March 29, 2024

Top 3 Parks For Game Drives In Uganda

Uganda, the “Pearl of Africa”, will not disappoint when it comes to showing off its mother nature. Uganda has ten national parks displaying the best of East Africa. Managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the parks offer ‘traditional’ savanna long with boat tours, forest hikes, mountain climbing and wildlife research activities. Uganda is unrivalled on the continent as a bird watching destination with over 1,000 species of birds several of which are found nowhere else on the planet. With all this and so much more, game drives are worth it in these national parks.
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination and frequently visited. The parks ecosystem include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds.As well as its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history. There are many opportunities for visitors to meet local communities and enjoy storytelling, dance, music and more. The gazetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities.
The game drive is an activity that involves the visitors to drive through the park while viewing animals. The Park has several spots of well maintained game viewing tracks. This park has got over 200 KMs of well maintained game tracks. The best time for game drives is in the morning hours where there are high chances of seeing elephants, buffaloes, lion and a variety of antelopes and other wildlife. For a classic African safari experience, the tracks through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains and the Ishasha Sector offer virtually guaranteed buffalo, antelope and elephant sightings, along with warthogs and baboons. Taking an experienced guide in the early morning or at dusk is the most successful way to track down a pride of lions, and maybe even the odd leopard. Guides are available from 6:30am onwards; morning game drives should be booked the day before.
MUCHISION FALLS
Murchison falls is a home to different wildlife species; over 76 mammal and 451 bird species including the Buffaloes, Jackson hartebeests, Antelopes, Lions, Kobs, Giraffes, Hyenas, Bushbucks, and Warthogs among others. They are widely spread all over the Savannah grasslands, grazing or hunting for prey. This makes the park’s landscape so amazing for game viewing/game driving. Murchison falls national park is positioned in the Northwestern part of Uganda and covers an area of 3,840sq km, about 5-6hours drive from Kampala. It is the country’s oldest and largest national park
There is room for morning and evening game drives in the park. However gameviewing can best be done in the morning from 6:30 am, and if at all you slept in a lodge at the southern bank, you are required to cross the river at the ferry at around 7:00am.There is also another choice of going for an evening game drive that starts around 4:00pm local time and takes between 3 to 4hours
LAKE MBURO PARK
Lake Mburo national park is a compact gem, located conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. It is the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks .Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo National Park now contains much woodland as there are no elephants to tame the vegetation. In the western part of the park, the savanna is interspersed with rocky ridges and forested gorges while patches of papyrus swamp and narrow bands of lush riparian woodland line many lakes. The network of game tracks in the east of the park passes a variety of landscape features; acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rocky outcrops and
seasonally flooded valley floors. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to roam the park in search of wildlife. An alternative view of the park, hopefully including sightings of animals rarely seen during the day, is provided by guided night drives. These start between 6.30-7pm and last two to three hours.
Different vehicles can be used, comfortable, spacious with a pop-up roof in order to view well wildlife and take clear photos. A 4X4 vehicle is advised; this can be a van, small or an extended land cruiser. In the park one can do a self-drive though it’s important to have an armed park ranger guide with you. In addition, park rules are to be followed during game drives.
Interested in a game drive in Murchison falls park, Lake Mburo or Queen Elizabeth national park, you can send us an inquiry to booking@tristarafricaskimmersafaris.com or call us on +256-758540071 to talk to our reservations personel.