​Wildlife & Animals – Uganda

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Uganda.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Bradt guidebooks to African destinations, including the guide to Uganda.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Uganda.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Uganda.

Uganda is a unique destination offering a wonderful mix of savannah and forest parks. Gorilla and chimp trekking are highlights, but many smaller primates can be seen as well. Uganda also offers great savannah safaris, and all of the Big Five are present. Lion is quite common in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo National Parks, where they can often be found hunting Uganda kob.

Abundant
Common
Occasional
Rare
None
GorillaCommon
LionCommon
LeopardOccasional
CheetahVery Rare
HippoAbundant
BuffaloAbundant
ZebraCommon
ElephantCommon
GiraffeCommon

Wildlife Highlights

Primates are especially well represented in Uganda. Patas monkey, red-tailed monkey, L'Hoest's monkey, golden monkey, Ugandan red colobus and Uganda mangabey are some of the specials. The black-and-white colobus is widespread throughout the country. Uganda is home to a wide variety of antelope species. The Uganda kob, the national antelope, is locally common, while the rare sitatunga antelope is found in six national parks in the country but rarely seen.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The best time for wildlife viewing is in the Dry season (December to February and June to September). Some of the roads are impassable during the rainy seasons (September to November and March to May). Gorilla can be tracked year-round, but the experience can be spoiled – to some extent – by heavy rain in the Wet season.

Wildlife Rating

Recommended Wildlife Books

  • Stuarts’ Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa
    The best starter’s guide to large mammals; app available.

    Chris Stuart and Mathilde Stuart
  • The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals (book and app)
    This detailed guide is especially strong on primates.

    Jonathan Kingdon
  • The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals
    This unique book is dedicated to explaining mammal behavior.

    Richard D. Estes
  • East African Wildlife
    Introductory coverage of more common mammals and birds.

    Philip Briggs
  • Field Guide to East African Reptiles
    The definitive field guide for reptile enthusiasts.

    Stephen Spawls et al.

Wildlife Photos

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Wildlife Photos

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