What animals are there in Uganda?

What animals are there in Uganda? Uganda is a country which is home to a variety of wildlife species which can be seen during tours across the various destinations in the country. Across the 10 national parks and 12 wildlife reserves found in Uganda among other locations, there are various wildlife species which can be seen during safaris in the country.

Some of the animals found in Uganda include the following;

1. Primates

There are various primate species which can be seen during tours around Uganda and they include the following;

• Mountain gorillas

Mountain gorillas are among the popular primates visited during safaris in Uganda and they can be seen in 2 destinations in the country.

Bwindi national park and Mgahinga national park located in south western Uganda are home to the mountain gorillas. Throughout the year, tourists can visit the gorillas in their natural habitat and spend time observing them closely.

During gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda, tourists are led into the forest by ranger guides and can also be accompanied by porters at a fee.  Encounters with the gorillas are to be done by individuals above the age of 15 years.

To engage in gorilla tours, tourists are also required to have gorilla permits which are documents which allow them to spend time with the gorillas in their natural habitat and these permits cost 800 USD per person and are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. These permits can be got through licensed tour operators.

Tourists can also encounter gorillas in Uganda during gorilla habituation experiences which take place in the Rushaga sector of Bwindi national park. During this activity, the gorillas are introduced to presence of humans in their natural habitat which is a full day experience. The amount of time spent in the presence of gorillas during the habituation experience is 4 hours.

• Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are also among the primates which can be seen during tours in different parts of Uganda.

There are different destinations around the country where the chimpanzees can be seen during tours in the country and they include Kibale forest national park, Kyambura gorge, Budongo forest and also the Kalinzu forest. The Ngamba island sanctuary is another location where tourists can see chimpanzees in Uganda.

Tourists can encounter the chimpanzees in their natural habitat during chimpanzee trekking experiences and chimpanzee habituation tours in Uganda. These activities allow tourists to observe the behavior of the chimpanzees in their habitat and spend time with them.

Individuals above the age of 12 years are allowed to engage in the chimpanzee tours in Uganda which also require obtaining permits. In Kibale forest national park, chimpanzee permits cost 250 USD for trekking and 300 USD per person for chimpanzee habituation.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge located in Queen Elizabeth national park costs100 USD per person and in Budongo forest, tourists are charged a fee of 130 USD per person to engage in chimpanzee trekking.

• Golden monkeys

Golden monkeys in Uganda can be seen during tours to Mgahinga national park which is also home to mountain gorillas.

During the search for the golden monkeys in their natural habitat, tourists follow different trails in Mgahinga national park and het to watch these primates closely. Permits for golden monkey trekking experiences cost 100 USD per person.

Tourists can also encounter the golden monkeys during golden monkey habituation experiences in Mgahinga national park.

Other primates in Uganda include black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, Debrazza monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked managabey among others.

2. Carnivores

There are also different carnivorous wildlife species which can be seen during safaris in Uganda and they include the following;

• Lions

Lions are part of the big 5 animals which can be seen in different national parks in Uganda such as Murchison falls national park, Queen Elizabeth national park and Kidepo valley national park.

During tours in Queen Elizabeth national park, tourists can see the rare tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector or take part in the lion tracking experience and also engage in game drives around the destination in search of the lions.

• Leopards

Leopards are very rare to see during safaris in Uganda due to their ability to camouflage in their surroundings.

These leopards are solitary animals and can also be seen during night game drives in destinations such as Lake Mburo national park. They can also be spotted in Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls national park and Kidepo valley national park.

• Cheetahs

Cheetahs are considered one of the fastest animals in the world and are part of the wildlife species found in Uganda.

They can be seen in destinations such as Kidepo valley national park which is located in north eastern Uganda.

3. Herbivores

Herbivores of a variety can be seen during tours around Uganda and they include the following;

• Buffalos

Buffalos are part of the big 5 and are one of the most common wildlife species to see during safaris in Uganda.

They can be seen in their herds across destinations including Lake Mburo national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park among others.

• Giraffes

Giraffes are one of the tallest animals which can be seen during safaris in Uganda and they can be spotted in destinations like Murchison falls national park where Rothschild giraffes can be seen and also in Kidepo valley national park and Lake Mburo national park.

• Antelopes

A variety of antelope species can be commonly spotted during safaris in Uganda and they include impalas, waterbucks, kudu, topi, dik dik, hartebeests, elands, bushbucks, Uganda kobs among others.

These antelopes can be found in destinations such as Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Lake Mburo national park, Queen Elizabeth national park.

• Zebras

Zebras are also part of the animals which can be seen in Uganda and they are found in Lake Mburo national park and can also be seen in Kidepo valley national park.

• Rhinos

Rhinos can also be seen in Uganda during tours to the Zziwa rhino sanctuary which is the only place where they are found in their natural habitat.

Uganda has many other animals which can be seen during safaris including Hippos, hyenas, warthogs among others.