Best National park in Uganda to see the Big Five animals on a game drive

It is hard to see the compete of the big five that is Rhinos, Elephants, buffaloes, lions and leopard in the Uganda National Parks. The fate of the rhinos in Uganda was sealed in the 1980s when the last of the rhinos were seen there. In the past, Rhinos in Uganda faced so many challenges as the country was under several civil wars where they became victims, and others poached ritual practices. 

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At the moment, Ziiwa Rhino Sanctuary is the home to the Rhinos that are being reintroduced and so far the project is going well. Since the arrival of these Rhinos, some infants have been registered and more is still on the way.

While on game drive in Uganda, some of the animals you may see include lions, leopards, cheetahs, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, elands, impalas, or many others. Although not all these animals live in a single park, some are special to certain game parks in Uganda.

Some Uganda game parks include Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.

Where to see the Big Five On Uganda safari

Murchison Falls National Park

With a detour to Ziiwa Rhino Sanctuary to or from Murchison Falls National Park, you may get the chance to complete the list of the big five. During the game drive on the tracks in Murchison Falls National Park, you may have the opportunity to spot animals like lions, leopards, herds of elephants, and buffaloes. Other animals in Murchison Falls National Park include oribi, waterbucks, Rothschild giraffes, hartebeests, warthogs, and many others.

The presence of the River Nile, which is the lifeblood of Murchison Falls National Park, provides all-around water for this long list of wild animals.  

The launch trip to Murchison Falls opens more chances to see animals along the banks of River Nile, especially those who move to the banks to quench thirst and bathe to cool off the day’s heat. Watching the drama at Murchison Falls is exciting as you watch River Nile squeeze through the 6-meter-wide bend, burst out thunderously before flowing down the 43-meter-high cliff to continue with the course.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest is exciting, giving you an opportunity to see even other primate species like olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, and others. More than 450 bird species are proven as residents of Murchison Falls National Park.

The rich biodiversity of Murchison Falls National Park is awed by the presence of savannah, woodland, wetland, and tropical rain forest.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda has four of the big five that is leopards, cape buffaloes, lions, and herds of elephants. When taking a game drive in the tracks of Queen Elizabeth National Park, like Kasenyi track, there are chances of sighting lions preying on the Uganda Kobs that love spending time in this area.

Other wild animals you may be able to see during a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park include waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, topis, giant forest hogs, hyenas and others. More than 605 bird species are recorded as residents of Queen Elizabeth National Park, including Albertine rift endemics.

Queen Elizabeth National Park seats on the flow of the rift valley between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thirty miles to the north is the Rwenzori that explodes from the plains with jagged mass of mountains. The eastern boundary of Queen Elizabeth National Park is marked by calm green escarpments of the western rift valley. The stunning but dramatic scenery of Queen Elizabeth National Park is due to mountains beyond park boundaries.

While on a launch trip on the Kazinga channel, you enjoy the best moments of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where several animals may be seen drinking from the channel banks and shoreline congregates an array of birds, including Albertine rift endemics. The most relaxing but stunning activity of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the 3 hours return launch trip on the Kazinga channel.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is exceptional as this is a forested 100 meters deep gorge home to a community of chimpanzees. You need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority to do this chimpanzee trekking adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Although separated by distance from Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park in the northeastern part of Uganda is home to a long list of wild games, including four of the big five. During the game drive on the tracks of Kidepo Valley National Park you may spot animals like leopards, lions, elephants, cape buffaloes except rhinos. 

Other wild animals living in Kidepo National Park include cheetahs, jackals, aardvark, striped hyenas, bat-eared foxes, caracals, Rothschild giraffes, Defassa waterbucks, Bohor reedbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, Guenther’s dik-dik, Burchell’s zebras and others.

More than 463 bird species are confirmed as residents of Kidepo Valley National Park, including Ostriches, Egyptian vultures, Abyssinian scmitarbill, yellow-billed and Jackson’s hornbills, Karamoja Apalis, and others.

 Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is home to at least three of the big five that are rarely seen. Leopards, herds of cape buffaloes and elephants, rhinos, and lions are missing. While on a game drive on the tracks in Lake Mburo National Park, you may spot animals like impalas, waterbucks, bushbucks, reedbucks, oribi, elands, Rothschild giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and others.

The bird list of Lake Mburo National Park is exciting, with more than 315 bird species recorded. Some of the Lake Mburo National Park birds may include African finfoot, Saddle-billed stork, great snipe, Abyssinian ground hornbill, white-winged warbler, and others.

Other Uganda National parks include

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

 For a gorilla safari experience, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the ideal choice, with over 20 gorilla trekking families present and 4 gorilla habituation experience families. You need to book a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority to be given access to seeing these mountain gorillas in their natural setting. Note that mountain gorillas can survive nowhere else in the world except the Virunga area where Bwindi forest is part of.

Bwindi forest also hosts other primates like olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and others. 

For birding experience in Uganda, Bwindi forest is the ideal destination, with over 350 bird species recorded, and the list is still expanding.

Mgahinga National park

Mgahinga National Park is home to mountain gorillas too, but one gorilla family called Nyakagezi is open to public booking. Mgahinga National Park may be the smallest Uganda National park covering about 33 7 square kilometers but it is home to the golden monkey, one of the most endangered species in the world. They have larger bodies compared to normal monkeys and golden brown hairs on the lower body. Golden monkeys are charming to observe and exciting to visit.

 Although the golden monkeys are habituated, they still possess their natural traits.

Other monkey species are present in the Mgahinga forest, like the olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, and others.

 Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee safari in Uganda are best done in Kibale National Park, a tropical forested park with more than 1500 chimpanzee species. The park also hosts other 12 primate species including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons, bush babies, potto and others.

You can do chimpanzee trekking where tourists are allowed one hour with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop of chimpanzee habituation experience where you accompany a team of researchers to assist in following a semi-habituated chimpanzee community.

For birding experience in Kibale National Park, more than 325 bird species are recorded as residents of this park. Some of the resident birds in Kibale National Park include blue-headed sunbirds, yellow spotted nicator, Abyssinian ground thrush, black bee eaters, collared Apalis, and others.

Semuliki National Park, Rwenzori National Park and Elgon National Park

When is the best Time To Book a Uganda Safari to see the big five?

Uganda is open for all safari activities including game safaris but no matter the season, chances of spotting the big five in one safari are open. During the dry season when the grass is lower, chances of seeing hunting drama in carnivores during Uganda safari are more possible. 

 The dry season in Uganda except for North Eastern Uganda with semiarid climate is normally June to September and December to February. The tracks in the various game parks are normally dry but dusty because of the many vehicles on game drives as this is the peak safari season.

Due to high Uganda safari demand even other amenities that support Uganda safaris are highly competed for that as accommodations, driver guides, 4x4 wheel drive safari vehicles, and others. It is best to book your Uganda safari in advance atleast 3 months to 6 months up front for better planning before the best options run out.

The wet season in Uganda is normally the low tourism season too that is March to May and November. Because of the less demands for these uganda safaris, chances to getting some discounts may be available. In case you wish to travel for a Uganda safari but have a limited budget, you may use the chance of the low season when service providers look to break even. 

In case you wish for exclusive time in the Uganda game parks, the low season may provide you that opportunity when there are few tourists booking in.

How Safe is Uganda For a Game Safari?

Uganda safaris are safe as every National Park is under the supervision of the well trained Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides. These rangers are present to protect the wild animals, there habitants and visitors to the game parks. Every tourist entering the Uganda National Park must register so that follow-up can be done just in case the need arises.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides work closely with other Uganda security agencies to keep law and order in this park.

As a tourist, you must abide by the rules of game safaris as wild animals have no friend while in the wild. Even the least harmless animal you may know outside the game park may be dangerous while in the wild. Stay in your safari vehicle all the time you are on game drive and do not hang your limbs down to fall prey of the hungry predators.

Game Safari Guideline on Uganda Safari

• No feeding the wild animals because they are wild animals that must look for their own food and not depend on human provision.
• Dangling your arms and legs out of the windows during Uganda safari is forbidden. You can also be hurt by pricking plants that protrude into the tracks.
• Off track driving is forbidden as you may drive over some small animals and hurt them. This amounts to a penalty. Seek permission from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in case you intend to drive off track.
• Drive according to the speed allowed in the park to avoid animal accidents.
• Littering Uganda National Park is forbidden as this alters the nature of the park where wild animals thrive.
• Wear wilderness friendly colors like tan or khaki to prevent chances of attracting the stinging insects like tsetse flies.
• Provoking or mimicking wild animals is forbidden because you may not know what you communicate. 
• Do not touch wild animals no matter how calm they may seem to be because they are wild animals whose traits can change any time.
• Do not surround wild animals when taking photos during game drives because you may cause them to get agitated and feel ambushed.
• Making noise or driving with loud music in the game park is forbidden as you may distract the wild animals and push them into hiding.
• Do not step out of your vehicle without an escorting ranger guide because you are not sure of where the wild animals are.
• Carry nothing out of the park and leave nothing so as to maintain the natural environment of the National Park.

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