Why is Uganda the Perfect Destination for a Wildlife Adventure
Why is Uganda the perfect destination for a wildlife adventure? Definitely Yes, because Uganda is among the top travel destinations with more varied and abundant tourist attractions than any other country in Africa, such as breathtaking scenery, wildlife species, rivers, lakes, mountains, and a rich cultural heritage. It is considered one of the luckiest nations in the world to host the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, the tropical and subtropical forests of south-western Uganda in the lush jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
A visit to Uganda offers the chance to witness a variety of other animal species in many national parks, including Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park, to name just a few, in addition to the critically endangered mountain gorillas. There is a variety of animal species to see, including Buffaloes, Giraffes, Lions, Leopards, Zebras, Impalas, Hyenas, Rhinos, Waterbucks, Warthogs, Cheetahs, Elands, and more.
Furthermore, with over 1068 distinct bird species, Uganda is one of the best places in Africa to go birdwatching. These species include the critically endangered Shoebill, the endemic Fox’s Weaver, the uncommon Papyrus Gonolek, the Giant Kingfisher, the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, the Great Blue Turaco, the Shelly’s Crimsonwing in Mgahinga National Park, and the Green-breasted Pitta.
Is Uganda the perfect destination for wildlife tours?
Yes, Uganda has an array of exciting tourist attractions, including game drives, birdwatching, cultural history, flora, and fauna, making it an essential destination.
Queen Elizabeth National Park and Uganda’s Wildlife Heritage
In addition to having a wide variety of wildlife, this park is well known for its lion tracking, particularly with regard to the breathtaking tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, which attract a lot of visitors from around the globe. The activity of “lion tracking” is observing and studying the habits of lions up close. Researchers that track lions do so by using radiation locators and radio collars on the animals. Only in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kasenyi grasslands is lion tracking practiced. Four people participate in this activity, and one of them needs to have a valid lion permit, which costs UGX10,000 for citizens of East Africa, $100 for foreign non-residents, and UGX10,000 for foreign residents.
Where can i see Lions in Uganda?
There are four national parks in Uganda where one can readily spot lions and these include Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is home to the rare tree-climbing lions, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park; and Lake Mburo National Park. Additionally, they offer the best experience of a true African identity: power, strength, courage and leadership, hence making Uganda the Perfect Destination for a Wildlife
Enjoy the endangered mountain gorillas as one of Uganda’s Wildlife Heritage
Uganda is one of the fortunate few nations on Earth that is home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas, which are found in the jungles of south-western Uganda, specifically in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda’s volcanoes National Park are two other locations in the world—particularly in Africa—where you can encounter mountain gorillas.
In order to search for these mountain gorillas, hikers are divided into groups of eight and given training at the park headquarters before being led into the bush by a ranger guide. In comparison to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which has 19 habituated gorilla families open for trekking and 2 for habituation, Mgahinga Gorilla Park only has one habituated gorilla family, meaning that only 8 people can hike mountain gorillas there. The four tracking sectors of Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo are where you can reach all of them. People above the age of 15 who wish to go gorilla trekking must be clear of contagious illnesses such the flu, diarrhoea, and cough.
A permit costs $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, UGX 300,000 for East African citizens, and $500 for the rest of Africa. Gorilla trekking takes one hour. With a gorilla habituation permit costing $2,000, you can spend up to four hours with mountain gorillas. In Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, gorilla habituation takes place in the Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors.
Savannah game drives
Travelling across the expansive savannah plains in a cosy 4×4 safari vehicle is a delightful experience in Uganda. Lake Mburo Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and others are Uganda’s four savannah parks offering spectacular wildlife drives. Uganda Wildlife Authority, the organisation in charge of tourism in Uganda, is in charge of managing these national parks.
In Uganda’s national parks, game drives are likely to bring you close to creatures like Buffaloes, Lions, Elephants, Leopards, African Civets, Spotted Hyena, Otters, Giraffes, Hippos, Genet Cats, Oribi, Impalas, Reed bucks, Zebras, Oryx, Kudu, Eland, Jackson Hartebeest, Bat-eared Fox, Jackals, Mangoose, Impalas, Sitatunga, Uganda Kobs, Water bucks, Bush pigs, Dik-dik, and Klipringer, among others.
Top birdwatching sites to in Uganda
With more than 1066 bird species on its checklist, Uganda is one of the best places in Africa to go birdwatching. These bird species are evenly distributed throughout the nation, especially in game parks like Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori National Park, Kibale National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Semliki National Park. Other well-known locations for birdwatching include Mabira Forest Reserve and Mabamba Wetland.
Bird species to see in Uganda
These bird species include Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Blue-throated Roller, the rare Shoebill, African Pied- wagtail, Dusky Crimsonwing, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Regal Sunbird, Montane Oriole, Black Bee-eater, African Pitta, Yellow-spotted Nicator, African Citril, , African Jacana, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Dusky Flycatcher, African Black-headed Oriole, Black and White Shrike Flycatcher, Brown-chested Alethe, Grauer’s Broadbill (African Green Broadbill), Black Billed Turaco, Collared Appalis, Little Greenbul, Papyrus Gonolek, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Cameroon Sombre GreenGreenbul, White-tailed Blue fly, White headed Saw Wing, Shelly’s Crimsonwing, Short-tailed Warbler Newmann’s warbler, Red-faced Barbet, Nahan’s Francolin and Handsome Spurfowl ( Francolin) among others.
Uganda’s Culture
Immerse yourself in the cultural treasures of Africa’s gem, which is home to over 50 diverse ethnic groups rich in traditions, dialects, rituals, and cuisine. These various cultures are found throughout the central, northern, and western areas of Uganda; however, the most well-known ones are the Mgahinga National Park, the Batwa in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and the Karamajongs and Ik in northeastern Uganda. Take in the local markets, participate in festivals honouring our rich history, and take in the traditional music and dancing. During your wildlife tours, you can incorporate all of these.
Best time to go Uganda wildlife tours
Though you may visit Uganda throughout the year, the two dry seasons—June to August and December to February—are the ideal times to go. The roads that lead to the parks are passable, the foliage is sparse, providing clear views of the animals and opportunities for photography, the weather is pleasant with little to no rainfall, and the trekking paths and tracks are dry rather than muddy and slippery.