The Big Five Games in Uganda

The Big Five Games in Uganda, Uganda to be called the Pearl of Africa was an appreciation to the nature gifting upon the country. Among the amazing splendors of Uganda are the Big Five Games (Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino). Uganda has a total of 10 National Parks which are key tourist destinations as well home to the Big Five Mammals.

From the 5 special savannah parks, one can be able to sight some of these special encounters. Though the Big Five count was less, the introduction of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary made it complete with the missed rhinos. Uganda safaris are mainly attached to finding the Big Five Games, and this is the most common safari trends done in Uganda. The beautiful nature and erratic landscape and vegetation that accommodates varieties of wildlife species feature on the world best adventure spots.

Why they’re the Big Five Mammals?

The name Big Five Games started a bit earlier by the ancient rich European hunters (trophy hunters). The hunters could travel to Africa for wild hunting activities, but they encountered hard time of hunting these animals. The animals included the elephants, leopards, lions, buffalos and rhinos.

The Big Five are not called big five because of hung size, according to the trophy hunters considered the aggressiveness to attack the armed trophy hunters. Also the ability of these mammals to camouflage making it difficult to be hunted down. Then, as well the big five mammals have a big impact on the ecosystem.

Today, the big five mammals hunting still continues, this time not by trophy hunters but with lenses shoots and views. This is mainly done comfortably seated in the 4×4 safari customized safari vehicle. The Big Five today top on the travel list for travelers opting for a safari to Uganda.

Why to find the Big Five Games in Uganda?

Any safari to any of the savannah park of Uganda expect to encounter some of the Big Five Games. Should not this that there is no National Park in Uganda with a complete list of the Big Five. Some of the parks have a maximum of 4 mammals out of the 5 which can be found in various places.

So, parks like Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park, there are chances of seeing lions, leopards, buffalos, and elephants. But Lake Mburo has one three lion, leopards and buffalos, no elephants. And Semuliki National Park has a chance of watching any of the four.

A complete Big Five safari in Uganda should include Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is the only destination to find rhinos in their natural environment. Rhinos had extinct from Uganda’s wild due to encroachments and poaching but in 2005, the story about rhinos in Uganda was rewrote. Thus add Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to your travel itinerary for a chance to a complete Big Five Game encounters.

The Big Five Game

African Lions (Panthera leo)

The King of the Jungle, the bravest among the wild mammals and considered the most dangerous. Lions live in a group called pride, are very social animals that live in groups of about 30 individuals. Lions live in savannahs grasslands, scrub, and open woodlands of mainly in the sub-Saharan Africa. The availability of food and water determines the number of lions in the pride. In Uganda, mainly lions are found savannah parks of Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Best lion experience in Uganda is offered at Queen Elizabeth National Park, this where you find lions chilling on tree branches (tree climbing lions). Adventures like tree climbing lion tracking and lion experiential are customized for only Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lions are one of the exciting encounters on an adventure in Uganda especially on a game drive in any of the savannah parks. However, finding the lions is not a guarantee find them.

African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana)

The Wild largest animals found in both tropics and savannahs. The elephants in Uganda are mainly called the African/ Savannah elephants and mainly are found in the savannahs. Elephants have a life span of 50 to 70 years but some can grow to up to 80years. In Uganda there are two types’ elephants in Uganda’s wild, the forest elephants and the savannah elephants. There are about 5,000 elephants recorded in Uganda’s wild today.  However the forest elephants are very aggressive, these are commonly found in tropical forests Bwindi, Mgahinga, kibale, Bundongo. The landscape savannahs of Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Kidepo Valley and Semuliki National Parks accommodates the highest concentration of elephants in Uganda.

Leopard (Panthera Pardus)

The secretive, solitary and elusive leopards are Uganda’s largest carnivore species. Leopards are among the hardest animals to track on a drive into the savannahs. Among the big five, leopards are the most challenging animals to spot for a sight. Leopards spend most of their daytime scrolling into the caves, scrubs and in tree branches. They are only active during night hours with clear vision, active and hunting at night. Leopard is surely a second largest carnivore cat in the wild. Lake Mburo National Park is one of the best areas to spot leopards. Particularly best leopard spots is during the night game drives done at L. Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley.

Rhinos

These are also known as Rhinoceros, they’re large almost next to elephants. They’re identical with their short horned snouts. The rhinos are globally have massive bodies, stumpy legs and having a poor sight, retain a very sensitive smelling and hearing senses. Once rhino got extinct from Uganda due to poaching activities. After about 20 years in 2005 rhinos were revived in Uganda. Rhino Fund Uganda revived rhino initiative were 5 rhinos were reintroduced at the private ranch of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.  Meanwhile today, there are over 25 rhinos being monitored at Ziwa ranch. There are plans by UWA to reintroduce rhinos back to national parks first Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.

The African Cape Buffalos

A can’t miss on any of the safari adventure in Uganda. Buffalos are very common species contributing a highest number of animals in Uganda Parks. The African buffalos are very dangerous of all game species seen on Uganda safari, especially if wounded or solitary. Its reputation has given the buffalo the status of being one of the “big five” recognized worldwide. African buffalo are huge, even-toed ungulates, characterized by their stocky build and heavy horns. The Buffalos can be seen almost in all national, and game reserves.