Big Five safaris tours Uganda.
Anyone who has been to Africa can testify. Have you ever been to the wild jungles of Africa on any Uganda safari tour? What did you like about the Uganda safari? I know the beauty is undeniably the best you must have thought about. But did you know the rulers and the key decision makers of the jungles best referred to at the Big Five?
History of Big 5 animals.
The Big five animals attained their names from the hunters that found it hard to tame the big 5 wild animals. The hunters feared these big Five animals because they either you kill them or they killed them.
The Big 5 animals include: the Lion, leopard, elephant, buffaloes and Rhinoceros. Recently, the mountain gorillas were added on to the number that brought them into the big 6. They are spread all over the country.
For the mountain gorillas, in Uganda the most prominent destinations for viewing them include: Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park. The other Big five can be seen at parks like Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kidepo valley national park, lake Mburo for nocturnal lion and leopard, Semuliki national park and many other destinations that are spread all over the pearl of Africa Uganda.
The Big 5 animals
In today’s article, we draw to your attention the big 5 animals in Uganda and the recently added one the mountain gorilla that makes them Big 6.
Lion
This is the king of the jungle. The ruler of the Africa’s wilderness boosted by his confidence and mindset to take on you at any time anyway. Lion has muscular legs -with the fore limbs designed for striking, seizing and gripping, while the hind legs are best suited for pouncing.
The legs have enormous paws and retractile claws, with a dew claw that comes handy as a tooth pick. It has a powerful well-built jaw that opens wide to reveal 30 conical teeth.
The canine teeth are remarkably long and pointed- up to 8 cm, enabling it to pierce and tear into flesh. The molars are for cutting and tenderizing chunks of meat. Truly, the lion was made fashionably to hunt and rule!
Uganda wildlife safaris
While on the Ugandan safari be aware that lions love to live and hide in the savanna grasslands, shrubs and bushes obscure them and provide cover and camouflage. As lions are ambush hunters, they use this natural cover when stalking to creep as close as possible before making a final charge to catch their prey
Lion can live up to over 30yeasr in the wilderness and more in captivity but safe hands however, the recent killings and poisoning is costing the pearl of Africa. This continuously make the pride of the jungle to decline in numbers heading to extinction of lion in Uganda. However, a lot is being done to curb them from going extinct.
Did you know?
- The lions say hello by rubbing cheeks
- Lions say goodbye by tugging on each other’s stomachs with their teeth
- Lions normally walk 4 km/h, but can run up to 60 km/h
Game parks in Uganda with Lions
Lions can be spotted at Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park at the Ishasha sector for climbing lions on game drive, also found in Kidepo valley national park, the nocturnal one at Lake Mburo national park and others.
Leopard
The quick, elusive leopards are one of the most anticipated to see by the tourists while on a game drive though most of them are mostly active at night, few time they are available for viewing at the zoo (Uganda wildlife education centre) in Entebbe.
The most prominent destinations for seeing these big Five member are: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Semuliki national park and Mount Elgon National Park. They are mostly nocturnal, but you can take a nocturnal Game Drive at Queen Elizabeth Park and just might spot some. You just might spot one during an early game drive in some of the above parks.
The Big 5 in Uganda members
Elephant
Uganda has both the Savanna Elephants and the Forest Elephants which are a bit smaller and hairier than the Savanna cousins and you can find them in many of the National Parks and various settings such as the savannas and in and near forests.
Elephants of the Savanna or Forest variety can be found in all National Parks but Lake Mburo. The best places to see Elephants include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Elephants are so friendly when left alone and when not cornered, because they’re so deadly once they sense and realize some degree of insecurity in their proximity.
The female elephants are so protective of their young ones. Elephants stay in the herds just like buffaloes. Contact us for a safari to see the big 5 of which an elephant is among.
What to see in Your safari in Uganda
Buffalo
Uganda is so vast with the kind of nature available in its wilderness. Uganda not only has the Cape buffalo but also the smaller more reddish Forest Buffalos. Buffaloes are so powerful animals that even the King of the Jungle for once cannot handle hunting it down alone.
They are powerful animals and it is no wonders that they were included in the Big Five list. They are simply powerful and awesome animals to behold.
Buffaloes can be found in the several parks of Uganda that include: Lake Mburo Park, Murchison Falls Park, Queen Elizabeth Park and Kidepo Valley Park. Book your safari today with Baboon Adventure safaris.
Rhino
Uganda is home to thousands of Rhinos, both black and white but they are faced by so many threats that civil wars, poaching fueled by the demand for Rhino horns for medicinal purposes in the East and dagger horns in places such as Yemen. Today, Rhinos can be spotted at the only place in Uganda purposely designed to safeguard the there is only Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where there is an active Rhino rehabilitation program. A large reserve that allows the Rhinos to roam in the wild and yet in safety. You can spot them or track them at Ziwa rhino sanctuary which is a best spot for stop overs while enroute to Murchison falls national park.
The Big sixth animal.
Mountain gorilla
Found in the rich thick forested areas of the either Bwindi impenetrable or Mgahinga gorilla national park. This is the home to the Uganda’s most wanted unique tourism product. An encounter with the mountain gorillas makes the whole safari complete.
You wouldn’t risk missing to reach to them in their natural habitats. Mountain gorillas are the most endangered of all primates or ape family members. The unusual experience realized in an experiential encounter with the mountain gorillas is so indescribable.
Mountain gorillas are only found in three countries that include: Uganda at Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park for mountain gorillas and Kahuzi Biega for Eastern lowland gorillas both in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Big Five members are also found at least in maximum percentage of African safaris tours. Big 5 in your African safari are found in Kenya’s Masai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti and Rwanda’s Akagera national conservation reserves and park.
Interested in doing a big five safari tour Africa Uganda? Contact us at Baboon adventure safaris for a quotation.
Recommended safari tours.
1 4 Day Kidepo park Wildlife Safari
2 7 Day best of Tanzania northern Circuit Safari
3 12 Day Best of Uganda Safari