Uganda wildlife safaris are with no doubt one of the most undertaken safari activity for game viewing. Uganda is a unique African tour destination with a mix of the savannah as well as forest wildlife species a reason for many Uganda safaris tours.
With the reintroduction of rhinos into the country, Uganda is host to the sought after big five wild animals that are the buffaloes, rhinos, lions, leopards and elephants. Tracking rhinos is only possible at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which is just 170 km from Kampala-Uganda’s capital.
Tree-climbing lions, primates like chimpanzees and golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, the numerous buffaloes and endemics like the dik-dik (smallest antelope) make the highlight of any Uganda wildlife safari.
Wildlife in Uganda
Ugandan animals include about 345 mammal species distributed among the savannah and forest habitats throughout the country. Mammals within the boundaries of Uganda also include the East African and West African species.
On Uganda wildlife tours, possible wildlife sightings include but are not limited to the lions, leopards, African Buffaloes, White Rhinos, elephants, zebras, dik-dik, elands, waterbucks, oribis, topis, African Bush Elephants, Rothschild Giraffes, Ugandan Kob, sitatungas, red and blue duikers, bushbucks, warthogs, Bush Pigs, Giant Forest Hogs, Common Warthogs, baboons and many more.
Carnivorous animals in Uganda include the leopards, African golden cats, different mongooses, servals, cheetahs (only in Kidepo Valley National Park) and two species of otters.
Some of the primates in Uganda include the chimpanzees, several species of Central Africa monkeys like the Ugandan Red Colobus (colobus comes from a Greek word “mutated” since these monkeys don’t have thumbs), Uganda Mangabey, and L’Hoest’s Monkey.
Other primate species include the blue monkey, black-and-white colobus, Patas Monkey and the golden monkeys – only found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.