, close to Kibale National Park and the Mountains of the Moon. Semuliki contains East Africa’s only tract of true lowland tropical rainforest and is contiguous with the Congo’s huge Ituri forest.  The park is one of the richest areas of flora and fauna diversity in Africa, especially for birds and butterflies. About 441 bird species (41% of Uganda’s total bird species) are found here including 35 Congo-Guinea biome species found nowhere else in East Africa.

Semuliki also has some special mammal species such as Olive baboons, Chimpanzees, red colobus, Mona, Black-and-white colobus, Red-tailed, Vervet, and Blue Monkeys, as well as Elephant, Buffalo, Hippos, Civet, Flying Squirrels, Duikers, and Bushpig. It is also home to rare Water chevrotain a superficially duiker-like ungulate that shares many structural features with pigs and is considered ancestral to all modern-day antelopes, deer, cows, and giraffes.

In 2018, motion-sensor camera traps set by scientists from UK’s Chester Zoo snapped the first East African record of the lowland bongo a handsome nocturnal spiral-horned antelope associated with forests in western and central Africa.

9. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1994 by UNESCO because of its stunning beauty and biodiversity. Many Uganda wildlife safari tour undertakers are fascinated by the Rwenzori Mountains, one of Africa’s tallest mountain ranges with several peaks which are permanently covered by snow. The range which isn’t volcanic stretches for about 120km by 65km wide and is a haven for an extraordinary number of rare plants and animals and new examples of both are still being discovered.

The Rwenzori Mountains are presumed to be the Mountains of the Moon, described in AD 150 by Ptolemy, who proclaimed them to be the source of the Nile River. The three highest peaks in the range are Margherita (5109m), Alexandria (5083m) and Albert (5087m), all on Mt Stanley, the third-highest mountain in Africa.

Two mammals are endemic to the range, the Rwenzori climbing mouse and the Rwenzori red duiker, as are 19 of the 241 known bird species. There’s thick tropical rainforest on the lower slopes transitioning to the bizarre afro-alpine moorland on higher reaches.

10. Mount Elgon National Park

Many travellers come here to climb the majestic 4,321-meter-high extinct volcano for which this national park is named, but Mount Elgon National Park offers much more for non-mountain climbers.

During a Uganda safari tour, you will find amazing scenery and rare Uganda wildlife during your day hikes with the prospect of seeing Rock hyrax, Tree hyrax, Elephant, Buffalo, Defassa waterbuck, Oribi, Bushbuck, Duiker, Forest hog, Bushpig, Leopard, Civet, Serval cats, spotted hyena, Aardvark, Rodents, Black-and-white colobus monkey, Olive baboon, Red-tailed monkey, Vervet monkey, De Brazza’s monkey, Blue monkey and tree squirrel.

Also, there are more than 300 bird species including 40 restricted-range species and 56 of the 87 Afrotropical highland biome species notably the Moorland Francolin, Moustached Green Tinkerbird and Alpine Chat. Caves, gorges, calderas, hot springs, and the spectacular Sipi Falls are all-natural attractions here that you may enjoy exploring. You can also tour coffee plantations and fish for trout on the Sipi River.

Here Is The List Of Top Uganda Wildlife Safari Game Reserves In Uganda

Besides the Uganda wildlife safari parks, Uganda features savannah game reserves in Uganda and sanctuaries that support a myriad of Uganda wildlife safaris including the Pian Upe game reserve, Matheniko – Bokora game reserve, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the Toro – Semliki Game Reserve, the Kabwoya game reserve and the Kigezi game reserve. Uganda is home to the classic wild game including the Big5 land animals namely; the Rhinos, Lions (with tree climbing lions as well), Leopard, the African Elephant, and the Cape Buffalo. Others include the myriad of antelopes like Impala eland, the greater and lesser Kudu, Jackson’s hartebeest, the Roan Antelope, the Uganda Kobs, Duikers, the pygmy antelope, Defassa waterbuck, and the Bushbuck among others. The myriad of their unique wildlife such as populations of Rothschild Giraffes, the side-stripped Jackals, and the spotted Hyenas among others derive remarkable Wildlife safaris in Uganda experience.

These Are The Most Sought After Game Reserves For Your Uganda Wildlife Safari Tours

1. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda to see the near-threatened (Southern) White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum in the wild. The 70 km2 sanctuary is home to 32 White Rhinoceros. Aside from Rhinos, it is home to at least 40 mammal species and over 300 species of birds including the Shoebills, Giant Kingfisher, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Great Blue and Ross’s Turaco. On your Uganda wildlife safari in Ziwa, you can enjoy thrilling Rhino tracking encounters on foot, Shoebill Trek and Canoe Ride, Bird Watching and Nature walking.

2. Budongo Forest

Budongo Forest is a 435 km2 tract of intact, virgin tropical forest on the southern edge of the Murchison Falls National Park. It is the biggest Mahogany forest found in East Africa, offering excellent Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and birding to further make your wildlife safari in Uganda amazing.

Budongo is astonishingly bio-diverse with 24 species of Uganda mammals, over 366 bird species, 289 species of butterflies and 465 plant types. The forest is home to about 800 Chimpanzees, one of Uganda’s largest populations and monkeys including Red-tailed, Blue, and Black-and-white colobus monkeys. Tree pangolins, elephant-shrew and gigantic hammerhead bats are also residents.

For birders, Budongo is a key destination for birding in Uganda. Indeed, such is its avian wealth that the track nicknamed the ‘Royal Mile, is regarded as one of Africa’s most rewarding birding spots with fantastic species like Nahan’s Partridge, White-thighed Hornbill, Cassin’s Spinetail, Flycatchers, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Ituri Batis, Tit Hylia, Forest Robin, Narina Trogon, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Black-billed, Plain, Greenbuls, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted and African Dwarf Kingfisher, among other species.

3. Kalinzu Forest

Kalinzu Forest is the second-best destination for Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda after Kibale National Park. Kalinzu covers 137 km2 and it is an extension of Queen Elizabeth Park’s Maramagambo Forest. It comprises more than 400 tree species and at least 300 chimpanzees, including a 40-strong community habituated for tourists and a slightly larger one reserved for research.

Besides chimps, there 5 other diurnal primate species you will encounter during your Uganda wildlife tour in Kalinzu Forest Reserve, including Olive baboons, Black and white colobus, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, and L’hoest’s monkeys. Other wildlife in Kalinzu includes 378 bird species, 262 species of butterflies and 97 species of month.

4. Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary is situated in Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and is home to around 52 orphaned chimpanzees that have been rescued from elsewhere in Uganda and are being rehabilitated as much as possible on this thickly forested island. Day trips to see the residents are superb. It’s a 45-/90-minute speedboat or motorised canoe ride from Entebbe to get here.

5. Mabamba Bay Swamp

The legendary Mabamba Swamp is a large 166 km2 wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria in the west of Kampala and is a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, as well as one of Uganda’s 33 Important Bird Areas. The magical species of this location is the endangered Shoebill, Uganda’s most famous and iconic avian resident, sought after by many wildlife-viewing Uganda safari visitors.

A canoe ride along the narrow channels of the swamp also gives you a chance to other bird species like the sought-after Papyrus Gonolek, regal African Fish Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Lizard Buzzard, African and Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, Black Heron, Pied Kingfisher, herons, egrets and waterfowl.

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