Top Great Wildlife Species in Uganda
Top Great Wildlife Species in Uganda
Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, is such a great country that stuns with beautiful nature and abundant wildlife spec, thus a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into Africa. Overall, Uganda is a great glimpse of the African safari nature, birdlife, primates as well as the big five wild animals; lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffaloes, White Rhinoceros, Giraffes, and primates ‘’great apes’’ the mountain gorilla, chimpanzee. But that’s not all to see while on safari in Uganda; well, the country is a hotspot for biodiversity species, over 345 species of mammals and 1100 species of birds,142 species of reptile,86 species of amphibian,501 species of fish, round 1242 species of butterfly and 4,500 species of vascular plants. Uganda’s mammals range from the great giant mountain gorillas to the smallest ones like bats bush babies and shrews thus making it a true haven for wildlife enthusiasts.
This article brings clear information to know about the various animals found in Uganda and why it is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the beauty of nature. They are grouped into these categories;
Predators include;
- Lion
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Hyena
- African civet
- Mongoose
- Genets
- Otter
- Bat-eared Fox
- Jackal
- Caracal
- Serval cat
Primate species include;
- Mountain gorilla
- Chimpanzee
- Red-tailed monkey
- Golden monkey
- Grey-cheeked Mangabey
- Vervet Monkey
- De Brazza’s Monkey
- Black – and white colobus Monkey
- Baboon
- Blue Monkey
- L’hoest’s Monkey
- Red Colobus Monkey
- Patas Monkey
- Potto
- Bushbaby
Herbivores Includes;
- Buffalo
- Elephant
- Giraffe
- Hippo
- Rhino
- Zebra
- Uganda Kob
- Antelope ‘’29 species’’
- Wild hogs, and many others.
Reptiles Include;
- Crocodiles
- Snakes
- Monitor lizards
- Chameleons
Carnivores species – predators that rule Uganda’s wilderness;
These Uganda carnivores are animals that naturally prey on other animals and the country boasts a large population of them. You’re most likely to adventure one of the apex predators on a safari game drive in Uganda’s national parks.
About 38 carnivore species rule Uganda’s wilderness, preying on herbivores and other smaller animals. Some of them include lions, leopards, and cheetahs- which are somewhat challenging to see in the wilderness because of the sparse population in vast areas. The best game viewing of these predators is done with a local guide and armed ranger who leads you to their hunting grounds.
Other carnivore species including the serval, caracal, Lynx, and civet are obscure from regular sightings. You can be lucky to spot them in the wilderness unless you visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Center to watch them behind cages.
In Uganda, five canids or dog species can be seen wild dogs, wolves, foxes, and other extant and extinct species. Seven canids are feline species – wild cat species including the cheetah, leopard, lion, lynx and the golden cat. The hyena species – the striped hyena, the spotted hyena, and the card wolf.
Other species include;
- Ten mongooses
- Six mustelids ‘’otters, badgers, and weasels’’
- Seven vibes rid ‘’civets and genets’’
- Uganda’s Wild Cats;
African Lion
Lions have great cultural significance in many Ugandan cultures as symbols of royalty, courage, and strength. They are named kings of the jungle. You can spot these apex predators on Uganda Safari destinations in Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Leopard
These species are known as agile hunters and quiet prey which are abundantly seen in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Mt Elgon National Park, and Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve.
Cheetah
Cheetah is a fabulous wild cat to watch on the savanna plain. They are found in a few countries and Uganda is one among the few to see this predator in action in Kidepo Valley National Park and Pian Upe Game Reserve, the northeastern Karamojong region.
Serval
This is a small wild cat with the biggest ears of any wild cat relative to its body size. They can easily be seen in Bwindi but the high chance of seeing this predator is visiting ‘’UWEC Zoo in Entebbe.
African golden cat
This is a rarely seen creature of the west and central African forest. In Uganda, the African golden cat is widespread in western Uganda and commonly seen in every forested national park except Semliki National Park.
African wild dog
They have long-legged canines with large bat-like ears and mottled coats and live in highly effective hunting packs of five to 50 individuals dominated by a female.
Bat-eared fox
This species is a striking silver-grey insectivore. In Uganda, it’s commonly seen in Kidepo Valley and Pian Upe Game Reserve.
Jackal
Jackal is closely related to domestic dogs, coyotes, foxes, and wolves. Commonly seen in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo Bwindi Impenetrable, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
Caracal
All cat species are monarchial, but the caracal seems to have crowns; They are large, have pointy ears, tipped with black and tufted. This royal wild cat preys in Kidepo National Park along with small monkeys and antelopes, mongooses, hyraxes, rodents, and birds many more.
