The Big 5

Wondering what the ” Uganda Big 5″ means, Vibrant Holiday Safaris will give you more insight on what it is. Uganda is a landlocked East African country, lying along the equator, bordering Kenya in the East, Tanzania in the South, Rwanda in the South West, Democratic Republic of Congo in the East and to the North, it is bordered by South Sudan. It is considered a hotspot for biodiversity, sheltering over 345 species of mammals which have been recorded in the country, 1,020 species of bird making half of the total number found in the world,142 species of reptiles, amphibians and butterflies. Uganda is also home to half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas found in its famous National parks, Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National parks.

The Big 5 are among the mammals found in Uganda and you should include them on your list while on a safari in Uganda. The Big Five animals are the most dangerous and hardest to hunt among hunters and they include; Buffalo, African Elephants, Lions, Leopards, and Rhinoceros. The most abundantly present in
Uganda are the Elephants and Buffaloes because the other three are endangered and their population is declining overwhelmingly. The African Big Five are all present in Uganda and are found in all the Savannah National parks and can be seen while on a game safari to Murchison falls National Park, Kidepo National park, Queen Elizabeth National park and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. There have been a number of efforts that have been taken in with support from Uganda wildlife Authority, donations from good Wishers, and the different stakeholders in the tours and travel industry to immensely help to conserve the
remaining species. And besides the thrill of encountering the big five in Uganda during your visit makes a positive difference in the conservation of these endangered species.

The Leopard

This is a very rare animal to spot during a safari. Leopards are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park among others. Leopards are tree climbers, where they camouflage with the tree branches making it difficult to spot. With the help of a professional tour guide and a game ranger, you will be able to spot the leopards.

The African Elephant

Elephants are the largest land animals in the whole world. They are two species of Elephants that are the savannah and Forest elephants. Uganda shelters mostly the savannah elephants because of its vast Savannah grasslands found in its National parks. The other type of Forest Elephants are so rarely spotted in Uganda but can be seen in Kibale forest National park and Bwindi impenetrable National park. The savannah elephants are bigger in size and mostly move in large herds. Elephants are very deadly and dangerous. They display high levels of intelligence with great emotions and they are believed to have the biggest memory among the other Big Five animals. One can easily spot the Elephants during your game drive and they are present in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park and other wildlife reserves.

Rhinoceros

Rhinos are one of the animals that have gone extinct in Uganda. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has put conservation efforts through the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Uganda Wildlife conservation education center to ensure breeding and multiplication of the Rhinos, and these are the only two places in Uganda where you can find rhinos. They are large herbivorous mammals easily identified by their horned snort, massive body and stumpy legs. In order to complete your big five experience in Uganda, you would have to visit either Uganda’s wildlife conservation education center in Entebbe (UWEC) or Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. At Ziwa, you have a opportunity to walk through the sanctuary to track the breeding rhinos which also offers a great opportunity to transfer to Murchison Falls National Park for other Big Five animals plus other park activities.

Buffalos

A Buffalo is believed to be a cross of an ox and a cow. An African buffalo is also known as a cape buffalo, it has thick horns that protrude from each side of its head making it one of the best animals you can see on your Safari in Uganda. They are usually dark gray in color or black and lighter undersides of its body but you may not see this because they are usually very dirty from wallowing. Uganda shelters two types of buffaloes which include the small forest buffaloes commonly in Semuliki national park and the savannah buffaloes found in the Savannah grasslands of Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley and Queen Elizabeth national park, there are plenty of them in the beautiful Kidepo Valley national park where they can even find you at the verandah of your hotel, among the places.

Lions

Lions, also known as the king of the jungle dominate the Big Five animals in Uganda’s National parks especially in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ishasha sector is known for its tree climbing lions, which captivate the hearts of safari goers. Uganda’s lions exhibit unique behaviors and adaptations to the various landscapes they inhabit ranging from the Savannah grasslands to the dense woodlands which makes tracking and observing these majestic and powerful animals a thrilling experience. During a morning or afternoon game drive, one can easily spot these predators. With their golden fur, they are spotted basking in the warm sunlight, exhibiting their legal presence in the territory. You can also spot the lions hunting their prey as one of the reasons they are considered one of the big five animals, is that they
balance the ecosystem of the environment because they prey on other weak animals thus reducing their numbers. The thrill of encountering these predators in their natural habitats is an experience that you will carry on for the rest of your life.

Vibrant Holiday Safaris offers amazing, exclusive Big 5 safari experiences, contact us to offer you with a perfectly tailored itinerary.