Looking for top wildlife animals to see in Uganda? Sometimes when you are planning your trip, you have a list of animals you want to see. This helps you plan better. Otherwise, you may end up visiting a country and seeing the same animals you saw before.
A tourist once asked me about rare animals to see in Uganda. He said he didn’t want to see animals he had already seen. He was only interested in mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions, and golden monkeys.
Most people visit Uganda mainly for gorilla trekking. Many are not very interested in game viewing because countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Namibia offer more opportunities. Game drives in Uganda are often added to gorilla safaris unless the client is fully interested in wildlife.
While I share this list of animals in Uganda, I want you to know that visiting Uganda is not only about wildlife. There are many other activities to enjoy and places to visit. A Uganda tour operator will help you plan a good itinerary depending on how many days you have.
So next time you visit Uganda, write down your list of animals and tick them off one by one. You might not see all of them because nature is not always predictable, but you can be sure to see some common ones like mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys.
You can visit Uganda with these recommended tours and travel companies.
Wild Animals in Uganda
Here is the list. I will keep updating it when I can.
1 – Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas are one of the top reasons people visit Uganda. Uganda is one of only three countries with mountain gorillas. The others are Rwanda and Congo. Uganda has the highest number, found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park has only one gorilla family.
Mountain gorillas share over 97% of human DNA. They were once endangered, but their number is now over 1,000 thanks to conservation. Buying a gorilla permit helps protect them. A permit costs $600 for normal tracking and $1,500 for habituation, not including transport or accommodation.
2 – Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are close cousins to humans. They share over 98.7% of our DNA. They are smart and can copy human behavior. Chimps in Uganda are found in Kibale Forest National Park, Ngamba Island, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge. Permits cost $150 for tracking and $240 for habituation.
3 – Tree-Climbing Lions
Uganda is one of only two places in the world with tree-climbing lions. They are found in the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The other place is Lake Manyara in Tanzania.
You can best see them from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm when they are resting in trees.
4 – Golden Monkeys
Golden monkeys are found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. They were added to attract more tourists. Few visitors try golden monkey tracking, but it’s a nice experience. If you want to see both gorillas and golden monkeys, Mgahinga is the right place to go.
5 – Other Primates
Uganda has many other primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, patas monkeys, and L’Hoest monkeys.
You can find them in forests and some national parks.
6 – Rothschild Giraffe
These giraffes are seen mainly in Murchison Falls National Park, but also in Lake Mburo and Kidepo Valley National Parks. They are a rare kind of giraffe.
A 2016 count showed only 1,670 were left in the wild.
7 – Shoebill Stork
This rare bird is found in wetlands and is one of the most sought-after birds in Uganda.
8 – African Lions
9 – Rhinos
10 – African Elephants
11 – Cape Buffaloes
12 – Uganda Kobs
13 – Impalas
14 – Zebras
15 – Bushbucks
16 – Antelopes
17 – Leopards
18 – Forest Elephants
19 – Cheetahs
20 – Hippopotamuses
21 – Crocodiles
Crocodiles are found in almost all parks with rivers or lakes. The best places to see them are Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. You’ll see them clearly during boat trips on the Nile or Kazinga Channel. The common species is the Nile crocodile, but Kidepo has a rare one called the Suchus.
22 – Warthogs
Warthogs are found in Savannah parks like Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo, and Semuliki. They look funny with big heads, tusks, thin legs, and often kneel while grazing.
When scared, they run with their tails up.
23 – Birds
Uganda is great for bird watching. It has over 1,000 bird species. Uganda’s location between Savannah, rain-forest, and dry areas makes it a good home for many birds.
Its different habitats include forests, wetlands, and mountains.
24 – Spotted Hyenas
Spotted hyenas make loud laughing sounds to call their group to food. You can hear them from 3 to 4 miles away. They are best seen during night game drives in Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, or Kidepo Valley National Parks. They are not easy to spot, so you’ll need a good guide.
Final Note
Next time you come to Uganda, choose some animals from this list and tell your Uganda tour company. They can create a tour that includes parks where you can see those animals. Don’t travel without a goal or you may just see the same animals you’ve already seen before.
Book your Uganda tours with these recommended Uganda tour companies for a well planned safari. Use the Voucher: UTBlog for up to 25% Discounts on Trips.
