Introduction
Game drives in Uganda are guided journeys through the savannah National Parks and wildlife reserves in a specialized open roof 4WD safari vehicle. It is an ultimate adventure for discovering the incredible wildlife that call Uganda savannahs home ranging from a variety of bird species to animals including Africa’s Big Five. This therefore highlights any classic African safari taking one deep into the wilderness where you get closer to the big and small animals within the National Park. It is at this point that one gets to enjoy the call of the wilderness such as the ear-catching calls of bird, lions’ roar, deep resonant grunts by buffaloes and many more.
Game drive experience
Game drives through Uganda’s savannahs are sensory adventures other than just spotting animals in the wild. These game drives are best done in the early mornings, late afternoon or evening hours when the animals are more active since these are the less hot periods of the day and night hours for nocturnal animals. These are the best wildlife viewing times where one is able to experience the magical mists of sunrise and sunsets as well as enjoy the thrill of a nighttime drive. Game drives are categorized into four according to the time of the day they are done and these include;
Morning game drives
Morning game drives are conducted as early as 6:00am through established tracks in the savannah grasslands to spot several animals as they start their day’s activity. Grazers are seen grab themselves a meal before it gets hot in the due course of the day. These include oribs, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs, elephants and many more. Nocturnal animals and predators are often spotted very early in the morning as they rush back to their hideouts for example hyenas, hippopotamuses, leopards, lions to mention but a few. These drives through the savannah jungle last for about 3 to 4 hours as your knowledgeable guide helps you scan through the grasslands.
Evening game drives
These are done in the evening hours starting at 3:00pm to 6:00pm running for about 3 hours. During the evening game drives, grazers are always seen grab their day’s last meal before heading off to their sleeping spots. Predators also show up during this time of the day and if lucky enough they might be seen trying out their hunting tricks. Countless antelopes are easily spotted congregate to start their match to their sleeping place which is so magnificent to watch.
Night game drives
This wildlife viewing experience takes place in the night offering a totally different wildlife experience from that done during the day. It is therefore mandatory to use a game ranger who will ensure your security and safety throughout the activity. This activity lasts for about 3 to 4 hours while you lookout for nocturnal animals in their natural habitats such as the leopard, genets, civets, spotted hyenas, side striped jackals, serval cats to mention but a few.
Full day game drives
Full day game drives involve spending the entire in the wilderness following after and spotting several wildlife species go by their routine activities. This is more rewarding since one gets more time to interact with more animals such as the Big Five, big cats, grazers and a variety of bird species. Full day game drives are usually spiced up with bush lunch that is served under a fig tree while admiring scenic beauty of the savannahs as well as a variety of animal types such as elephants, Uganda kobs, oribis, giraffes, hartebeests and many more.
Cost of game drives
Day guided game drives per UWA ranger guide or private sector tour guide cost 25 USD for foreign nonresidents, 20 USD for foreign residents and 25,000 UG shillings for East African citizens. However game drives can be done without a UWA ranger guide or a private sector tour guide charged a day per vehicle at 10 USD for both foreign nonresidents and foreign residents and 10,000 UG shillings for East African citizens. Night game drives cost 30 USD per person for foreign nonresidents, 20 USD per person for foreign residents and 30,000 UG shillings per person for East African citizens. Night game drives are restricted to tourists sleeping within the National Park and the use of UWA ranger guides is mandatory. The above costs for all the game drives are only applicable having cleared entrance fees and car entry charges to specific National Parks.
Uganda’s best game drive destinations
Game drives in Uganda are basically done in the savannah grasslands of five National Parks as shown below and other wildlife Reserves for example Ajai wildlife reserve, Kabwoya wildlife reserve, Toro Semliki wildlife reserve, Bugungu wildlife reserve and many others.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited National Park situated in the western region of the country famously known for housing tree climbing lions. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a home to over 95 mammal species and up to 600 bird species which is the highest of any protected area in the country. Game viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park is done in four game drive circuits namely Kasenyi plains, Ishasha game drive circuit, channel game drive circuit with in the Mweya peninsular and the crater drive circuit. Kasenyi plains in the northern section of the Park is most preferably the best for game drives since it hosts a variety of animals compared to other regions. Both day and night game drives can be done in Queen Elizabeth National Park for the best wildlife experience as animals are easily spotted very early in the morning when they are still active and in the evening when they are finding their way to their resting places. However there are no night game drives conducted within the Kasenyi plains since this area is always flooded with countless tourists during the day and in the night the animals are left to rest so as to minimize stress on them. Animals that are spotted during a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park include four out of the big five namely lions, elephants, leopards and buffaloes. Other animals to look out for in the savannah grasslands of this Park include Uganda kobs, warthogs, bushbucks, waterbucks, topis, hippopotamuses, giant forest hogs to mention but a few. Queen Elizabeth National Park is not only best for wildlife viewing but also a perfect place to enjoy scenic views. The Park portrays natural shimmering beauty that will leave you awe struck ranging from open savannahs and tropical rainforests to myriad of crater lakes that boats a variety of wildlife.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s oldest and largest protected area covering an area of over 3,840 square kilometers situated in the northwestern region of the country which takes to about 5 hours’ drive from Kampala. This National Park is bisected by the renowned Nile River which is the world’s longest River forming two regions namely the northern and southern regions. Game drives are only done in the northern section of the Park whereas the southern region is dominated by a rainforest known as the Budongo forest a home to over 10 primate species namely chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey-checked mangabeys, pottos and many more. Embarking on game drives in Murchison falls National Park is one of the best ways to spot and appreciate the rich biodiversity of wildlife in the Park. This Park is a haven to over 76 mammal species and up to 451 bird species that are widely spread all over the savannah grasslands of the Park. Animals to look out include the big four namely lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes with a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary the only place in Uganda where one can spot rhinos in the wild. Other animals include Jackson hartebeests, hyenas, giraffes, Uganda kobs, oribis, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks to mention but a few. There are several game drive tracks that lead tourists deep into the savannahs of Murchison falls National Park namely the Victoria track, Albertine delta track, Chobe track, Buligi track and many more.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s smallest savannah National Park with an area cover of 260 square kilometers comprising of savannah grasslands, wetlands, shrubs and forests. Lake Mburo National Park offers amazing wildlife viewing experience due to vast wildlife species that call this National Park home. Both day and night game drives can be done in Lake Mburo National Park through its developed game viewing tracks such as the zebra track, Kazuma track, Kigambiro loop, Impala track and many more. Animals that are easily sighted during a game drive in this National Park include giraffes, Impalas, zebras, hyenas, hippopotamuses, leopards, elands, buffaloes, waterbucks, topis, bushbucks with a variety of bird species. One can either opt for a morning game drive, an evening one or a night game drive that offers a totally unique experience.
Kidepo National Park
Kidepo National Park is Uganda’s most isolated National Park far away in the northeastern region bordering South Sudan and Kenya. This has an area cover of 1,442 square kilometers dominantly covered by savannah grasslands and semi-arid vegetation overlooking Mount Morungole, Kidepo Valley River and the Narus valley. Kidepo National Park defines a true African traditional wilderness evidenced by its magical scenic landscape that offers fascinating wildlife viewing experience. Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park are done in two sections namely the Narus Valley and the Kidepo Valley along the trails close to the Park’s renowned seasonal River. This National Park is famous for the big cats namely cheetahs, leopards, lions, serval cats and others. Animals to lookout for during a game drive in Kidepo National Park include giraffes, elephants, hyenas, bat-eared fox, caracals, buffaloes, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, klipspringers, waterbucks, bushbucks, black-backed jackals, aardwolves, zebras, hippopotamuses to mention but a few. Kidepo National Park hosts more than 476 bird species including raptors and several other bird types like Abyssinian ground hornbills, red-throated bee-eater, kori bustard to mention but a few. Game drives are done both during the day and night most preferably in the Narus valley since it protects the highest concentration of animals within the entire Park.
Semliki National Park
Semliki National Park is situated in one of Uganda’s remote areas of Bundibugyo district in the western region of the country across the floor of the Semliki Valley west of the Rwenzori Mountains. Semliki National Park is known to harbor up to 60 mammal species and over 441 bird species including the 23 Albertine endemic that can be spotted during game drives in this Park. Day game drives and night game drives can be done in Semliki National Park though the Park is best for night game drives since it harbors several nocturnal animals. Animals to lookout for in Semliki National Park include water chevrotains, African civets, bush babies, African elephants, leopards, buffaloes, pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrel to mention but a few. Semliki National Park has majorly three game drive tracks that cross through the Toro Semliki wildlife reserve that is adjacent to this National Park.
Best time to go for a game drive
Game drives in Uganda can be done any time throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During this period of the year, there is little or no rainfall in Uganda’s savannah National Parks implying that the vegetation is thin while huge concentrations of animals gather around the water sources to take water which enables one to capture them clearly. Access roads and game drive tracks are dry and passable compared to the dry season when they are muddy and slippery.