A wildlife safari expereince in Uganda is the most rewarding adventure to explore the raw African untamed wilderness and encounter a plethora of game including the Big 5 listers in the backdrop of stunning landscapes. Highlights and experiences include game viewing drives, boat cruise trips on various excluded waterways and walking safaris in the wilderness.
Habitats and Fauna of Uganda’s National Park
Uganda’s 10 national parks protects a wide range of biodiversity including up to 340 mammal species and 1080 species of birds. This diversity includes a high density of over 20 species of primates across several dense rainforests. Uganda’s national parks protect a varied range of habitats from vast savanna grasslands to semi-arid scrub and rocky outcrops while several are characterised by expansive open water surrounded by extensive wetlands, rainforests and woodlands.
Wildlife list include all the Big 5 that is Elephants, Rhino, Lion Leopard, Cape Buffalo. Other species include; Nubian Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, over 29 species of Antelopes, Plains Zebra, while the waterways 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.
Wildlife Safari Experience in Uganda – Highlights
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Game drive Experience
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 ecosystem of these animals.
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Epic boat cruise safaris
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.
Boat cruise safaris in Uganda include;
Victoria Nile Boat cruise: A boat trip along the Victoria Nile in Murchison falls NP is the most popular highlight on a safari here. Launching from Para landing, the 3-hrs cruise will bring you into the full view of the mighty and magnificent Murchison Falls formed as the mighty Nile crushes through the escarpment rock. Wildlife along Nile banks is excellent with Nile crocodile, hippos and a diversity of birdlife.
Kazinga Boat cruise: A boat cruise safari on Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park offers an incredible wildlife experience to encounter aquatic species and other herbivores that come to drink here. Kazinga channel boasts the largest concentration of wildlife including large schools of hippos, elephant, buffalo, Nile crocodile and an excellent checklist of birdlife
Lake Mburo Boat Cruise: Lake Mbulo boat cruise explores quite lake shores of Mbulo to which the park is named where you encounter hippo, Nile crocodile and local herbivores that come to drink here. Keen birders will get chances to see and tick off various shy papylus restricted species and the rare African Finfoot that frequent lake edges.
Elsewhere, boat cruise expereince occur on Lake Victoria, Lake Albert and on highland lakes of Bunyonyi Lake Murehe, and Lake Mutanda exploring historical islands for incredible view and birding.
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Guided nature walks and Wilderness camping
Walking safaris is the most authentic way to explore untamed Uganda wilderness and appreciate its natural beauty. On foot, you are able to go along the unbeaten paths where safari jeeps don’t go for an authentic exposure. The walking safaris are led by highly knowledgeable wildlife ranger guides for safety and expereince. The guides will attempt to interpret local flora and fauna, point out animal behaviour, identify various calls and tracks making it an immersive experience in wild.
Walking safaris can also tailored to include in 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.
Wilderness camping offers you an opportunity to sleep under starlit African skies and listen to local wild sounds away from buste of cities. Camping is available in selected Uganda national parks.
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Guided nature walk along Rhino
A nature walk upclose rhino herds is a major highlight on any Uganda safari. Rhinos were declared extinct in early 80’s following a long period of lawlessness that led to a hunting spree to its local extinction. Today, rhinos exist only in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, an extensive woodland habitat where a breeding program is underway to re-introduce this Big 5 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 180 km from Kampala along the highway that connects to Murchison Falls and other attractions further north making it a perfect location to break off the journey.