Best National Parks in Uganda to see hippos on a boat cruise 

While on Uganda safari, some of the best game parks to see hippopotamuses are Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. Uganda is a country of diverse wildlife, so during the game drives or boat trips, you may spot some of the incredible hippos that spend part of their day in the water and graze in the night.

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Uganda is indeed a country gifted by nature with breathtaking views and extraordinary density of animals including thousands of hippos that love the water in these game parks. The best times to see hippos is during the launch trips and boat rides. 

Several other wild animals also love to spend time in these Uganda game parks and during the game drives, you may get the opportunity to spot them. Hippopotamuses love water because they have a lot of fat in their bodies, so they have to stay underwater during hot sunny days. You can hear them granting and some spilled water up like a fountain.

The hippos love wallowing in mud, especially when there is water scarcity in the game parks, to cool off the heat from the scorching sun as temperatures may rain up to about 37 degrees centigrade. 

Other animals also live in these National parks like crocodiles, otters, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, reedbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, Uganda kobs, hartebeests many others.

Where To Find Hippopotamus On Boat Cruise On Uganda Safari?

Queen Elizabeth National Park 

During the launch trip on Kazinga channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot schools of hippos embedded in the water like rocks. Kazinga channel is the link between Lake George and Lake Edward. This 40 kilometers long channel hosts schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles, otters and others.

From Mweya peninsular, you can hear the granting sounds of these hippos too. Kazinga channel provides Queen Elizabeth National Park's prime wildlife spectacle. While on a boat trip on this channel, you may spot other animals that move down to quench thirst and take a bath.

An array of birds grace the marshy shores of Kazinga channel too as this is like a magnet to several birds including foreign migrants that fly from as far as Europe. Some of the birds you may spot at the shores of Kazinga channel include greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian geese, papyrus gonolek, African fish skimmer, pink backed pelicans and others.

When you take a game drive in the other tracks within Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot lions, topis, waterbucks, bushbucks, hyenas, herds of buffaloes, and elephants, to mention but a few.

The Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to chimpanzee trekking. This 100 meters deep gorge was formed from the erosion of river Kyambura as it pushed its way towards the Kazinga channel.

Murchison Falls National Park Boat Cruise

The highlight of Murchison Falls National Park is the launch trip to these falls. From the pier, you sail on the boat or launch wards Murchison Falls. When you look into the River Nile water, you can spot out number of hippos gathered like rocks. Crocodiles are usual suspects in River Nile and when you get to the crocodile restaurant, you may spot them basking under the sun as they wait to catch a meal.

Several other wild animals love spending there day time on the shore of river Nile like giraffes, herds of elephants, herds of cape buffaloes, bushbucks, hartebeest to mention but a few.

As you draw closer to Murchison Falls, the river course gets rough, and boat turbulence changes, too. You hear thundering sounds as you finally get into an open space to view the falls. At Murchison Falls, River Nile staggers over a bed of rocks, then gains momentum to push through the 6 meters wide bend furiously, burst out, forming a cloudy appearance, and finally cascade down the 43 meters high cliff to continue.

Sir Samuel Baker, one of the great explorers, called Murchison Falls one of the greatest points of the entire course. Taking an optional hike to the top of the falls gives you the opportunity to see where this drama is generated.

By taking a game drive on the different tracks in Murchison Falls National Park, you may spot animals like lions, herds of buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, leopards, bushbucks, warthogs, oribi, hartebeests, reedbucks, giraffes and others. Taking a birding safari in Murchison Falls National Park gives you the opportunity to spot a number of birds, as more than 450 bird species are recorded as residents of this park.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest, just 8 kilometers from Kicubanyombo gate of Murchison Falls National Park, is exciting. You need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit in advance because the number allowed to do chimpanzee trekking in this forest is limited. 

Lake Mburo National Park

Several hippo schools can be spotted in Lake Mburo during the boat trip. Lake Mburo National Park is the gem of game parks in western Uganda where you can do a detour top and from Kampala city. While on a boat trip in Lake Mburo, you may spot hippos and crocodiles.

Lake Mburo National Park has vegetative habitats in the southern part surrounding open water of Lake Mburo, grassy escarpments cover the shoreline fringed with acacia forest and closed canopy of Rubanga forest. The north and east grass valley floors are made of seasonally lush and soggy rain.

Other than the hippos, during the game drive, you may spot Burchell zebra, impalas, elands, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, oribi, reedbucks, leopards, hyenas and others.

Birders have a variety of birds to spot in Lake Mburo National Park as more than 315 bird species are residents of this park. Some of the birds you can spot during a tour in Lake Mburo National Park include saddle billed stork, African fin foot, Acacia woodland birds, Tabor cisticola and others.

When Is The Best Time To Book A Uganda Safari To See Hippos?

Hippopotami can be seen any season of the year as they spend most of their day in water. The boat trips in Uganda are open all year but advance arrangement is required. When the water level of most water bodies where these hippos live dries up, they wallow in the mud to cool off the day' heat. 

The dry season which is normally June to September and December to February lowers the water level of some water bodies pushing the hippos to the muddy pods.

During the wet season, the temperatures in these Uganda National Parks are lower so chances of seeing hippos grassing in the open grass in this period are high. The western season is normally March to early June and September to November.

 Hippos are wild animals that are not habituated to human presence so you must follow the guidelines given during your stay. When angry, hippos cause a lot of distraction including capsizing the boat in which you are sailing. Hippos fear the sound of the engine, which is why boats used to sail on the bodies, whereas hippos are commonly seen using engine boats rather than canoes.

Do not provoke the hippos because you may cause them to get agitated and turn against you. You may have to do a night game drive to see the hippos' night life of the hippos but you need to make this arrangement with Uganda Wildlife Authority so that all necessary arrangements for this night game drive are done. Carry night vision equipment so that you can see their animals because bright light disturbs their peace and vision.

What are the requirements for Uganda Safari?

Purchase park entrance fees from Uganda Wildlife Authority from their headquarters in advance, as no cash is allowed on the ground.

• Hire a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition with a professional and experienced driver guide. It is best to hire a driver guide in advance, especially when your Uganda safari is in the peak season.
• Book accommodation to use during the Uganda safari in advance because options run out as the high season breaks in.
• Brief people traveling about the guidelines of a game safari in advance so as not to be penalized for violating them, like no dumping garbage or feeding the animals while on a Uganda tour. They are wild animals that must search for their food.
• Do not wear clothes in colors that are not wilderness-friendly like blue, black, blue that may attract stinging insects.
•  Do not drive off track during the game drive because you may knock down some animals, and this is a serious offense. 
• Carry some cash with you in case you home to do on ground purchases or tip service providers like ranger guides, lodge staff and others.

In case you have children on Uganda, safari, ensure they are always in your company so that they are not grabbed by animals in these game parks.

What is the Packing list for Uganda safari?

• A travel Journal to keep record of every detail that you may get to see in the park.
• Binoculars to get a clear picture of fur hidden animals and birds.
• Sunscreen is used to protect your skin from sunburns and to apply while at the pool in case your lodge has one.
• A torch just in case lights go out at night, and because most accommodation facilities use solar, sometimes the panels may run short of power.
• When the dry spell heats up in most of the Uganda game parks between June and September and mid-December to mid-January, the temperature may rise to about 28 degrees centigrade. You need to pack some light wear, like sleeveless tops and shorts with flip-flops. The clothes you pack must be dirt-friendly, like Khaki.
• Try to avoid bright colors because they may look suspicious to some wild animals and cause them to charge at you. The wild is dusty at times, which may make your clothes dirty, in case they are brightly colored. 
• A camera for taking memories of your honeymoon adventures in Queen Elizabeth National Park 
•  Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need to have an on ground transaction.
• Carry an extra fully charged battery to switch with in case one runs low.
• Insect repellant as the wilderness has stinging insects that may hurt your skin. 
• First Aid kit for just in case of any illness that is known to you.
• Toiletries just in case the lodge doesn't provide
• Energy snacks to bite while on game drives and other activities in the pack.

What else to do on Uganda safari?

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

In Uganda, gorilla trekking safaris happen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. You need a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority to be allowed to participate in this adventure.

The age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 12 years and over because of the nature of the topography of the Virunga area which is rugged resulting from volcanic action in this park.

At the moment Uganda has over 20 gorilla families open to the public. You can do gorilla habituation experience too where tourists are allowed to be in company of a semi-habituated gorilla family for four hours. Uganda has about four gorilla habituation experience families open to the public.

Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda

While on a Uganda safari, you can experience chimpanzee trekking or habituation. Some of Uganda's chimpanzee safari destinations include Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest, and the Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary.

To attend the morning or afternoon sessions, you must secure a chimpanzee permit. The chimpanzee safaris are limited to a maximum of 6 people per troop, so advance booking is required.

Golden Monkey Safari in Uganda 

Golden monkeys live in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. You need to book a Golden Monkey permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in advance. You can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience.

White waters rafting in Uganda

Excite your feelings with the thrilling white water rafting adventure. You do not have to bear any experience as instructors are on the ground to take you all that is necessary to do this adventure. Although there are different levels of these tides, do end where you are most comfortable.

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