Where to See the Big Five in Pearl Of Africa?
Uganda offers fantastic opportunities to spot the Big Five, comprising lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses.
Lions: You can encounter these majestic predators in several of Uganda’s renowned national parks. Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park are prime locations. Queen Elizabeth National Park is particularly famous for its unique tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, a sight rarely seen elsewhere.
Leopards: While more elusive and solitary, leopards inhabit a number of parks. Your best chances of spotting them are in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and occasionally Lake Mburo National Park. Early morning and late evening game drives significantly increase your chances of a sighting.
Elephants: Large herds of African elephants can be observed across Uganda’s savannah and forested parks. Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park are excellent for elephant viewing. Boat safaris on the Nile River in Murchison Falls or the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth offer superb opportunities to see them by the water’s edge.
Buffaloes: These powerful bovines are quite common and can be seen in almost all of Uganda’s national parks, including vast populations in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.
Rhinoceroses: Unfortunately, rhinos are extinct in Uganda’s wild national parks due to past poaching. However, you can still complete your Big Five checklist by visiting the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Located en route to Murchison Falls National Park, this sanctuary is dedicated to the reintroduction and conservation of rhinos in Uganda and offers a unique opportunity to track them on foot.
To experience the ultimate Big Five safari in Uganda, consider combining a visit to Murchison Falls National Park with a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This combination virtually guarantees you’ll see all five magnificent species. Alternatively, Queen Elizabeth National Park provides an exceptional chance to spot four of the Big Five (excluding rhinos) amidst diverse landscapes and plentiful wildlife.