Uganda Safari Animals
Uganda Safari Animals are the abundant wildlife species that you should expect to see on your Uganda safari tour. Uganda was not named the Pearl of Africa for nothing; the country is bestowed with tree species, plant life, stunning landscapes, bird species and most definitely abundant wildlife species that some are even rare to find elsewhere, inhabiting some very amazing areas. The number of wild animals found in Uganda is impressive to travellers who visit them in their natural habitat that include savannah plains of Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park, as well as forested and mountainous areas like the famous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Semuliki National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Mount Rwenzori National Park as well as Mount Elgon National Park.
Uganda is one of the three countries in the world to host endangered mountain gorillas which tourists can encounter on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda, chimpanzees, as well as the big 5 animals that include lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, with loads of other wild animals scattered all over the country in various protected areas. There are over 350 species of mammals found in Uganda ranging from large like buffaloes and elephants, to small ones like bats and shrews.
Uganda safari animals that travellers can see while on a Uganda safari can be grouped into categories that is primates, carnivores, herbivores and reptiles, as may be detailed below;
Primates in Uganda
Primates in Uganda are the most popular Uganda safari animals that most travellers who visit on a Uganda safari tour come to encounter. Kibale Forest National Park is considered the primate capital of the world not just literally but in actual sense. The number of primates in just one place is overwhelming. Below are the primate species in Uganda, distributed in different Uganda national parks;
Mountain gorillas: these mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the western lowland gorillas. These endangered mountain gorillas are the largest primates in Uganda weighing up to 210kgs. Mountain gorillas in Uganda can be found in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which hosts more than half of the total world population, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which is part of the Virunga Conservation Area. Travellers can encounter these endangered species which were until 2018 listed as critically endangered on a gorilla trekking in Uganda safari. Booking way in advance is advised, at least 3 months before the date of travel.
Chimpanzees: these close relatives of humans are black-coated, and very intelligent that they can use tools. Chimpanzees have been habituated Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest and Kanyiyo Pabidi forest, and in Kyambura gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travellers can see them on a chimpanzee tracking experience, which is available all year long. Booking in advance is advised especially for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park.
Vervet monkeys: these have a black face with very distinctive blue male genitals, and can be found all over Uganda.
Blue monkey: this comes in a dark-blue-grey colour with a white throat and a white patch on the chest with thick fur.
Golden monkey: this is a subspecies of the blue monkey. Golden monkeys have a golden body with black limbs, and are a rare sight only be found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and nowhere else in Uganda. Golden monkey tracking is available for those travellers interested in encountering them.
De brazza’s monkey: this has a hairy face, reddish-brown patch around its eyes, a white moustache and beard and a short tail. De brazza’s monkeys are found in Semuliki National Park and Mount Elgon National Park.
Baboons: these are usually found in the on roadsides marching and playing around, and the countryside and pretty much most of the Uganda national parks.
Other primates include Black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, Red-tailed monkey, Red colobus, Patas monkey, Bush babies, Potto, and the Grey-cheeked mangabey.
Carnivorous Uganda safari animals
There are 38 carnivorous species of Uganda safari animals recorded, and they include among others;
Lions: these are common in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park as well as Kidepo Valley National Park. Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for tree climbing lions. Lions are the kings of the wilderness, usually preying on antelopes and buffaloes.
Cheetah: these are very fast animals and are very rarely seen. Night game drives especially in Kidepo Valley National Park can be rewarding.
Leopard: quite similar to the cheetah, leopards are more powerfully built. Leopards can be found in most Uganda national parks, most especially along the channel drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Spotted hyena: these have very strong jaws that can crack through any hard bone or skin. Spotted hyenas are very strong and can hunt down even the large and strong animals like buffaloes. Spotted hyenas are not in Kidepo Valley National Park, but are in most other parks in Uganda.
African civet: these are hard to find during the day, a night game drive can have travellers sighting them since they are nocturnal.
Other carnivorous Uganda safari animals that travellers are sure to sight while on a Uganda safari tour include mongooses, genets, bat-eared fox only in Kidepo Valley National Park, jackals, darker spotted-necked otter, Cape clawless otter, African golden cat, African wild cat, servals and caracals.
Herbivorous Uganda safari animals
These are the most common animals to see while game viewing on a Uganda safari tour in any of the parks in Uganda, and they include;
Buffaloes: buffaloes are among the big five, and can be found in all national parks in Uganda. Buffaloes live in large herds in the savannah plains and smaller herds in the forested areas. They are quite unpredictable and very defensive.
Rhinos: in the past, there were both black rhinos and white rhinos in Uganda, but due to extensive poaching black rhinos got extinct and the white rhinos were just re-introduced in 2005 at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. There is dire need to conserve these as well lest they became extinct.
Giraffes: these can only be found in Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. The Rothschild giraffe is what can be seen in Uganda. These move is a swaying way since they move one side of the four legs simultaneously, say the two right legs simultaneously, and followed by the left.
African elephant: this is also one of the big five, and can be found elsewhere but Lake Mburo National Park.
Burchell’s zebra: these are stripped black and white coloured animals found only in Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo and Kidepo Valley National Parks.
Hippos: these are largely aquatic animals with webbed feet. They can best be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls and Lake Mburo National Park.
Antelopes: these are very many in number and vary. Antelopes in Uganda include elands, hartebeests, Greater Kudu, Defassa waterbuck, Orxy, sitatunga, Impala, Grant’s gazelle, Reedbuck, lesser kudu, the Uganda kob, forest duiker, Harvey’s red duiker, blue duiker, Peter’s duiker, grey duiker, Oribi, and Bate’s pygmy antelope.
Warthogs, Bush pig and Giant forest hog can also be seen in both savannah and forested parks.
Reptiles in Uganda
Reptiles in Uganda are usually found at the banks of rivers and lakes as they bask open mouthed in the heat. Some however are in the water most of the time. Reptiles are highly poached for their high quality leather, protecting and conserving them is therefore very important lest they too become extinct in the near future. Reptiles in Uganda include;
The Nile crocodile: this is the longest reptile in Uganda. The Nile crocodile is carnivorous too, for it feeds on fish and mammals which come up for a drink at the water bodies. Nile crocodiles can be seen in Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Kazinga channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Python: these can be seen in Maramagambo Forest. Pythons, which are large snakes, squeeze the life out of their prey before devouring them.
Snakes: there are many snake species found all over the country. They can be seen also in savannah and forested areas of Uganda. Some of the snake species include black cobra and green snakes.
All these Uganda safari animals can be seen while on Uganda safari tour to any of the many national parks of Uganda. Game drives, gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, chimpanzee tracking, boat cruises, nature walks, hiking, and mountain climbing are some of the activities one can do while on a Uganda safari to encounter the various Uganda safari animals. Reach out to a reputable tour operator to help you put together a memorable Uganda safari.
