Blessed with a wide range of wildlife species, Uganda is among the best places on earth where a tourist can experience adventure at its best. This beautiful country is naturally endowed and gifted and it was on such influential people like sir Winston Churchill called it the pearl of Africa. Ranging from snow-capped mountains to escarpments, valleys and wild animals, safaris in this part of the world are very rewarding and unforgettable which is why a number of travelers from different parts of the world visit Uganda for Africa adventure safaris. After the safaris and tours, all the tourists do nothing but praise and share their exciting experience had while on the trip. Lets quickly discover the wildlife encounters in Uganda that offer lifetime experiences.
Chimpanzee Tracking
The major primates include the chimpanzees, the mountain gorillas, baboons, monkeys and many others that live in the major forests in different parts of Uganda. A high population of chimpanzees live in the Kibale forest national park located in western Uganda, others in Kyambura gorge forest while others in Kaniyo Pabidi forest reserve which is pat of the Murchison falls conservation area. Chimpanzee tracking in any of the forests gives tourists a chance to get close to one of the closest human relatives and its very remarkable. Those who prefer to spend more time with the chimpanzees always go for the chimpanzee habituation process in Kibale forest national park where they spend the whole day in the jungle. While there, they get an opportunity of seeing other wildlife species in the forest especially birds.
Mountain Gorilla Tracking
Mountain gorillas are other primate species that offer lifetime experiences in the pearl of Africa. Just like chimpanzees, mountain gorillas also have about 98% of their DNA similar to humans and are therefore among man’s closest relatives. The mountain gorillas in Uganda live Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks in southwestern Uganda and they are major tourist attractions in that region and Uganda at large. Tourists can encounter mountain gorillas as they hike through the forested mountains in either Bwindi or Mgahinga, which they are only supposed to spend with an hour. The one-hour of encounter is however very fantastic as you watch the way life goes on in the jungle part of the world.
Monkeys and Baboons Experience
Monkeys and baboons though not very popular like the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are also charming primates. They are very common (especially vervet monkeys and baboons) in a number of forests in Uganda and also offer lifetime safari experiences if encountered by tourists on forest walks.
Birding
Those interested in specific wildlife safaris like birding are very well catered for in Uganda. The pearl of Africa is blessed with a number of bird species that offer incredible birding safaris. The major birds that can be spotted include the shoebill stork, weaverbirds, fish eagles, king fishers, Turacos and many others. Most of the birds in Uganda can be seen in forests, around swampy areas, around lakes and river banks while others keep freely flying in the air. There are well-qualified and informed birding safari guides who take the whole birding experience to another incredible level.
Game Viewing
Tourists encounter most of these while on game drives and boat cruises in the savanna national parks in Uganda. The major herbivores include giraffes, elephants, rhinos, zebras, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, Oribi, warthogs, impalas, hippos, duikers and so much more. These usually feed on grass plant leaves and are usually seen in different national parks as they freely graze. The predators to most of the herbivores are lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetahs that usually camouflage in bushes getting ready to hunt to get food for survival. Encounters with these wild animals are very incredible and surely offer remarkable lifetime experiences.
Uganda’s animal kingdom is truly amazing and can be encountered in any of the 10 national parks the country has. Do not hesitate to make a trip to Uganda on wildlife expeditions to some of the outstanding wildlife destinations in the country.
