Where to Spot the Big5 on Uganda Safari

On Uganda safari, you will spot the Big5and the best places to visit are Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. However, you must also visit the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see all the big five animals as it’s the only place in Uganda where you can spot rhinos.

Murchison Falls National Park. This is the largest and oldest national park in Uganda and was gazetted in 1926. Murchison Falls National Park is locally known as Kabalega National Park and is located in the Albertine region in Masindi district.

The National Park is a home to over 76 mammal species including the some of the big five such as lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. Murchison Falls National Park is made up of Karuma Wildlife Reserve and Bugungu. The home is also a home to the rapid Murchison Falls which plunges to about 45m with wild rapids making it the top tourist attraction in the park.

There are a lot of things to do in Murchison Falls National Park and some of them include game drives, bird watching, boat trips, cultural trips and chimpanzee trekking among others. Chimpanzee trekking is carried out in Kaniyo Pabidi and Budongo Forest.

There are so many ways in which you can explore Murchison Falls National Park by using a car, boat or on foot. Leopards, lions, elephants and buffaloes can be spotted within the national park throughout the year while carrying out activities like boat rides, guided walks and game drives. To have a full big five safari experience, you can join a safari to Murchison Falls National Park with a Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary safari.

Some of the accommodation facilities where you can stay on your visit to Murchison Falls National Park include Budongo Eco Lodge, Fort Murchison, Nile Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Paara safari lodge, Global Village Guest House among others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Uganda. This national park is located in the Kasese district with a great backdrop of the Rwenzori Mountains and views of the crater Lakes that were carved into the green hills.

Queen Elizabeth National Park previously known as Kazinga National Park was renamed after Queen Elizabeth II and has sections where the big five can easily be spotted including Mweya, Ishasha sector, Kyambura Gorge and Kasenyi.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is famously known for the tree climbing lions which are found in the Ishasha sector which is found in the southern part of the park. Researchers believe that lions climb trees to relax, avoid tsetse fly bites, heat on the ground and also easily scan the area for prey.

Kazinga Channel which separates Lake Edward and Lake George is part of the area where tourists can see some of the Big Five and other wildlife animals such as hippos and various bird species.

Kasenyi plains are also a home to roaming lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants. The different activities that are carried out in the park include lion trekking, game drives, hot air balloon riding, bird watching and chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge.

Tourists can visit Queen Elizabeth National Park all year round however, the best time is during the dry months of June to September and December to February. The rainy season as well from March to May is a good time to spot the predators like lions and leopards that prey on the unsuspecting calves.

The accommodation facilities that you can use when you visit the park to watch the big five include Ishasha Tented Camp, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Jacana Safari Cottages, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba, Kitandara Hippo Hill Lodge, White House Lodge, Mweya Hostels and Cottages, Simba Safari Camp among others.

Kidepo Valley National Park. The park is located in the northeastern part of Uganda. Kidepo Valley National Park is known to be the most beautiful national park in Uganda. Its remote and untouched nature with rich wildlife makes it the best place to spot the big five and the famous predator sightings.  Kidepo is home to some of the big five including lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants. The national park is divided into two sections that’s the Kidepo Valley and Narus Valley and many of the animals can be spotted in the Narus Valley especially during the dry season.

Kidepo Valley National Park was named after a local dialect word translating to pick up and was initially inhabited by the IK people and Dodoth pastoralists before it was gazetted off in 1962 to protect the wildlife in the area. The best way to spot the big fives in Kidepo Valley National Park is by taking guided game drives and walking safaris.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only destination in Uganda where tourists can see Rhinos. Rhinos in Uganda became extinct in the early 1980s after poaching, wars and encroachment from the locals. After some years, they were re-introduced in the country in the Ziwa Rhino Reserve. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is a private nonprofit sanctuary that is now home to about 22 white Rhinos.

Being located on your way from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where tourists can see the big five on a Uganda Safari. The sanctuary is a home to over 40 mammal species and 300 bird species and all these can be seen on a canoe trip, game drive and a guided walk.

There are a lot of activities that are carried out in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and the main one is rhino trekking. With the help of an experienced guide, Rhino trekking starts after a brief introduction on what to expect during the trekking experience. This exercise will help you understand and study the behaviors of the rhinos in the wild. Rhino trekking can last between 2 to 3 hours and the best time to do this is during the dry season.

When it comes to Rhino trekking, there are rules and regulations that need to be followed by all tourists and they are always explained to tourists in the briefing before the trek starts. If you refuse or defy any of the rules, there is always a fine of USD 100 and guides have authority to end the trek if they feel like the rules and regulations are not being followed.

For those interested in having a night in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Amuka Safari Lodge is ready to serve you. Amuka Safari Lodge is located within the sanctuary with 8 units providing services to their guests. There are other accommodation facilities that can be used though they are not located inside the sanctuary.