Introduction
Uganda has 10 national parks however only 5 parks have game wildlife where you can engage in game drives. These are Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Semliki National Park. Each national park has unique wildlife and therefore as you enjoy the game drives, you will have different experiences. For you to enjoy a game drive, you are encouraged to go with a ranger guide who best knows the animal trucks and for security purposes while you are in the jungle.
These national parks have different entry charges for example Murchison Falls National Park entry fee is USD 45 for foreign non-residents, USD 35 for foreign residents, USD 30 for the rest of Africans, and UGX 25,000 for East Africans. Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park have the same entry charges of USD 40 for foreign non-residents, USD 30 for foreign residents, USD 25 for the rest of Africans, and UGX 20,000 for East Africans. Semliki National Park charges USD 35 for foreign non-residents, USD 25 for foreign residents, USD 20 for the rest of Africa, and UGX 15,000 for East Africans.
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s open savannah national park famous for tree-climbing lions which are found in the Ishasha sector. The endless plains of Kasenyi in the northeastern part of the park are where most of the animals can be spotted. Kasenyi has more animal trails compared to other parts of the park and there is much concentration of animals. For example, herds of elephants, buffaloes, kobs, warthogs, hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions, and leopards. However, the Ishasha sector offers a spectacular encounter of wildlife for example buffaloes, hippos, elephants, topis, elephants, tree climbing lions, among other animals.
Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda’s highway park with a high concentration of animals that can be sighted during game drives. The park has also animal tracks that you will follow when you are on the game drive including the zebra track which leads you to the zebra herds. However, there are other animals you will spot while on this track including oribis, impalas, bushbucks, reedbucks, and great elands, this track connects to the Ruroko track and you will be able to spot Klipspringers, birds among other wildlife. There is also Kazuma track, a track that connects through grassland and this is where most of the black-bellied bustards can be seen. This track will take you to great heights which give you the best view of the park.
Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park located in the northwestern part of the country and it lies ahead of the great western Rift valley. The park is famous for harboring the strongest waterfalls in the world where the Nile River forces its water into a 7-meter gorge producing a thunderous roar. This has made the park the most visited national park in Uganda. Game drives in Murchison Falls National Park take place in the northern part of the park because there is a high animal concentration. The northern area is open with grasslands and forests that favor both grazers and browsers. The park is divided into the southern and northern banks divided by the Nile River however, the southern bank is not favorable for game drives. There are two types of game drives in Murchison Falls National Park morning game drive and evening game drive. There is also a night game drive where you can spot nocturnal animals.
Game drives in Semliki National Park
Semliki National Park is the least visited national park however game drives in Semliki are worth a visit. The park has more forests and during your game drives expect to encounter forest elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, crocodiles, bush babies, and warthogs among other animals. Game drives in Uganda last for about 3 to 4 hours depending on where you will find the animals and your schedule as well.
