Big Five Safaris Uganda

Big Five Safaris Uganda are ones in which travelers go to Uganda to look for the Big Five animals.  The term big five can be defined in two aspects.

What does big five stand for?

Firstly, Big five refers to the five animals that were the most difficult to hunt on foot by hunters. These include; lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant.

Secondly, the same term means animals that play the biggest role in the eco system. The elephant is very important in putting down trees, thickets and as well as seed dispersal.

The lion and leopard help to maintain the population by feeding on several other animals. They in the long run prevent over population in the wilderness.

The buffalo and rhino are vegetarians. They eat tones of grass a day which leads to the growth of healthier grass for other animals.

The African Lion

This is Africa’s largest and most muscular cat. Males normally develop thick curls on the neck and shoulders at about 2 years. They also develop a short tawny coat as well as a tufted tail. Most people know it as the king of the jungle. This is because of its hunting skills and behavior with other animals. Lions do very organised hunts and are very determined. They are the most social of all cats. They live in groups known as prides and can be up to 30 individuals. Lions have very powerful jaws which open to reveal their 30 canine teeth. These teeth are notably sharp and long up to 8cm thus enabling them to tear flesh. Lions’ main habitat is the African savannah.

Top 10 facts about lions

• A large percentage of lions lives in Africa.
• A fully grown male lion can weigh up to 420 pounds.
• They say hello by rubbing cheeks.
• Males’ magnificent manes tell a story.
• Cubs are reared together.
• They normally walk 4km/hr., but can run up to 60km/hr.
• Lions can get their water from plants.
• African lions are big eaters.
• Lions are the only kind of big cat that lives in a social structure.

• They hunt during storms.

In Uganda lions can be best viewed in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks. Importantly, you can spot tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, south of Queen Elizabeth National Park. For any one intending to go on Big five Uganda safaris, these places should be on your list. Other places to see these cats in East Africa are; Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru National parks and so on.

For many,  Big five safaris Uganda are not complete without spotting the African Lion.

African Leopard

If you are looking for the world athlete among the big five mammals, the leopard is number one. Most big cats can pull five times as much force as the same weight of the human athletes. The leopard can pull seven times as hard. This makes it the strongest cat in the jungle. All leopards have black spots, even solid black leopards. Leopard prey on different animals, insects, mice, fish, and big animals like dogs and even antelopes. Sometime leopards eat dead animals. Leopards usually search for their food at night, hiding their catch in trees and attack. They creep up on animals and attack them by biting the neck. They normally live on High Mountain, woodlands, high forest.

Where to see leopards

Here in Uganda the best places to see leopard is Murchison falls, Kidepo valley and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, In Kenya, they can be found in Masai Mara, Mount Kenya, Samburu, Tsavo and Amboseli national parks. Whereas in Tanzania, they are spotted in Tarangire, Serengeti, Selous, Mikumi National parks and Ngorongoro Crater.

Facts about leopard

• Leopards are solitary animals. Unlike lions which are social animals, Leopards are solitary cats living a sole individual lifestyle.
• They are the smallest of the large cat family.
• These cats are not picky eaters.
• They are ambush predators.
• Leopards are very adaptive

African Elephant

An African elephant is the largest of all land mammals. The only bigger mammal is the blue whale.

Elephants have long truck and large ears. Males are notably larger than females and with much larger round heads. These huge mammals are mainly herbivorous.  An African Elephants can eat up to 500 kg of vegetation a day. And they weigh up to 7000kg. Males only reach their full size at 35-40 years. They can also live up to 70 years in the wilderness and up to 80 years in captivity.

Facts about elephants

• Elephants are the world’s largest land mammals.
• They are so famous for their good memories.
• A group of elephants is a herd.
• You can tell the two species apart by their ears.
• Their trunks have mad skills.
• Elephant tusks are actually teeth.
• They’ve got thick skin.
• Elephants are constantly eating. They spend about 80% of their days eating.
• They communicate through vibrations.
• Calves can stand within 20 minutes of birth.

Elephants in Uganda are best viewed at Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks. In Kenya the best viewing place is Amboseli National Park, Masai Mara and so on. They are also common in The Chyulu Hills, Samburu National Park and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

This majestic King of the jungle makes big five safaris Uganda very memorable.

Cape buffalo

The Buffalo is not only another member of the big five family but also the strongest. It normally takes more than individual of predators to take down a buffalo. Buffaloes have a long heavily built body and short thick legs. Males are larger than females. They normally live in grasslands, savannas, swamps, lowland floodplains, mixed forest and glades

Facts about Buffaloes

• Buffalo rarely have twins. Buffalo’s kill more hunters than any other species.
• They smell more than they see.

• Buffaloes are large and may reach 6.8 to 11 feet in length. Up to 5.6 height and weigh in at between 660 to 1900 pounds.
• They do have smooth tongues they are known to kill lions.

The best places to view buffaloes in Uganda are Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks. In Kenya, you can see buffaloes in Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Abedare, Samburu National parks and so on. Whereas in Tanzania, you can see them in Ngorongoro crater, Serengeti, Mikumi, Trangire, Lake Manyara National Parks and so many other parks.

Rhinoceros

Rhinos are a large herbivorous having upright horns on the nose bridge. A mature rhino can weigh up to  3000 kg. Rhinos. There are two species of rhinos namely; white rhinos and black rhinos. They can run up to 45km/hr.

Facts about rhinos

• They’re huge
• Their horn is made from the same stuff as our fingernails. …
• Rhinos have poor vision. They smell better than they see.

The only place to see rhinos in the wild in Uganda is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. In Kenya, you can see them in Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park and Olpejeta Conservancy. In Tanzania, you can view them in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

Why are Big Five Safaris Uganda so popular?

Big five Safaris Uganda are the most common and are incomplete without spotting the big five. Some members of the big five such as lions, leopards, rhinos have reduced greatly in number due to a number of factors. These include human encroachment and poaching.

Cost of Big Five Safaris Uganda

Big five safaris Uganda can vary greatly. The factors bringing the variance in prices are; length of travel, type of lodging, season of travel, number of people in a group and so on. However, these safaris are among the cheapest of Uganda safaris. Uganda is destination marketed for gorilla and other primate safaris which are of course more expensive than big five safaris. We advise you to allocate at least three days for a big five safari in Uganda.