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Wildlife In Uganda

Uganda has a lot of fascinating wildlife animals including the Great Apes 

Wildlife In Uganda 

Uganda is so far the best place that possesses the savannah and forest national parks. The mountain gorillas and the chimpanzees are the top things so far that most clients yearn for while in Uganda. However, there are also some other smaller primates that can be seen as well such as the patas monkeys, the red-tailed monkeys, I ‘Hoests monkey, golden monkey, Ugandan red colobus, and so on.

Apart from the mountain gorilla and the chimpanzee trekking activities, Uganda also provides the great savannah safaris whereby you get a chance to glance at the big five animals and other animals such as the hippos, the antelopes, the warthogs, and so on. 

Uganda has got a number of wildlife animals and these include; mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, big cats, the African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Crocodiles, Antelopes, the African Buffalo, Birds, Spotted Hyena, Nubian Giraffes, Warthogs, Reptiles and so many others.

Top Animals in Uganda that you can see on a safari

Mountain Gorillas

Tracking mountain gorillas in Uganda is done in mainly two national parks that is Bwindi impenetrable national forest and mgahinga national park. This activity is so far the most attractive and commonly liked activity by most tourists. During this activity, clients enjoy the experience of coming closer to the mountain gorillas in their natural habitants hence giving them a memorable experience of their trip.

The trekking in Uganda starts very early in the morning at 8 am with a briefing at the park headquarters by your trained guide on the rules and the regulations of trekking gorillas. After the briefing, you are divided into groups of 8 who will then enter into the jungle to start the trekking. The trekking will last for 1 to 8 hours depending on where the gorilla families are located or the have gone to graze.

As soon as you get the gorillas, you are given over one hour to stay with them as you are having fun and taking photos.

Mountain Gorilla
Mountain Gorilla

Characteristics

Found In

  • Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
  • Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

 

Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees at a big percentage resemble the mountain gorillas. This is because they are all called apes and they are primates at the same time. These two animals almost to a big percentage have got the same characteristics.

The characteristics of chimpanzees includes the shape that has got arms which extent beyond the knees, opposable thumbs, and a prominent mouth. The skin on the face, ears, palms, and soles of the feet is bare and the rest of the body is covered with brown to black hair.

In Uganda, chimpanzees are found in kibale national park in the western part of Uganda. The trekking of chimpanzees in this park starts at 8 am with a briefing at the park headquarters with the help of your trained guide who gives you   rules and the regulations of trekking gorillas. After the briefing, you are divided into groups of 8 who will then enter into the jungle to start the trekking. The trekking will last for 1 to 8 hours depending on where the chimpanzee families are located or the have gone to graze.

As soon as you get the chimpanzees, you are given over one hour to stay with them as you are having fun and taking photos.

Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee

Characteristics

Found In

  • Kibale Forest National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park

 

Golden monkeys

The golden monkeys are believed to be living in a social group of up to 30 individuals and these are highly recognized animals with a golden orange patch on their upper flanks and the back. The golden monkeys are known to be the subspecies of the blue monkeys and they also look exactly like these blue monkeys. These primates are usually identified to be with a golden orange patch on the upper flanks and the back

Golden Monkey
Golden Monkey

Characteristics

Found In

  • Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

 

Big cats

Uganda is so far among the leading countries with the biggest number of big cats. These big cats include lions, leopards, cheaters, and so on. While in the park, you will get to see a number of these big cats in the savannah grasslands

Tree Climbing Lion
Tree Climbing Lion

Characteristics

Found In

  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Lake Mburo National Park
  • Semuliki Valley National Park

 

African Elephants

The pearl of Africa is so far the leading country with the largest number of walking animals  on Earth   known as the An African elephant which are over 5000. For one to recognize these animals, you can have a glance at their trunks which is used to do most of its activities such as collecting food and communication. You can also look at their ears which are used to radiate the excess heat.

African Elephant
African Elephant

Characteristics

Found In

  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Kibale Forest National Park.

 

Hippopotamus

These are large semi aquatic mammals with greyish muddy and brown skin. These mammals are largely found in Africa and they are seen mostly when doing a morning and afternoon boat cruise. You can also see these animals when they are in a flock during the drier seasons.

Apart from the elephants, these hippos are also considered to be the second largest mammals.

Hippotamus
Hippopotamus

Characteristics

Found In

  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Lake Mburo National Park
  • Semuliki Wildlife Reserve

 

Crocodiles

Crocodiles in Uganda can be seen from the Nile system which is a home area for these animals specifically.

However, Murchison falls national park is a park where one can find the largest number of crocodiles more so when doing boat cruise. You can find most of them in the water and some on the river banks relaxing and getting warmth.

Crocodile
Crocodile

Characteristics

Found In

  • Murchison Falls National Park.
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  • Lake Mburo National Park.
  • Kidepo Vallay National Park.
  • Semuliki Valley National Park.

 

Antelopes

The antelopes in Africa can be seen in the savannah grass lands of the parks grazing during the morning game drives and the evening game drives. However, they can also be seen in a big number during the dry season when they are on the water bodies taking water. Uganda has got over 29 species of antelopes divided in different national parks in Africa.

Uganda Kob
Uganda Kob

Characteristics

Found In

  • Kidepo Valley National Park
  • semiliki National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Lake Mburo National Park

 

African buffalo

This is a large sub Saharan African bovine but not an ancestor of domestic cattle. Its unpredictable temperament may have been part of the reason that It has never been domesticated. The African Buffalo is one of the  large animals that is usually found in the savanna and the smaller herds in the forest.

It is also one of the most dangerous animals in the savannah parks most especially if attacked and wounded and this comes  to the reason as to why it is among the big five animals.

Buffalo
Buffalo

Characteristics

  • It has got horns that are smaller and lighter making it very different from other animals.
  • It has also got large ears which are filled with hair and hang below the horns.
  • They are very large animals.

 

Found In

  • Murchison Falls National Park.
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park.
  • Lake Mburo National Park.
  • Kidepo Valley National Park.

Birds

The pearl of Africa is so far the leading country with very nice sights in the national parks where bird lovers can go to do their activity of birdwatching. The birds Uganda can be seen in almost all the national parks such as Murchison falls, queen Elizabeth, lake Mburo, and so many others.

The best season to see the birds in Uganda is during the wet season when the air in the space and the environment is clear giving a great view of the birds to the clients. It also helps the clients to take clear photos, see clearly the birds without disturbance of the direct sunlight.

Shoebill
Shoebill

Characteristics

Found In

  • Rwenzori Mountains National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Mwamba Swamp
  • Kidepo Valley National Park
  • Semuliki National Park
  • Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Kibale Forest National Park
  • Lake Mburo National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park

 

Spotted hyena

This spotted hyena has a laugh that it always makes which acts as the communication to others to show them that it is time for food. This sound is usually a very loud one to an extent that it can be heard at a further distance by the fellows.

These animals are very intelligent and skilled to an extent that they have strong jaws and the toes which help them to grab their prey and tear it into pieces ready to be eaten.

The hyenas are located mostly in the woodland, savannah and the desert. The people living around this area are faced by the problem of these animals attacking them and eating them hence leading to displacement of people from their original homes.

Spotted Hyena
Spotted Hyena

Characteristics

Found In

  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Kidepo Valley National Park

 

Nubian Giraffes

The Nubian Giraffe is  so confusing up to now to the early explores who had before explained it as a cross between a camel and a leopard. Giraffes are the tallest land mammals which use their necks to collect food from wherever it may be on the tree branches. The swaying  of the giraffe always comes after it moving both of the legs  simultaneously  followed by  the left legs.

The giraffes have got their necks which contain vertebrates more so like those of the human beings.

The Nubian giraffes have got tails which are made of brocelets, fly swatters threads used in sewing and the beads at the same time.

Giraffe
Giraffe

Characteristics

Found In

  • Murchison Falls National Park.
  • Lake Mburo National Park.
  • Kidepo Valley National park.
  • Pian up Wildlife Reserve.

 

Warthogs 

These are large, flat headed animals with warts on their heads which protects them from bumps. The animals belong to the pigs families.  They have got very tiny long and skinny legs which help them to kneel down and get what to eat. They are light grey and brown in color with sparse black hair all the body. Warthogs are not strong enough to dig up their holes or to make their habitants where to sleep at night, so what they do, they sleep in the holes that they find already dug by other animals in the bush.

These animals are easily identified in Uganda’s savannah National Parks. They have a habit of stealing and they are always near human beings, they like to be near places where people cook from so that they collect what to eat. Therefore clients are advised to be careful with their staff more so food in the campsites because these animals can steal it.

Warthog
Warthog

Characteristics

Found In

  • Lake Mburo National Park
  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Kidepo Valley National Park

 

Reptiles

We are in love with the equatorial climate of Uganda because it has supported the existence of the different reptiles and it has provided a habitant to them. The first reptile is the Nike crocodile which  can be  seen resting on the river banks to get warmth and grab the small insects for their food.

This crocodiles once existed in a large number but it came to happen when it was threated by the increasing people who hunt for its meat and its nice leather.

However there are other reptiles and these include; the chameleon, snakes and so on.

Agama Lizzard
Agama Lizzard

 

Characteristics

  • They have got one eye that keeps on moving around 360 degrees to catch the insects
  • They also have their long tongues that contain something like sap that helps them to also get insects from a further distance.
  • Reptiles are vertebrates.
  • They are cold-blooded.
  • They produce shelled eggs and bear live ones.
  • They have got at least one lung.

 

Found In

  • Murchison Falls National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Lake Mburo National Park.
  • Rwenzori Mountain National Park.
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