What animal is Uganda famous for? – All you need to know about wildlife in Uganda – what animals is Uganda known for?

What animal is Uganda famous for? – Mountain gorillas are the most thought of by many travelers to Uganda. The massive giants live in the country’s tropical rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, both located in the southwestern corner of the country. Mountain gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s most profound wildlife encounter that will leave you in absolute wonder of the resemblance – you will watch mountain gorillas in the wild as they mimic human behaviors.

On top of the famous Mountain Gorillas, the savannah grasslands, wetlands, and forested parks of Uganda make it one of the most ecologically rich countries on the planet and one of the best safari destinations in Africa.

Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari Bwindi

Wildlife adventure tour in Uganda – What animal is Uganda famous for?

Wildlife tours in the pearl of Africa are superb with guaranteed sightseeing of big game in major safari destinations. While on safaris in Uganda, wildlife spotting is a shouldn’t miss activity as it grants opportunities to learn about different wildlife and their ecological importance.

Wildlife tours in Uganda are usually done in National Park like Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park among others. wildlife adventure tours are can be done on game drives, where you get into a safari vehicle and your driver guide will drive you through different trails in the national park as you enjoy the beautiful view of different vegetation and a combination of different wild animals including the famous African big five animals and several bird species. The safaris are usually one to think about as you will get a thrilling experience watching a plethora of wildlife resident in different national parks.

All you need to know about wildlife in Uganda – What animal is Uganda famous for?

If you are in love with wildlife, Uganda is a superb safari destination to consider while planning your adventure vacation. If you are wondering – What animal is Uganda famous for? Uganda is famous for the most endangered mountain gorillas that reside in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in western Uganda.

Wildlife in Uganda is beyond just mountain gorillas, the country hosts up to 345 species of mammals, along with 1,020 species of bird (around half of the total number found in Africa), 142 species of reptile, 86 species of amphibian, 501 species of fish and 1,242 species of butterfly.

The commonly spotted wildlife in Uganda includes; Lion, Leopards, African wildcats, cheetahs, hyena, Buffalos, elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Rhino, Zebra, Antelope, Uganda Kob and many more. Reptiles – Crocodiles, pythons, snakes, monitor lizards, chameleons.

Top wildlife to spot on safaris in Uganda – what to look out for while on wildlife safaris in Uganda

While on wildlife safaris in the country’s top safari destinations, many tourists look out for the top wildlife – African Big Five (lion, leopard, elephants, buffalo and rhino)

African lion

African Lion (Panthera leo) – wildlife in Uganda

An African lion is the largest and most imposing African carnivore. The lion is remarkably the most sociable of the large cats which live in loose structured prides typically of about five to fifteen animals. In different cultures, lions have different significant importance and in Uganda, they enjoy the reputation of being the kings of the beasts, and are popular symbols of royalty, strength and bravery.

The dominant male often kicks the males out of the group when they are between 3 and 4 years old, but after a few years, usually between 7 and 10, these mature lions will try to battle to defeat a group. However, the females stay in one area, and their moms typically move to the neighboring prides.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari

Where to see lions in Uganda

Uganda is at great pleasure to have lions in her National Park like Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. While on wildlife safaris in these enchanting safari parks, you will have chances of spotting the jungle giants. For those yearning to have a unique lion sightseeing experience, Queen Elizabeth’s Ishasha sector is home to the tree climbing lions. Here, you will enjoy watching these big cats rest on top of the tree branches waiting to pounce on the Uganda kob below.

African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) – wildlife in Uganda

African Elephant is the world’s largest land mammal and perhaps the most enduring symbol of nature’s grace and fragility. An African elephant is also one of the most intelligent and entertaining to watch. A fully grown male African elephant has an average weight of 6300 kilos, however the smallest adult male rarely dips 4000 kilos that twice more than the average family SUV. The female elephants however on normal conditions weigh just over a half of the weight of the male.

Uganda Classic Safari Experience

Where to see Elephants in Uganda

Tusks are used by African elephants as both tools and weapons. African elephants can be seen in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, however for better sightings, a boat safari to the Nile in Murchison and Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park gives exceptional possibilities to see these massive creatures.

African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) – wildlife in Uganda

An African Buffalo is an ox species that is adaptable and a widespread creature that lives in large herds in the savanna and also in smaller herds in the forested areas. An African buffalo is reportedly the most dangerous of all African game species most especially when it is wounded or solitary, thus its reputation manifests for being recognized as Big five worldwide.

African buffalo live in areas of Africa that are typically associated with an abundance of tall, sweet grasses, enough of surface water, mud baths, and enough shrubs and trees for cover, such as woods, riverine valleys, marshlands, sub-Tropical savanna, and ecotones of broadleaf montane forests. However, broad plain grasslands without wooded cover are something that African buffalos tend to avoid. They form two fundamental types of mixed herds, one with mixed-sex and the other with mixed-age, and are surprisingly gregarious animals that assemble in herds of anywhere from a few to over a thousand buffaloes.

Where to see African Buffalo (Cape buffalo) – Wildlife in Uganda

Although buffalos may be seen in practically all of Uganda’s national parks, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls offer the best chances to view a cross between the red buffalo of west Africa and the savanna buffalo of east Africa.

Leopard (Panthera pardus) – wildlife in Uganda

The leopard is the most prevalent of Africa’s huge felines and frequently coexists with humans; nonetheless, due to its solitary, reclusive character, it is rarely seen. The leopard is an exceptionally adaptive predator, as indicated by its ecological and ethological characteristics.

The ability of leopards to adapt to changes in prey species, hunting conditions, carnivore competition, vegetation patterns, and human activities sets them apart from other large wild animals and has allowed them to thrive in modern Africa. Leopard sightings are more frequent outside of protected areas, setting them apart from other carnivore species in Uganda. Leopards hunt with power and stealth, frequently getting within 5 meters of their prey before pounces, and frequently store their meal on a tree to keep it out of the reach of large predators.

leopards in Uganda

Where to see leopards in Uganda – What animal is Uganda famous for?

In Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Mt Elgon National Park, and Toro- Semuliki Wildlife Reserve are the parks where leopards are most frequently observed.

Rhinoceros – wildlife in Uganda

A Rhino is a large herbivorous mammal that is commonly identified by their horned snouts. Rhinoceros have got massive bodies that can be internationally recognized with stumpy legs and either one or two dermal horns. The horns of different rhino species can be short or not at all obvious. African white rhinos and Asian greater one-horned rhinos are among the largest and most prevalent species. Rhinos are widely renowned for their poor eyesight, nevertheless have got a well-developed sense of smelling and hearing.

Since rhino horns are allegedly utilized in folk medicine for their reputed therapeutic virtues, rhinos in Uganda have been hunted to almost complete extinction. The rhino horns are frequently crushed up and utilized in Chinese medicine, however they are occasionally sold as trophies or ornaments as well. The horns are thought to be a cure-all for fever, hangovers, and aphrodisiacs.

Rhino

Where to see rhinos in Uganda

The Black and White Rhinoceros are the most common in Uganda, and they can be found in the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is overseen by the watchful and protective Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Here, over 24 rhinos are protected.

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