Wildlife viewing in Uganda is among the many activities to do during safaris in 2024 and there are various wildlife species which can be seen around the country and they include the following;
- Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park is a safari park found in the north western part of Uganda which is popular for wildlife viewing.
The national park is named after the Murchison falls which are formed along the River Nile. These falls can be viewed during hiking to the top of the falls and also during viewing of the falls and boat rides to the bottom of the falls.
There are over 76 mammal species which can be seen during safaris in Murchison falls national park and they include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, oribi, hartebeests, bushbucks, hippos, dik dik and many others. Murchison falls national park is also home to primates such as chimpanzees which can be seen in Budongo forest, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and many others.
Different activities can be done during tours in Murchison falls national park and they include game drives in the morning and afternoon, bottom of the falls boat rides, bird watching, hiking to the top of the falls, guided nature walks and also chimpanzee tracking.
- Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park is located in the north eastern part of Uganda and is among the popular safari destinations to visit in the country.
Wildlife safaris in Kidepo valley national park take place in the remote wilderness of the destination which also consists of savannah plains and rocky outcrops. The destination is also known for interactive cultural experiences.
Many activities can also be done when visiting Kidepo valley national park during safaris in Uganda and they include game drives, guided nature walks, hiking, bird watching and also community tours with tribes such as the Ik tribe and the Karamojong people.
Many wildlife species are found in Kidepo valley national park and they include cheetahs, lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, hyenas, elands, topi, bushbucks, warthogs, Uganda kobs, buffalos and many others.
Kidepo national park also offers amazing bird watching experiences with bird species such as Ostriches, Kori bustard, Red and Yello Barbet, Pygmy Falcon, Yellow-rumped seedeater, Secretary birds, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill among others which can be spotted during safari.
- Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park is another safari destination to visit in Uganda for exciting wildlife tours in the western part of the country.
Some of the wildlife species which can be seen during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park include tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector. There are also chimpanzees which can be visited during chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge.
Other animals in Queen Elizabeth national park include elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, hippos, Uganda kobs, topi, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, warthogs, mongoose, serval cats and many others. Numerous bird species can also be seen during safaris around the destination which is home to over 600 bird species.
Activities to engage in during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park include game drives, bird watching, boat rides along the Kazinga channel, visiting the Katwe salt lakes, guided nature walks, mongoose tracking and also community tours.
- Lake Mburo national park
Lake Mburo national park is the smallest safari park located in western Uganda and is home to numerous wildlife species.
Activities which can be done during safaris in Lake Mburo national park include morning, afternoon and night game drives, guided nature walks, horse riding, bird watching, cycling and also boat rides on Lake Mburo.
Lake Mburo National Park
Wildlife species found in Lake Mburo national park include giraffes, impalas, zebras, elands, buffalos, oribi, waterbucks, topi, reedbucks, warthogs, leopards, hyenas, jackals as well as various bird species such as Pied Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfisher, Black Bellied bustard, African Wattled Lapwing, Grey Crowned Crane, African Fish eagle among others.
- Semuliki national park
Another safari park which can be visited in the western part of Uganda is Semuliki national park which is home to different wildlife and bird species.
Bird species which can be seen around Semuliki national park include Albertine rift endemics as well as Guinea –Congo forest biome bird species. The national park is home to over 435 bird species which can be seen during safari.
Semuliki national park is also known for the Sempaya hot springs which bring many tourists to the destination. Activities which can be done around the park include guided nature walks, bird watching, wildlife viewing and also community tours.
- Best safari parks for primate tours in Uganda
Uganda is also a destination which is famous for primate tours which can be done across various destinations in the country which include the following;
- Bwindi national park
Tours in Bwindi national park involve spending time with mountain gorillas which can be seen in different sectors of the park. The national park is a famous for gorilla trekking destination in Uganda which is known for being home to half the world’s population of mountain gorillas.
Bwindi national park is found in the south western part of Uganda and some of the exciting activities to do around the park include gorilla trekking, gorilla habituation, Batwa tours, bird watching, hiking and also guided nature walks.
Sectors of Bwindi national park that can be visited to encounter the mountain gorillas include Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.
- Kibale forest national park
Another popular safari park to visit for primate tours in Uganda is Kibale forest national park which is located in the western part of the country.
Kibale forest national park is home to over 13 primate species including chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons among others.
Activities to do when visiting Kibale national park include chimpanzee tracking, chimpanzee habituation, bird watching, guided nature walks, visiting the Bigodi wetland sanctuary among others.
Gorillas in Uganda can also be seen in Mgahinga national park which is another popular safari park located in the south western part of the country.
Activities which can be done around Mgahinga national park include gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, bird watching, volcano climbing and also guided nature walks.