The Big Five Safari Animals in Uganda
Uganda has got a lot to offer, including the big five safari animals which can be seen on a safari to Uganda in Murchison Falls National park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Seeing the big five animals on a safari in Uganda is such a great experience. You will go rhino trekking at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, watch elephants walk in front of your safari vehicle on a sunrise or sunset safari game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National park and Queen Elizabeth National park. The elephant is one of the big five safari animals in Uganda and Africa in general and will be discussed below
What are the big five animals in Uganda?
The big five safari animals are the Cape Buffalo, African Elephant, African Leopard, African Lions and finally the Rhinoceros. They are referred to as the ‘Big five’ by the trophy hunters because they were the dangerous and hard to hunt animals.
However, the use of that term has changed now. On a safari to Uganda, it is more used as the 5 must see animals on safari. You come across this term many times while on safari game drives in national parks in Uganda.
Below is some information about each Big five safari animal
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The African Lion
The African Lion, one of the big five safari animals in Uganda are the most sought after animal on safari and are synonymous with Africa. In Uganda, they be seen in Queen Elizabeth National park and Kidepo National park. These lions are big cats and live in prides led by the female. They have been nick named ‘The King of the Jungle’ although in Africa, their habitat is Savannah and not the jungle. To see them in Queen Elizabeth National, visitors go on a morning or night game drive, lion tracking and in Ishasha sector, the southern part of the park, lions are seen in trees. They climb comfortable trees to escape heat
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The African Elephant
The African Elephant, the biggest land mammal is one of the most loved African animals. In Uganda, there are two types of African elephants; the Savannah African elephant which is common and is easily seen on safari game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National park and Queen Elizabeth National park. The other type is the African forest elephant which is rarely seen in Uganda but lives in Kibale Forest National park and Bwindi Impenetrable National park.
African elephants are one of the big five safari animals because they are deadly and very dangerous.
They are very intelligent, have intense emotions and are great at solving problems. They display deep social bonds all the time. One of the highly sought after animals on a safari to Uganda.
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The African Cape Buffalo
The African Cape Buffalo is one of the commonly seen safari animals in Uganda. It is also one of the most dangerous and animals to come across. They are seen during morning, evening and night game drives while on a safari to Uganda and other African countries.
They can charge at almost 35mph. The African Cape Buffalo almost has no predators apart from the real brave and hungry lions and sometimes the Nile Crocodiles.
Find the African Cape Buffalo in Kidepo Valley National park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Kibale National park, Lake Mburo National park among others
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The Rhino
One cannot mention the big five safari animals and not talk about The Rhino. It is the 2nd biggest large land animal. There are two types of rhinos, the black and white rhino. They have the same color but the white rhino has a wider mouth than the black rhino. The white rhino is also bigger than the black rhino. Uganda is home to only The White Rhino found only a Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Uganda Wildlife Education centre. A traveller on a safari to Uganda can see a rhinos on a walking rhino trekking safari en route to Murchison Falls National park. The rhinos at Ziwa rhino Sanctuary are protected by armed guards, 24/7
Unfortunately, the rhino is one of the most threatened animals of the big five safari animals. It is poached for its rhino horn which is sold in Vietnam and China. This is likely to make the rhino extinct.
5: The African Leopard
The Leopard is one of the big five safari animals because it is elusive and the hardest to see. They are widespread and are really good at camouflaging. Mastered the art of stalking their prey. They are so powerful that they can pull their prey/kill up into the tree.
Most widely spread big five safari animal but seeing one in the wild is rare and feels exciting seeing one. On lucky game drives in Murchison Falls National park and Queen Elizabeth National park, one can spot a leopard lazy-ing in a tree or walking in the savannah bushes. You can also see some leopards in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah national park.
Best National parks to see The Big Five Safari Animals in Uganda
The best national parks to see the big five safari animals in Uganda are Murchison Falls National park which is the biggest conservation area in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National park, Kidepo Valley National park etc. Animals to see here are leopard, Cape buffalo, lions and elephants. You can see white rhinos on rhino walking safari at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Best time to see the big five safari animals in Uganda.
Travellers can visit Uganda throughout the year due to its beautiful tropical climate. On a safari in Uganda, you can see the big five safari animals anytime you are on safari game drives or boat safaris.
Suggested itineraries that include the Big Five safari animals
3 days Luxury wildlife safari to Murchison falls
5 Day Uganda wildlife road trip to Kidepo Valley National Park
8 day Exclusive wildlife safari Uganda
9 Day Uganda Exclusive Fly-in safari
9 day Uganda Family safari
10 day Exclusive luxury safari Uganda
10 Days Gorillas, Chimps & Lions
11 Day Uganda gorilla and wildlife safari
12 Days Midrange Pearl of Africa Tour
14 days best of Uganda wildlife
18 Days Uganda Gorillas and Wildlife safari- Budget Safari