Game Drives in Uganda: Uganda is gifted with 10 national parks and five of them boost in diversity of wildlife Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Semiliki National Park. Each of the above-mentioned national parks stuns with unique wildlife attractions game driving in the park and game drive is the main selling activity done in these five national parks. To be able to access these national parks for game drives has to pay park entrance fees which is standard. To be safe while on game drives in Uganda, you’re recommended to take a park ranger guide along for security.
Park entrance fees;
Murchison Falls National Park entry fees are $45 per person for foreign nonresidents in order to access the park and $35 per person for foreign residents.
In other game parks like Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, and Kidepo Valley National Park; Park entry fees remain standard which is $40 per person for foreign nonresidents and $30 per person for foreign residents.
Semiliki National Park entry fees are $35 per person for foreign nonresidents and $25 per person for foreign residents.
Park-armed rangers can be hired for a small fee of $20 per day.
Game drive in Murchison Falls National Park: Murchison Falls National Park is quite rewarding in this largest and oldest game park in Uganda, which lies in the Northwestern part of Uganda at the edge of Albertine western Rift Valley. However, the park has unique attractions from other parks and that is the longest river ‘’River Nile’’ which flows its water through the park. In other words, it stands as Africa’s longest River and points to a narrow gorge where the waters forcefully pass through causing the thundering sound of the river thus making the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
Initially, before being named to its domain name ‘’Murchison Falls National Park it was first called Kabalega National Park but later on was named Murchison Falls by Sir Samuel Baker on his visit to the park in the year 1864, who named it after Sir Roderick Murchison who was the president of Britain Royal Geographic Society.
Inspect the fact that, during the reign of President Iddi Amin and also the Kony wars many animals were killed, along with the poaching done by the community. Today, the park is safe and has become among the top-visited wildlife destinations in African safaris. Activities commonly done in the park include; African wildlife, birds, primates, and visiting the top of the falls.
Murchison Falls is home to more than 76 species of wild animals and over 450 bird species. The park is only home to big four game including lions, leopards, Buffaloes, and African Elephant. Other animals to see include; Rothschild Giraffes, hippos, Uganda, Oribis, Jackson hartebeest, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, and a number of antelopes.
Game drive in Murchison Falls National Park can be effectively done in about 2 to 3 hours depending on the availability of the animals in the park. It can be done in three sessions; morning, afternoon, and evening session.
Morning session starts at 6:40 am, the afternoon game drive starts at 2 pm and the evening game drive starts at 6 pm.
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are more rewarding because it harbor unique tree-climbing lions and is rich in wildlife species. There are two remarkable areas where the game drives can be done that is the Kasenyi area and the Ishasha sector.
The commonly spotted animals while on game drive adventure here include; the lions, leopards, and hyenas. The Ishasha sector offers an incredible game drive experience of tree climbing lions given the nature of the savannah where they spend their day resting on fig /acacia tree branches.
Other animals include; hippos, buffaloes, elephants, topis, and many antelopes that can be seen in the Ishasha sector.
Kidepo Valley National Park; Kidepo Valley National Park sounds like an unmatched and untouched wilderness, rich in wildlife species and birdlife. The park is located far north Eastern part of Uganda in the Kaabong district. Internationally was recognized by CNN as one of the best wildlife destinations in Africa. For the game drive in Kidepo, it is advisable to go with a park ranger guide to provide security for any danger that might occur.
There are 2 main areas of game drives in Kidepo National Park; Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley. Narus Valley rewards more wildlife viewing because of the large number of animals that gather around to quench for thirst.
Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park; Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park and contains a wide range of wildlife for game drives. They can be adventured through different tracks like; the zebra track, the Kazuma track, and the Kigambira loop.
Game drive in Semiliki National Park; Semiliki National Park is also a rewarding place to go for na ight game drive where many nocturnal animals can be encountered. The park has mainly 3 tracks that cross through the savannah grassland of Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Mainly spotted animals here include; elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, crocodiles, warthogs, and bush babies among others.
Game drives in Uganda are magical and best done in the morning and evening hours. The experience tends to last for about 3 to 4 hours a day depending on the availability of the animals. The best time to visit the park without disappointment is in the dry season when the game tracks are possible. Unlike the wet season.
Book now! For your next wildlife safari in Uganda ‘’the Pearl of Africa’’.
