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Uganda is a beautiful country in East Africa, filled with green forests, open savannahs, rivers, lakes, and big mountains. What makes Uganda truly special are its incredible wildlife safari experiences. From giant gorillas in the rainforest to lions sleeping in trees, the wildlife in Uganda is unlike anywhere else on Earth.
The country is committed to protecting its nature and wildlife. Many national parks are carefully managed to support conservation efforts and help local communities. This means that when you visit, your trip helps protect both animals and the environment. Unlike some other safari destinations, Uganda is peaceful and not crowded. You won’t find long lines of vehicles chasing animals. Instead, you can enjoy quiet, personal moments with wildlife — a more peaceful and authentic experience. Here, nature feels wild, raw, and real. Let’s explore the amazing animals you can see in Uganda and where to find them.
One of the biggest reasons people visit Uganda is to see the mountain gorillas. These gentle giants live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. Uganda is home to about half of the world’s mountain gorillas, making it one of the best places to see them.
To find the gorillas, you hike through thick forest with an experienced local guide. The walk can be challenging, but it is definitely worth it. Suddenly, you come face-to-face with a family of mountain gorillas — watching them eat, play, and rest. Seeing their eyes and how they move is a truly special and emotional experience. You need a permit to visit the gorillas, and the money from these permits helps protect the animals and supports the local communities living near the parks. So, when you go on a gorilla trek, you are helping both the gorillas and the people who care for them.
Another exciting animal you can meet in Uganda is the chimpanzee. These clever and playful apes are our closest relatives, sharing nearly 99% of our DNA. They live in several forests across the country, including the underground rainforest of Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the tall mahogany trees of Budongo Forest. But the best place to see them is Kibale Forest National Park, home to the largest population of chimpanzees in East Africa.
Unlike gorillas, chimpanzees are full of energy and always on the move. Tracking them is an adventure—you’ll walk through the forest, listening for loud calls and rustling leaves above you. When you finally spot them, you might see them swinging high in the trees, grooming each other, or walking across the forest floor. They are highly social and full of personality, and watching their behavior up close is both thrilling and heartwarming. A chimpanzee trek in Uganda isn’t just a walk in the forest—it’s a chance to witness the wild side of our own family tree.
Uganda is home to many kinds of Old-World monkeys, a group found mostly in Africa and Asia. Kibale Forest is alive with playful vervet monkeys and striking black-and-white colobus monkeys, known for their long, fluffy tails. You might also spot blue monkeys with soft grey fur, red-tailed monkeys with bright red tails, and red colobus monkeys with beautiful reddish coats.
Safari-goers quickly learn to watch out for clever baboons. These smart primates are famous for their nimble fingers—they can leap through an open car window, grab an unattended packed lunch, and be munching it beside the road in seconds. So, it’s wise to roll up your windows—and even the sunroof—when baboons are nearby!
But the monkeys don’t stop there. One of the most special is the golden monkey, found only in the Albertine Rift region, including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Their bright orange fur lights up the forest as they dart swiftly through the trees. Watching these monkeys is a fun and exciting way to feel the vibrant life of Uganda’s forests.
Many people dream of seeing the Big Five animals on an African safari — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino. The good news is, you can see all of them in Uganda! In Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison Falls National Park, you might see lions resting under trees or looking for food early in the morning. Elephants often walk in big groups and like to stay near water.
Buffaloes are strong animals that move in large herds. Leopards are shy and like to hide, but lucky visitors sometimes spot them in trees. Rhinos disappeared from Uganda many years ago, but now they are back and protected at Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, where they live safely in the wild. These parks also have many other animals, like warthogs, hyenas, jackals, and many kinds of antelope. A safari in Uganda is full of exciting surprises and close-up moments with wild animals.
One of the most amazing wildlife sights in Uganda is the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, a part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern region of the country. While most lions in Africa stay on the ground, the lions in Ishasha like to climb up into big fig and acacia trees. On hot days, you might see them lying on the branches, resting in the shade.
No one is completely sure why they do this — maybe to escape the heat or biting insects on the ground — but it’s a rare and special sight. Very few places in the world have lions that climb trees, so many photographers and safari lovers visit Ishasha just to see them. If you are lucky, you might spot a whole pride stretched out in the trees like house cats, but much, much bigger!
Uganda is one of the best places in the world to see the rare Rothschild’s giraffe. Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 1,250 of them — more than half of the world’s total! These giraffes are easy to recognize by their creamy legs with no markings below the knees. They move gently across the open land in small groups, looking calm and graceful.
Another great place to see them is Kidepo National Park, in the far northeast of Uganda near the South Sudan border. Kidepo is one of the wildest and most remote parks in Africa. Not many people visit, but those who do are rewarded with wide, open views, big skies, and lots of animals. Watching a group of Rothschild’s giraffes walk across the golden plains with distant mountains behind them is a quiet, magical moment you’ll never forget.
The Ugandan kob is a beautiful reddish-brown antelope that you can see in many of Uganda’s national parks. They are often found in large groups, especially in places like Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park. These animals are easy to spot as they graze in the open grasslands or leap gracefully through the tall grass. Ugandan kobs are not only lovely to watch — they play an important role in nature by helping keep the balance between plants and predators. They are also a proud national symbol. If you look at Uganda’s coat of arms, you’ll see a kob standing tall, showing its importance to the country.
Lake Mburo National Park may be smaller than other parks in Uganda, but it has a peaceful, quiet charm that makes it special. It’s the best place in the country to see zebras, with about 5,000 of them roaming the open grasslands. Their black and white stripes stand out beautifully against the green grass and acacia trees. Lake Mburo is also the closest park to Kampala, making it perfect for short trips.
What makes this park even more exciting is that you can explore it on foot or by bicycle — a fun and safe way to see animals up close. It’s also the only national park in Uganda where you can find eland, impala, and klipspringer, three antelope species that are rare in other parts of the country. Whether you’re walking, biking, or just relaxing, Lake Mburo offers a wild and wonderful escape into nature.
Uganda is a dream come true for bird lovers, with over 1,080 bird species — more than most countries in Africa. Everywhere you go, the skies and trees are alive with color and song, from tiny weavers and shining sunbirds to big hornbills and powerful eagles. Two of the best places for birdwatching are Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is full of forest birds, and Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you’ll find many water and savannah birds.
But the most famous bird of all is the shoebill stork — a rare, prehistoric-looking bird with a huge, shoe-shaped bill. It lives in swamps and looks like something from the age of dinosaurs. Birdwatchers come from all over the world hoping to see one. The best place to find a shoebill is Mabamba Swamp, near Entebbe, where you can take a canoe ride through the quiet wetlands in search of this strange and wonderful bird.
Uganda has many rivers and lakes, and these waters are full of hippos and Nile crocodiles. These large animals are easy to spot, especially on a boat safari. One of the best boat trips is along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This narrow stretch of water connects Lake Edward and Lake George, and it’s packed with wildlife. As you float along, you’ll see hippos splashing and grunting in the water, crocodiles resting in the sun, and maybe even elephants or buffaloes drinking at the shore.
Another amazing boat safari is on the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park. Here, you cruise upstream toward the thunderous waterfall while watching animals all along the riverbanks. It’s one of the most relaxing and exciting ways to see Uganda’s wild side.
If you are planning a wildlife safari in Uganda, here are some helpful tips to make your trip better. The best time to visit is during the dry seasons, from June to August and December to February, because animals are easier to find when the weather is dry. If you want to go gorilla trekking, be sure to book your permit well in advance, as they are limited and sell out quickly. Pack good walking shoes, a camera to capture the amazing moments, binoculars for spotting distant animals, and don’t forget mosquito repellent to stay comfortable. Finally, travel with a trusted safari company or guide who knows the parks and animals well — they will make sure your adventure is safe, fun, and unforgettable.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Nkuringo Sector- Uganda
+256-701-230-309
info@oruganosafaris.com
