Game Drives in Uganda
Game drives in Uganda: The name Game drive stands on two words: “game” and “drive.” “Game” means animals that are not domesticated, called wildlife and the word “drive” refers to a drive with a safari vehicle. Fact: Game drives in Uganda are the second-most-done activity and a very vibrant and pleasant experience for those who wish to take part.
It also offers prime savannah wildlife viewing, with top spots including Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Semiliki National Park. This national park often features Big four sighting ‘’lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo.
Moreover, game drives in Uganda are best done during the dry season, “June to September and December to February,” when a range of animals gather at water sources to quench their thirst.
Truly, Uganda is blessed with 10 national parks and five of these game parks are rich with wildlife, as mentioned above. And each of these game parks has an iconic wildlife attraction: game driving in the park. The fees entitled for these 5 national parks are all standard.
So, everyone who enters the park is recommended to take a park ranger guide along for a game drive for safety. All five national parks are entitled to charge USD 40 per person for foreign non-residents, USD 30 per person for foreign residents, and USD 7 per person for East African citizens as park entrance fees.
Note: An armed ranger guide on a game drive goes at 20USD per vehicle in use.
Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is known as the largest and oldest game park in Uganda, lying in the northwestern part of Uganda at the edge of Albertine western Rift Valley. It is also a prime wildlife safari destination in the country. However, Murchison Falls National Park has a magical distinction from other parts and the River Nile that flows through the park.
The Nile River stands as Africa’s longest River and there is a point of narrow gorge where the waters pass through, causing a forceful sound of the river and thus the most powerful waterfalls in the world.
Initially, it was first called Kabalega National Park and later was named Murchison Falls by Sir Samuel Baker on his visit to the park in 1864, naming the park after Sir Roderick Murchison, who was the Britain’s royal Geographical Society president.
Sadly, the park suffered animal killings during the reign of President Iddi Amin and poaching activity by the community, along with the Kony wars. More facts: Murchison Falls National Park offers a magical wildlife safari with a variety of experiences, including African wildlife, birdlife, primates and River Nile.
Murchison Falls National Park boasts more than 76 species of mammals, including the Big four game – Lion, leopards, buffaloes and savannah elephants. Other animals in the park include the Rothschild giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, and various different antelope species, like the oribis, Uganda kobs, Jackson hartebeest, waterbucks, bushbucks, and warthogs.
Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park take place in the northern part of the park since the park is divided into 2 sections. That is the Southern bank and the Northern bank has most of the animals; thus, it is the best game drive section in the park.
The most effective game drive activity covers about 2 to 3 hours, depending on the availability of the animals to see in the morning when they are on the hunt for the day or in the evening as they go to rest. Another place to go for game viewing is the delta area. Game drives can also be adventured while on the boat cruise, as you might see animals like buffaloes and elephants. Other water species to see include hippos and crocodiles.
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s best wildlife safari because it is habitat to unique tree-climbing lions. It is found in the Southwestern Uganda region. There are two major areas for game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park: the Kasenyi area and the Ishasha sector. Although wildlife viewing activities take place in the northeast of the park in the Kasenyi area.
The commonly spotted animals include the Buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, Kobs, warthogs, and the carnivorous animals that are hardly spotted include the leopards, lion and hyenas.
The Ishasha sector also offers magical game drive experiences, though it is mainly known for tree-climbing lions, which spend their day resting on fig trees. Other animals include the hippos, buffalos, elephants, Topis and other species of antelopes, among others.
Game drives in Kidepo National Park,
Kidepo National Park was recognised the best wildlife destination in Africa by CNN, located in north Eastern part of Uganda in Kaabong district. Being untouched wilderness, it hosts a great number of animals and birds, which can easily be spotted on a game drive.
On the game drive, you’re recommended to move with a park ranger guide for safety and to give the history behind the park. The game drive is Kidepo are best done in the dry season, when grass is short and trails are passible.
This national park has two main areas of game drive in Kidepo National Park, including Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley. Narus Valley attracts a large population of animals, including herds of Buffaloes, Zebras, Bush duiker ,bush pigs,Ostrich,Jackal and bushbuck and giraffes, among others.
The carnivore animals are easily spotted in Narus Valley, including the lion, leopard and the rare cheetah. The Narus River is the main source of water that supports animals in the park. You can do short big game in Kidepo Valley.
Taking the long-hour driver to Kanangorok hot springs rewards visitors with beautiful nature and the sandy bed of the Kidepo River to enter an expansive plain lined by the Morungule mountain range. Other rare species to see in Kidepo are Ostriches and Secretary birds. The most effective times for game drives in Kidepo National Park are 6am and 4pm; it’s best to start the game drive then.
Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park contains a range of wildlife for game drives and is the only park that sits close to Kampala, Uganda’s capital. The park stuns with different tracks, including the Zebra tracks, the Kazuma track and the Kigambira loop.
The Zebra track: This offers an iconic view of zebras and other antelope species, such as reedbucks and bushbucks. This track joins the Ruroko track through the wetlands and thick acacia woodlands. The Ruroko tracks give the opportunity to witness the Klipspringer.
The Kazuma track leads through grassland dotted with wood species where the black-bellied bustards are spotted. The climb to Kazuma hill offers endless views of the park.
The Kigambira loop connects through the woods and spaced thicket which attracts bushbucks and duikers.
Lakeside track also allows visitors to watch the waterlogged areas and swamps around lake Mburo.
Game drive in Semiliki National Park
Semiliki National Park is located in Western Uganda, famous for the Sempaya Hot Springs, offers lowland tropical rainforest in East Africa, and stands as a birder’s haven with over 440species. The park is also home to 9 primate species, such as Chimpanzees, black and white colobus and red-tailed monkeys, among others.
Semiliki National Park offers the best night game drive, where many nocturnal animals can be spotted. Day game drives are rewarding. The park has 3 tracks that cross through the savannah grassland of Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Forest animals to spot include the elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, crocodiles, bush babies and warthogs.
In conclusion, Game drive in Uganda are best done in the morning and evening hours and take 3 to 4 hours a day, depending on the availability of the animals. During the dry season, game drive tracks are passable and animals are easily spotted.
Unlike in the rainy seasons, animals are always in hiding areas in search of food and water. Thus, the dry season is the best recommended time to do game drives in Uganda/the Pearl of Africa.
