Animals of Uganda

No trip to Africa is complete without going on a safari. Here’s a guide to some of the wildlife you can expect to see in Uganda.

Crested crane

The crested crane is the national bird of Uganda. The birds plumage includes the colours of the national flag, black, red and yellow. It is a large but gentle bird most often seen poking about in water.

Gorillas

Bwindi National Park on the Western border with Congo is the place to see Gorillas. For the protection of the Gorilla families tour numbers are limited, making permits extremely expensive and often booked-up well in advance. If you want to see the Gorillas you definitely need to plan ahead.

Monkeys

Vervet monkeys and baboons are very common however, so if they will satisfy your monkey-fix you are unlikely to leave disappointed.

Kudu

Kudu are one breed of Uganda’s antelopes. They are shy in nature but relatively common and often live in small groups. They are often found in dry areas of savannah. They have small horns and have stripes or patterns on their bodies, which camouflage them from predators.

Lions

Lion numbers have declined significantly in Uganda but there are still some living in a few of the National Parks.

Rhinos

The two species of rhino that once roamed Uganda have largely been wiped out although there are projects working to reintroduce them.

Warthogs

There is something so characterful about warthogs. Is it the way they trot about, almost skittering? Is it that they are charmingly ugly? I’m not sure, but there are plenty in Uganda if like me, you have a soft spot for them.

Elephant

Elephants are many peoples favourite African animals. There are lots of African elephants in Uganda where they lead a largely peaceful life with few being killed by poachers each year.

Hippos

Uganda’s hippo population is thriving. Or at least it certainly was around Lake Albert, in the South West of the country, when I was there. The hippos spend most of their time lurking in the shallows but occasionally have disputes. If you do forget they are around, you will quickly realise again when you hear their huffing and grunting along the waterfront.