Big 5 tours in Uganda involve exploring different destinations around the country in search of the big five animals. Uganda has many national parks where the big five among other wildlife species can be seen during safaris. The big five include lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards and rhinos which are considered the most difficult animals to hunt on foot.
Where can the big five be seen in Uganda?
The destinations in Uganda where the big five can be seen include Murchison falls national park, Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo national park and also the Zziwa rhino sanctuary.
- Murchison falls national park
Murchison falls national park located in north western Uganda is among the destinations for big five tours in the country.
The stunning landscape of Murchison falls national park including the savannah plains, acacia woodlands and riverine forests are home to elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards and also giraffes, impalas, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, hyenas, warthogs, dik dik, hippos and many others.
During the search for the big five in Murchison falls national park, visitors can engage in activities like game drives in the morning or afternoon, guided nature walks, boat rides to the bottom of the Murchison falls on the Victoria Nile, hiking to the top of the falls and viewing of the falls is also done at the destination.
- Kidepo valley national park
Kidepo valley national park is among the safari destinations located in the north eastern part of Uganda where the big five can be seen during wildlife tours around the country.
The big five wildlife species can be seen during tours around the savannah plains dotted with trees and also rock outcrop in different parts of the park. The big five animals found in Kidepo national park include elephants, lions, leopards and buffalos.
Other wildlife species found in Kidepo valley national park include zebras, warthogs, elands, giraffes, hartebeests, oribi, jackals, hyenas, impalas among other antelope species.
Kidepo valley national park offers and off the beaten track safari experiences during tours around the national park which is known for its remote nature. Safaris around the national park in search of the big five also involve exploring its wilderness with less crowds.
The big five tour in Kidepo national park can also be combined with a cultural experience to interact with tribes such as the Karamojong people, the Ik people, the Dodoth, the Tepeth among other tribes which live in the neighboring communities.
- Queen Elizabeth national park
Another destination to visit during big five tours in Uganda is Queen Elizabeth national park which is located in the south western part of the country.
Queen Elizabeth national park consists of diverse habitat like savannah plains, woodlands, forests and wetlands where wildlife species such as the big five such as elephants, lions, leopards and buffalos can be seen around the destination.
Other wildlife species which can be seen during big five safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park include hippos, warthogs, impalas, bushbucks, waterbucks, hyenas, Uganda kobs, dik dik, hartebeests among others. Primates like chimpanzees can be seen around the Kyambura gorge as well as black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons among others.
Big five tours in Queen Elizabeth national park can be done in areas such as Mweya peninsular, around the Kasenyi plains among other parts of the park. Activities which can be done at the destination include game drives, boat rides on the Kazinga channel, chimpanzee tracking, lion tracking, bird watching, nature walks and hikes and also community tours.
- Lake Mburo national park
Big five tours in Uganda can also take place around Lake Mburo national park which is located in western part of the country.
The big five animals which can be seen around Lake Mburo national park include buffalos, leopards and other wildlife species which can be seen during safaris in the destination include zebras, impalas, elands, oribi, waterbucks, hyenas, topi, hippos among others.
Activities which can be done during safaris around Lake Mburo national park include guided nature walks, day and night game drives, horse rides, boat rides on Lake Mburo, bird watching, cycling among others.
- Zziwa rhino sanctuary
Zziwa rhino sanctuary is the only destination in Uganda where rhinos can be seen during big five tours around the country.
The sanctuary is located in Nakasongola district and offers rhino tracking experiences during which tourists can search for the rhinos on foot and see them up close.
Activities which are done around Zziwa rhino sanctuary include rhino tracking, guided nature walks in the morning and also at night, wildlife viewing, Shoebill tour, canoeing and bird watching.
What is the best time to see the big five in Uganda?
The best time for seeing the big five during tours in Uganda is the two dry seasons experienced in Uganda.
The dry season in Uganda is experienced around December, January and February and also during the long dry season which takes place during the months of June, July, August and September. During the dry seasons, the big five are easier to see during the safaris because of the thin vegetation which makes wildlife species easy to see and they can also be seen around water sources.
During the dry season, the roads are easy to navigate in search for the big five animals around destinations such a Kidepo valley national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison falls national park, Lake Mburo national park and the Zziwa rhino sanctuary.
Activities to do during big five tours
Some of the activities done in Uganda during which the big five can be seen include the following;
- Game drives
Game drives are commonly done during the search for the big five in Uganda such as elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards and rhinos. The 4×4 vehicles with pop up roofs are used to explore different tracks in search of the big five.
These game drives can be done in the morning and in the afternoon in search for the big five around destinations in Uganda.
- Boat safaris
During boat rides, some of the big five including buffalos and elephants can also be spotted along the water shores during safaris in Uganda.
