Where to Find lions During Uganda Safari

Most of Uganda game Parks hosts lions but chances of finding them are more open in Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. Poaching and setting traps are some of the voices that have claimed a number of lions from different safari destinations un Uganda.

For better chances of finding the lions on Uganda safari, an early rise to start the game drives in the wilderness is very important. Even though the lions donot normally hunt very early morning, you definitely stay hopeful to find them as they position themselves for the day. This time may present more chances to finding a pride of lions before they scatter for the day.

Other than the lions, other animals exist in the game parks of Uganda even though some are just known to be residents to particular destinations. Some animals that may co-exist with lions in the game parks of Uganda Giraffes, Cape Buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, cheetah, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, zebras, jackals to mention but a few.

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Uganda Game Parks With lions

Kidepo Valley National Park

The Kidepo Valley National Park is endowed with huge numbers of game and there are more chances of spotting carnivores in this park. The Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in the North Eastern corner of Uganda, with semi-arid conditions and is the furthest park in Uganda from the capital Kampala at a distance of about 700 Kilometers.

Kidepo Valley National Park is compensates for the long drive by presenting better chances of spotting a variety of wild animals especially the lions. Since this park is Uganda’s game haven, other animals you may get chance to find include bat eared fox, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, side striped jackals, greater and lesser kudus, klipspringer, elephants. Cape buffalos, aardwolf, caracals, Burchell zebras, Bohor reedbucks, Jackson hartebeests chandlers Mountain reedbucks, oribi to mention but a few

A long list of birds species about 463 have been recorded as residents of Kidepo Valley National Park. You can identify these birds if you are in company of a professional and knowledgeable birding guide. Some of the birds of Kidepo Valley National Park include ostriches, Abyssinia roller, yellow  billed and Jackson’s  hornbills, red-throated bee eater, Karamoja Apalises, Egyptian vulture, pygmy falcon, Verreaux’s eagles  and others.

The nature of the vegetation and terrain of this Kidepo Valley National Park favors better game viewing. In general, Kidepo Valley National Park is composed of expanse flat land dominated by open Savannah grasslands which are the prime game viewing areas of the park. When there is drought, water in Kidepo Valley National Park can be accessed from the wetlands and the remnant pools in the southern part of Narus valley. Most wild animals tend to concentrate in this area during the dry season to get access to water and better grass is found in this area too. Lions love sneaking on the animals that make there way to this valley too and chances of witnessing there drama are more open at this location you just need to be patient.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

The lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park have a unique character that is some are tree climbing lions  that love spending part of there day in the fig trees of the Southern sector in remote Ishasha grassland. In general, Queen Elizabeth National Park presents chances of spotting some lions. The Kasenyi grassland the hangout spot for a number of antelopes present better chances of spotting lions in action.

During the game drive on the tracks of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may also spot other animals including herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, topis, leopards, hippos snorting in the ponds around the park and others. The long list of bird species that Queen Elizabeth National Park cannot be ignored as over 605 bird species have been identified as residents of this park.

Taking a launch trip on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park is amazing as this is the congregation for a number of them. The shoreline of Kazinga channel is often visited by several wild animals that move down to quench thirst or take a bath especially during the dry spell. There are chances of spotting lions the await visiting wild animals at this channel.

Spending the night in accommodations within Queen Elizabeth National Park may also present more chances to listen to the roars of these lions. You can also do a night game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park to try and search for the lions that love checking on other animals.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park hosts a number of lions that live together with several other wild animals. Even after Murchison Falls National Park suffered from poaching in 1970s and 1980s the animals can still be seen during the game drive or launch trip.

During a game drive on the Buligi trail in Murchison Falls National Park there are better chances of spotting lions sneaking out to catch a meal for the day. Since Murchison Falls National Park lies a stride River Nile sometimes lions may make there way to the shores to catch a meal for the day.

While on a launch trip on River Nile looks over to the banks of River Nile where several animals normally congregate to quench thirst or take a bath. It is one of the soft spots for lions to capture some vulnerable animals that move down to drink some water.

Other than the lions, Murchison Falls National Park is home to a wide range of animals including giraffes, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, oribi, hartebeests, Uganda kob, elephants and others. A number of birds spend time in the park with so far about 450 bird species registered including White backed night herons, silverbirds, Buff bellied Wabler, Vitelline, Blue Naped Mousebird, Black headed Batis, Pel’s fishing Owl and others.

Other Game Parks in Uganda

lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is another Uganda game park situated in western part. Although there not so many chances of spotting lions or other carnivores in Lake Mburo National Park, some of the animals present include herds Zebras, elands, elephants, Uganda kobs, giraffes,  buffaloes, waterbucks , reedbucks, bushbucks to mention but a few.

lake Mburo National Park is the closest Uganda game park to Entebbe international airport or Kampala the main capital city of Uganda. The time you may take to get to lake Mburo National Park from Kampala is about 3 hours and the distance to cover is about 228 kilometers.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi impenetrable National Park is one of the only homes to the few left over mountain gorillas in the world but no lions have been registered as residents. This pristine forest is a biosphere reserve in southwestern part of Uganda hosting more than 10 primate species, over 51 reptiles, more than 350 bird species including Albertine rift endemics, 20 mammals and others.

Gorilla trekking or Gorilla habituation experience are the main activities known to happen in this park but every participant must book a permit. The Uganda Wildlife Authority has the mandate to sell and regulate all gorilla safari activities of Uganda. A few Uganda gorilla families are open to the public with a maximum of 8 tourists allowed to visit for gorilla trekking and maximum 4 tourists allowed to do gorilla habituation experience

Gorilla trekking and Gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi forest is done on foot but return time is hard to determine as it is influenced by the factors prevailing such as weather conditions, pace, food source location and others.

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is home to the largest number of chimpanzees in Uganda. The park hosts about 12 other primates including blue monkeys, olive baboon, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys and others. The chances of finding a lion in Kibale National Park is next to none but since Kibale National Park is situated closer to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park where they share a 180 kilometers migration corridor this may be possible anytime.

For chimpanzee safaris in Kibale National Park, two sessions happen that is the morning and afternoon however you need a chimpanzee permit to be allowed to participate. You can choose to do either chimpanzees trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience in Kibale National Park. Birding in Kibale National Park is absolutely rewarding with more than 325 bird species so far recorded including a Albertine rift endemics.

Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is another home to the mountain gorillas in Uganda. It so has one fully habituated gorilla family called Nyakagezi open to public booking. There are no traces of lions in Mgahinga National Park so far but records of other mammals living in the park are available. Mgahinga National Park is one of the few destinations that have there virgin appearance.

For gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park, you need a gorilla permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority. only maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit this gorilla family for the day. This was done to minimize the effects of mass tourism to the mountain gorillas that fully depend on the forest for survival.

Other inhabitants of Mgahinga National Park include Olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys. Grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus, golden monkeys and others. There are other residents of Mgahinga forest including over 115 bird species, 39 mammals, different vegetation zones and others.

The presence of the three volcanic mountains that for part of the six Virunga mountains creates a beautiful appearance. The three mountains include mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo and Mountain Muhavura. Hiking any of these mountains may take a day with a guided in your company.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is a pristine forest situated in western part of Uganda. Its varied bird population us exceptional. The vegetation of Semukili National Park is exceptional with species associated with central  Africa rather than East Africa. Its represents the eastern most limit of the great Ituri forest of the Congo Basin.

So far no lions have been discovered in Semuliki National Park but there are 53 mammals so far recorded. Some animals present in Semuliki National Park include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, De Brazzar Monkeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Olive baboons, pottos bush babies and others.

How To Behave While In The Uganda Game Parks

Never get out of your vehicle while on safari or get out in the night without any lodge staff with you because you may encounter carnivores.

Driving off track is forbidden unless you get permission from the Uganda wildlife Authority.

Dangling your limbs out of the windows while on safari is forbidden because you may be attracting animals that may hurt you.

There are no toilet breaks while on game drives because you donot know what is watching you.

 Feeding the wild animals is forbidden because they must search for there own food.

Children must be in the company of parent or guardians while on safari in Uganda Game National Park to avoid chances of getting lost in the jungle.

Littering the park is forbidden especially with none decomposing material like plastic wraps as this changes the nature of the environment where these animals thrive.

Shouting or hooting at animals while on game drive is forbidden because you may cause them to charge at you.

Drive with in the allowed speed limit while on the tracks in Uganda Elizabeth National Park as knocking down any animal is punishable.

When you purchase park entrance fees, they expires after 24 hours from the time you enter the park.

Donot touch the wild animals even though they are harmless as these are still wild.

No swimming in the water bodies within the parks unless those in the lodges like swimming pools. Some of these bodies contain natural chemical with water that may not be suitable to your skin. Several of these water bodies in Queen Elizabeth national Park, Murchison Falls National Park and others have animals like crocodiles that may be dangerous

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