Uganda, a small country within East Africa is a destination where you will visit and even fail to choose what activity to engage in, just because the country is blessed beyond Imagination, and it contains a basket full of all what you would do throughout Africa. Which country in Africa can you meet face to face with mountain gorillas in the wild, then see the big five animals, also enjoy several water sports/adventurous activities, see more than 1000 bird species, relish breathtaking landscapes and enjoy some of the most fascinating cultural experiences? No other country but only Uganda where you can experience all these. You will realize that these activities and found in some African countries but Uganda collects all of them to herself. This is why Uganda contains a small slice of everything Africa offers to tourists hence the reason you have to make a trip to this country. Game drives are one of the tourist activities conducted within the 5 savannah national Parks of Uganda. This activity is mainly carried out in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Semliki National Park. This activity is conducted through well designated and maintained game tracks that offer a spectacular view of the wildlife species.
Game Drives in Murchison Falls National Park
This Park is apparently the main destination visited for game drives. There are over 76 mammal species you are likely to watch when you engage in game drives in this Park. Game drives along Buligi game track on the Northern shore in the company of professional tour guides is a perfect way to watch and take photos of the diverse animals in the Nile Valley. Tourists will be amazed by the numerous Elephants, large herds of Buffaloes, preeminent giraffes, bushbucks, duikers, the Oribis, Uganda Kobs and the rare hartebeests among others. The guides know where to find these animals, for example they will be able to detect where the Lions are hiding. The Honeymoon track is a new one located in the Southern bank is idea for seeing some of the Giraffes that were translocated from the Northern Bank.
Game Drives In Kidepo Valley National Park
If we are to ignore the fact that it is remote and considered too far from Kampala (9-11 hours), Kidepo Valley National is literally the best destination in Uganda for game drives. It is a home to over 80 wildlife species including those that you will never encounter anywhere else in Uganda such as the aardwolf, Cheetahs, the Bat-eared fox and the striped hyenas among others. Wildlife within this Park is more active in the Narus Valley during the early mornings and late afternoon. Tourits are allowed to set offer for game drives between 6am and 4pm and a ranger guide ahs to be used at all times. These people are very skilled and know where to sight these wildlife species like the lions that are often sighted on the various rocks within the Valley. You will also see the leopards, bush duikers, Elephants, lions, jackals, bush pigs, buffaloes, to mention but a few.
Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
What can be said about Queen Elizabeth National Park that is befitting of the interesting things it offers to tourists? All that can be said is that this Park is a “Medley of wonders”. You will need to visit it to be able to understand what words alone cannot describe. With over 95 mammal species, you have no reason not to add Queen Elizabeth National Park. For remarkable African safari experience, the game tracks (totaling to over 200 kilometers) through the Ishasha sector, Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains will definitely offer a rewarding and satisfying guaranteed view of the large herds of Elephants, buffaloes, Antelopes especially the Uganda Kobs, together with the Olive baboons and the warthogs among others. Taking a qualified ranger guide for an early morning game drive or an evening game drive is the most perfect time to sight a prides of lions or even the peculiar leopards. Game drives within Queen Elizabeth National Park start from 6:30am and the early morning game drives have to be booked for the day before.
Game Drives in Lake Mburo National Park
This is the smallest Savanna National park in Uganda and is a home to over 68 mammal species that include the Burchell’s zebras, elands, giraffes, leopards, waterbucks and Impalas among others. This Park is comprised of a network of game tracks mainly in the Eastern part of the Park and passes though different landscape features that include rock outcrops, wetlands, grassy hillsides, acacia woodlands and seasonally flooded valleys. The best times for game drives are early mornings and late afternoons. Some rare animals like the leopards can be sighted during the guided game drives that start from 6:30-7:00pm and take between two and three hours, but it is not guaranteed that you will be able to see them because they are wild animals that are not positioned in one place but keep moving.
Game Drives in Semliki National Park
What good thing can be said to describe the experience of game drives in Semliki National park? This park is haven to over 63 species of mammals including 27 large mammal species, 9 species of diurnal forest primates and over 9 riveting species of duikers. Some of the species you would find interesting include the Zenker’s flying mice, Forest elephants, beecrot’s flying squirrels and the unusual leopards among others. Semliki National park has three well maintained game tracks across the Savannah plains of the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, where you are likely to sight the smaller forest elephants and larger savannah elephants, leopards, buffaloes, Antelopes such as Uganda Kobs and waterbucks, Warthogs, Pygmy hippos, crocodiles, and the elusive bush babies among others. Game drives within Semliki National park is usually conducted in the morning, afternoon and late in the evening (or night game drives). This is when tourists will be able to sight the nocturnal mammal species such as the rare leopards and the white-tailed Mongoose among others.
In conclusion, with these 5 beautiful savannah national park, it is inevitable and undeniable that Uganda is a perfect destination for your game drives where you will be able to sight at least 4 of the big five animals and other interesting wildlife species. If you visit these 5 Parks, you will accept that Uganda is indeed a Pearl of Africa.