Best National Parks In Uganda To See Lions On A Game Drive

Uganda is a land gifted by nature, but to see lions, some possible destinations include Kidepo Valley National Park in North Eastern Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park. Prides of lions prowl the different parts of these game parks to sneak and prey on other wild animals in these parks.

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During the Uganda safari in these parks, you may take game drives in the tracks distributed throughout the different parts of these Uganda National Game Parks. You are not always guaranteed to spot these lions because they live freely in these parks with no boundaries to stop them from moving.  

Lions live in a pride with a dominant male; in this pride, they hunt together, groom their infants, and much more. Although some lions in these national parks have tags for monitoring purposes, they still move freely and are not stopped from traversing the various parts of these national parks.

Lions in most of these Uganda game parks are threatened by poachers who hunt them for trophies and collect their parts for traditional rituals. When the lions stray into the communities around these game parks, they fall into snares set by the local people, threatening their lives.

If you want to enjoy your Uganda safari in the game parks, open your mind to seeing other animals in the jungle, including birds and other features. This keeps you from getting bored if you do not find the lions.

Where to find lions on Uganda Safari

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the further Northeast corner of Uganda. This Uganda National Park is at the border of Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. This isolated Uganda game park is among Africa's finest wildernesses with a semi-arid climate.

In Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park is the best home to carnivores, including lions. Some of the animals you may spot during the game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park include lions, leopards, cheetahs, bat-eared foxes, side-striped jackals, greater and lesser kudu, Chandler's mountain reedbucks, spotted hyenas, black-backed and side-striped jackals, cape buffaloes, elands, waterbucks, and others.

The long list of bird species, including the rare ostriches, is fantastic; some of the birds of Kidepo Valley National Park include Abyssinian ground hornbill, carmine, little green and red-throated bees, Karamoja Apalises, yellow-billed and Jackson hornbills, and several others.

The long list of wild animals and birds living in Kidepo Valley National Park is attributed to different vegetation zones in this game park that support the survival of all these. The park has a combination of open Savannah habitat and prime game viewing locations where you can see wild animals in the jungle.

Murchison Falls National Park

Dissected by the River Nile, which is the lifeblood of this area, is Murchison Falls National Park. The northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park is the game-viewing hot spot. During the game drive in the Buligi trail, where numerous ungulates like Uganda kobs love spending time, chances of spotting lions sneaking to catch a meal are high.

It is best to start a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park early to catch the early risers as they emerge from night hideout points into the open areas or later in the afternoon. Taking a game drive from Paraa to the Delta for about 3 to 4 hours is rewarding, too. 

During the game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, chances of spotting animals like leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, cape buffaloes, elephants, oribi, warthogs, hartebeests, Uganda kobs, Nile crocodiles, hippos, several others.

Murchison Falls National Park hosts more than 450 bird species, including Albertine rift endemics. Some birds in Murchison Falls National Park include flycatchers, Ituri Batis, white-thighed hornbills, and yellow-footed flycatchers.

The launch trip to Murchison Falls allows you to spot wild animals moving to the showers to quench thirst and bathe in the River Nile to cool off the day's heat. Look into the water for serried Nile crocodiles, schools of hippos, and much more. You feel the power of the River Nile as Murchison Falls gets into view. At this point, River Nile squeezes through the 6-meter-wide bend and vigorously bursts out to form a cloudy appearance.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Seating on the rift valley floor, the park is famous for its tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. During the game drive on the different tracks in this park, you may have a chance to spot lions, especially when you take the Kasenyi track. Lions love spending time within the Kasenyi plain track, where opportunities for preying on Uganda kobs are open. 

To get the best out of this game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the early mornings and late afternoons are most rewarding.

During the Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives, you may spot herds of cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, topis, giant forest hogs, leopards, hyenas, mongoose, etc.

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is exceptional, with over 605 species recorded as park residents, including foreign migrants. Some of Queen Elizabeth National Park's birds include the African skimmer, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, lesser and greater flamingos, shoebill stork, Chapin's flycatcher, martial eagles, and others.

Taking a 3 to 4-hour return launch trip on the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park is relaxing. Still, when you look over to the shows, you may spot several animals that move down to quench thirst, like lions, cape buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, and others.

A plethora of birds flock to the Kazinga channel showers all year to feast on the freebies of this channel.

 Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park is a fantastic addition to your to-do activities during the Uganda safari.

Lake Mburo National Park

Although Lake Mburo National Park is famous for hosting ungulates, some carnivores, including leopards, hyenas, and others, may be spotted, although rarely. During the game drives through the various tracks of Lake Mburo National Park, you may spot animals like zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, reedbucks, elands, impalas, and others.

The boat trip on Lake Mburo is incredibly relaxing, allowing you to see various animals that keep visiting the shores of this park.

When Is The Best Time To Book Uganda Safari To See Lions In Uganda?

Game drives in the game parks of Uganda are open all year, but the season is most interesting when the grass is lower, and the chances of seeing lions in action are more relaxed. Generally, the dry season in Uganda is usually June to September and December to February, when less rain is expected throughout Uganda.

Even driving on the tracks in the game park is quicker and visibility is clearer, but you need a pair of binoculars to see some of the animals since you are not allowed to drive off-track in the Uganda National Parks. If you must go off track during the game drives, seek permission from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Note that this dry season is usually peak safari season, meaning more vehicles in the Uganda game park. You need to follow the rules of game safaris by not hooting or making noise while on a game drive so that you do not deprive others of the chance to see these wild animals. Noise may push the different animals into hiding.

Even logistics that support game safaris in Uganda get scarce as the peak season opens, like accommodation, professional and experienced driver guides, and much more. Advance booking is required to avoid inconveniences during your Uganda safari.

During the rainy season, which is usually March to early June and September to November, chances for seeing new births are more open in the game parks. In this period, grass is taller for vulnerable animals, including lion cubs, to hide in. 

The chances of finding fewer vehicles on the tracks in these game parks are high during the low season, allowing you to enjoy exclusive time in the Uganda game parks with less disturbance.

What Is Required For Game Safaris In Uganda?

You need to purchase the park entrance fees for the game parks in Uganda. These serve for 24 hours from the time you enter the game park. Uganda park entrance fees range from $40 to $45 per person, depending on the game park you visit.

Book a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle during the game drives in Uganda. The tracks in the game parks are marram, yet at times, they get so dusty, especially during the dry season, and get messy during the wet season. The vehicle you hire must be in good condition and can support you the entire time while on a game drive.

Don't wear clothes in colors that may attract insects like black, blue, and black, as some stringing insects may hurt you while on safari like the tsetse flies.

Secure accommodation within or close to the Uganda game parks so that you can be in a position to start the early morning or late afternoon game drive. Doing the game drive in the afternoon may not be rewarding as animals may have dispersed to different parts of the game parks.

If you have children, prepare them for the game drive because there are no toilet breaks during the game drives, and they should not make noise while in the vehicle because they may attract animals or send them away.

What to do and not to do during the Uganda game safari?

• Drive in the required speed limit so as not to knock down animals.
• Shouting is forbidden while on a game drive.
• Stepping out of your vehicle during the game drive is dangerous 
• Do not feed the wild animals while on safari.
• Stay in your room during the night while in the Game Park.
• Game drives in Uganda stop by 1900hrs.

What Is The Cost Of Game Safari In Uganda?

The cost of Uganda game safari varies with the package you choose. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our Uganda safaris according to upscale, Mid-range, and budget. Some items considered when costing a Uganda safari include activities people travel with on safari, number of days, activities to combine with, accommodation, driver guide fee, and others.

You must note that paying park entrance fees is compulsory for every tourist as this is one of the ways to support park maintenance.

What to pack for the Uganda game safari?

• A pair of binoculars to get a closer look at the far-ranging animals and features
• A travel Journal to keep a record of every detail that you may get to see in the park.
• Binoculars are used to get a clear picture of fur-covered animals and birds.
• Sunscreen protects your skin from sunburns and applies 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, the panels may run short of power.
• When the dry spell is experienced in the Uganda game parks, which is expected between June and September, and from mid-December to mid-January, the temperature may rise to about 28 degrees centigrade. You need to pack some light wear like sleeveless and shorts with flip flops. The color of the clothes to pack must be dirt-friendly, like Khaki.
• Avoid bright colors because they may look suspicious to some wild animals and cause them to charge at you. The wild is dusty sometimes, which may make your clothes dirty if they are brightly colored. 
• A camera for taking memories of your Uganda safari adventures to different safari destinations 
•  Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need 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 in case your lodge doesn't provide.

Seeing lions in the wild is an experience like no other. Contact us to plan your game drive safari today.