A Uganda Wildlife Highlight. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is the main and best place to see gorillas, and visitors can now encounter up to 12 habituated gorilla families. Visitors can also track gorillas in Gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, although the experience is much less reliable. To learn more about gorilla trekking and other safari experiences, please visit our website.
Uganda is also a great place to see chimpanzees in the wild, with several places this is possible. The best areas are Kibale Forest National Park and the Budongo Forest in southern Murchison Falls National Park. However, visitors can also see chimps in Kalinzu Forest and the Kyambura Gorge area of Queen Elizabeth National Park. And they may have a small chance of spotting unhabituated groups in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Semuliki Wildlife Reserve. Close to Entebbe, Ngamba Chimpanzee Island offers a more educational experience. While here, it is possible for guests to handle orphaned chimps that can no longer survive in the wild.
Various other primates can also be seen in Uganda, including the beautiful red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus, red colobus and the ground dwelling L’Hoest’s monkey.
Aside from the primates, Uganda is a superb birding destination, with over 1000 species recorded. The varied habitats, from lakes and swamps, high mountains and savanna grassland, to both montane forest and lowland rainforest, make for incredibly varied birding opportunities. The ‘Royal Mile’ in Budongo Forest ranks among the best birding hotspots in Africa.
Visitors can spot various specialist species, such as the bathawk in Murchison Falls and the African green pitta in Kibale Forest. However, Uganda is best known for its population of the rare shoebill, which inhabits several parts of the country. Especially around Lake Albert, where visitors can reach the area through Semuliki and Murchison Falls, and in the Mabamba Swamps outside Entebbe.
Traditional big game takes a backseat in Uganda in comparison to the primate viewing and birding. However, Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National Parks all offer reasonable game viewing. With animals such as hippo, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard present. The Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park attracts visitors with its tree-climbing lions.
Uganda offers incredible natural beauty and diverse wildlife species, making it one of the top safari destinations in the world. The country also offers a vibrant cultural heritage and many unique experiences that truly reflect its reputation as the Pearl of Africa. For more information about Uganda safaris, kindly contact Vibrant Holiday Safaris.
A Uganda Wildlife Highlight
