Among the various ways to connect with nature, a safari trip gives an ideal opportunity to combine the love for travel and wildlife. Going on a safari, one would embark on an adventure for a lifetime to experience picturesque landscapes encompassing gorgeous wildlife and breathtaking scenery.
African safaris offer the best safari experiences and exceptional savannah views. Each location across the continent has its charm, ranging from local tribes to wildlife and natural occurrences. These trips allow travellers to acquire a whole new perspective by giving them an opportunity to witness spectacular events such as the great migration, getting up close and personal with various animal species, and catering to a wholesome travel experience.
Uganda, the pearl of Africa, is a country of delightful sceneries; its terrain combines eastern savannah and western jungle ecosystems. Thus, it is home to various activities, such as traditional lion safaris through the grasslands, hiking through lush rainforests, and trekking to spot gorillas, chimpanzees, and various other types of monkeys. This article discusses different ways to explore and connect with nature through the Ugandan safari and the necessary measures to take while on a safari trip.
Wildlife to Explore in Uganda
The country of Uganda has a lot to offer, from volcanic mountains, vast savannahs, and thick forests to crater lakes, hence fostering abundant animal species. Some of the most well-known animals here include mountain gorillas, African bush elephants, African lions, Cape buffalos, and many more. There are 1020 bird species, 345 mammals, 501 fish species, 142 reptile species, and 501 fish species.
Additionally, the flora and fauna of Uganda are rich and diverse due to its closeness to the equator and the consistent tropical climate; it has different habitats, such as acacia woodlands, wetlands, montane forests, and craggy hills. The most common plants are grain sorghum, golden dewdrops, Mexican sunflower, Madagascar periwinkle, African finger millet, snake plant, and Indian shot.
Uganda is home to a large population of mountain gorillas, making gorilla trekking a significant tourist attraction; exploring various national parks to spot these primate species is undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind informative and fun activity. Coming face to face with these gentle creatures living in their natural homes and going about their daily routines is thrilling beyond belief.
Who is it for?
The best tourist attractions include rivers, primates, birds, mammals, mountains, and lakes, making this place a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Uganda safari trips cover two national parks that nurture the endangered primate species, mountain gorillas, that share 98% human DNA. These gorillas reside in the southwestern part of Uganda in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga gorilla park.
Uganda safari trips also offer game drives and game safaris in the national parks, namely, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. Game drives and safaris are exciting adventures of survival in the wild where different animals, such as lions and leopards, prey on their predators. Thus, Uganda safaris are perfect for people who love to witness such thrilling events.
When to go on a safari in Uganda?
Uganda is known as a year-round travel destination due to its proximity to the equator. Lake Victoria's unique weather patterns also contribute to this country's climate; however, the best time to visit this beautiful country would be during its two dry seasons: between June and August and December and February. The weather conditions are highly favourable for mountain gorillas and chimpanzees’ trekking and game drives.
Where to go on a safari in Uganda?
Uganda has ten national parks, four of which offer the best game safari and drive experience. The national parks primarily known for game drives are Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most famous national park of all parks in Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the top-visited national park, taking travellers through western Uganda. The Ishasha sector of this park is home to the famous tree-climbing lions, a rare sight that attracts many tourists. These lions can be spotted during the afternoon on branches of big trees. The Kasenyi plains of the park also host fantastic game drive scenes during early morning or late evenings.
The animals found here are black and white colobus monkeys, elephants, lions, hyenas, buffaloes, leopards, topis, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, banded mongoose, warthogs, bushbucks, hippos, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, and chimpanzees. This national park also regularly offers boat cruises through the Kazinga channel, a great way to spot aquatic bird species, fish, crocodiles, magnificent pied kingfisher, and open-billed stork. Most animals come to the water source during the dry season.
Situated north of Uganda in rugged, remote areas, Kidepo Valley National Park is rich in wildlife. A safari enthusiast can witness 85 mammals, of which 28 are not found elsewhere in Uganda. Animals that can be spotted on a game safari trip here would be hippos, zebras, bat-eared foxes, waterbucks, wild dogs, elephants, leopards, buffalos, klipspringer, Jackson’s hartebeest, mountain reedbuck, cheetahs, elands, oribis, patas monkeys, bush babies, dik-dik, caracal, kongoni, and kudus.
Bird watching and sighting is another exciting activity at Kidepo Valley National Park, which is home to 450 birds.
What to expect from a safari trip in Uganda?
A good safari in Uganda consists of a comfortable van that gives fine views of nature and wildlife during game drive events or other events, equipped with a driver-guide who is well-versed with the park and the wildlife and can communicate clearly. The driver-guide should be well trained and able to help tourists with other to-do activities in the vicinity along with lodging. To have a great trip overall, it is beneficial to consult a trusted safari operator who can provide an all-inclusive itinerary.
Uganda is a sufficiently highly populated country with habitations reaching up to the borders of many parks, and the people of this incredible country are extremely warm and welcoming. Uganda is safe for solo travellers, group travellers, and families and offers different accommodation packages catering to everyone’s needs, ranging from luxury to budget.
This is a guest post by Outforia.