The Big 5 and where to see them on safari in Uganda
Uganda is one of Africa’s top destinations where you can comfortably watch the famous BIG FIVE animals on a wildlife safari in its savannah parks. The fauna you will find on a Uganda safari is as varied and vast as the country’s landscape. Uganda has an impressive number of large animals protected within its ten national parks, and it’s one of Africa’s top destinations where vast herds still roam the plains.
The Big Five was originally a hunting term referring to those animals that posed the greatest risk to trophy hunters on foot—buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino. Today it has become one of the most important criteria for evaluating a lodge or reserve to visit. However, it should never be your only criterion.
The African Buffalo
The African Buffalo, often called the Cape buffalo, is considered by many to be the most dangerous of the Big Five because of its unpredictability and speed. Do not confuse it with the docile Asian water buffalo, as the Cape buffalo is a more powerful and untameable beast with a massive build and short, strong legs.
Buffalo have few predators other than human hunters and lions. It generally takes an entire lion pride to bring down an adult buffalo. Although calves, weak and sick adults can be taken down by a pack of wild dogs and spotted hyenas. Lions risk being mobbed by the herd when they attack and are sometimes trampled and gored.
You can see buffalo on game safaris in almost all national parks and large forests. It is one of Uganda’s easiest Big Five animals to spot on safari, especially in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks. If lucky, you may spot forest buffalo in Mgahinga and Bwindi forests while gorilla trekking or nature walking.
The African Elephant
The largest land animals, elephants, once roamed the continent by the millions. Today, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the population, mainly found in Southern and Eastern Africa, is between 470,000 and 600,000. Africa’s forest elephants (of central and West Africa) are still under severe threat.
Because of their size, African elephants are the easiest Big Five to spot on safari. They can comfortably be seen in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo National Parks. To get really close to these savannah giants, we recommend a boat safari on Kazinga Channel or Victoria Nile in Murchison. Massive herds come to the banks for a cool bath and splashing fun.
The Rhino
There are two species of these massive primeval-looking animals in Africa: the black, or hook-lipped rhino, and the white, or square-lipped rhino. Both species have poor eyesight but excellent hearing, and because of their erratic tempers, they may sometimes charge without apparent reason.
There is only one place in Uganda where Rhinos survive in the wild; Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, just outside Murchison Falls National Park in northeastern Uganda. This massively protected sanctuary protects a population of more than two dozen Northern white rhinos. Visitors can join rangers on a guided walking safari to track them and spend valuable time watching these massive beasts.
The Lion
Known as the king of beasts—the Swahili word for lion, “Simba,” also means “king,” “strong,” and “aggressive”—this proud animal was once found throughout the world. Today, most of the estimated 23,000 lions are found in sub-Saharan Africa—a small population in India—in grasslands, savanna, and dense bush.
On the Uganda safari, you can see lions in three national parks: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park. The Ishasha lions south of Queen Elizabeth National Park are the most famous Big Five on Uganda Safaris. These wild cats are renowned for their unique tree-climbing behavior.
The Leopard
Secretive, stealthy, and slick, the leopard is the most successful predator of all Africa’s big cats. They are often difficult to spot on safari, primarily because they are nocturnal, but if you go on a night game drive, your chances will increase tremendously.
Take a game drive in the Buligi circuit area in northwest Murchison Falls Park, especially in the early mornings or late evenings; you would be really unlucky not to see a leopard there. One of the big attractions in the remote Kidepo Valley National Park is the numerous leopard sightings, but more commonly in the Narus Valley. Good leopard sightings have been recorded west of Lake Mburo National Park, mostly on night game drives.
