Where to see Giraffes on a Game Drive in Uganda. Uganda hosts the Rothschild giraffes, and these live in National Parks. These include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park. If your niche is to see giraffes in Uganda, you should go to these three destinations. Then, you’ll have a high chance to spot the long necks of these ungulates, the giraffes.
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We advise tourists to have an open mind during Uganda safaris. This is because most wild animals traverse the National Parks freely. Therefore, it is hard to specify where they spend their day.
To get the best results from your Uganda game safari in these National parks, it is best to do early morning and late afternoon game drives. During this time, most wild animals are either emerging from their night hideouts or returning home.
In case you are doing a film, photography, or research about the giraffes, you need to specify your reason for wanting to see the giraffes. This allows us to make special arrangements for you while on safari.
During the game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, or Murchison Falls National Park, you may spot other animals. These include lions, waterbucks, bushbucks, cheetahs, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, reedbucks, aardvarks, and many others. Although you may see all these animals in these national parks, there is a lot more to see while on a Uganda safari.
Where To See Giraffes on a Game Drive In Uganda
Murchison Falls National Park
Where to see Giraffes on a Game Drive in Uganda- Murchison Falls National Park. Bisected by the Victoria Nile to form the north and southern sectors is Murchison Falls National Park. This park lies on the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley. Here, the bulky Bunyoro escarpments merge into the vast plains of Acholiland. Murchison Falls National Park covers about 3893 square kilometers. However, Karuma and Bugungu wildlife reserves adjoin the park, covering all 5072 square kilometers of land.
During the game drive on the northern banks of Murchison Falls National Park, you see giraffes. This happens especially when taking the Buligi trails. You have a chance to see several other wild animals. These include giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, hartebeest, elephants, and cape buffaloes. Other animals include oribis, warthogs, leopards, hippos, and others. The River Nile corridor provides a water source for their animals all year round.
While on a launch trip in Murchison Falls National Park, you get the opportunity to spot several wild animals. They always move to the shore to quench their thirst. The launch trip to Murchison Falls departs daily at 0900 and 1400 hours.
Along the way, you have chances to spot the giraffes that move to the shores to quench their thirst. Other animals you may spot on the shores include herds of buffalo, elephants, waterbucks, and bushbucks. Also, you can see lions, leopards, hartebeest, crocodiles, monitor lizards, warthogs, and others.
What else to see in Murchison?
Chimpanzee trekking in the Kaniyo Pabidi forest is exciting. It also allows you to look for other primates. These include blue monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, and others.
A variety of birds flock to the showers of the River Nile to feast on the freebies in the marshy shoreline. Some of the birds include yellow-footed flycatchers, ituri Batis, Black-headed Gonolek, and Vitelline Masked Weaver Pytilia. Others include Blue-naped Mousebird, Spotted Morning Thrush, and others.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Where to see Giraffes on a Game Drive in Uganda: Kidepo Valley National Park. Placed in the northeastern corner of Uganda is Kidepo Valley National Park, famous for its long list of wild animals. These include ungulates like Rothschild giraffes, cape buffaloes, Bohor reedbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, and oribis. You can also see bush pigs, Jackson’s hartebeests, cheetahs, and others.
So many carnivores spend their daytime in the plains of Kidepo Valley National Park, prowling among the ungulates. Some of them include bat-eared foxes, striped hyenas, aardwolves, caracals, cheetahs, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and so many others.
Kidepo Valley National Park also boasts a long list of bird species. More than 463 bird species are residents here. Some of the birds in Kidepo Valley National Park include ostriches, Kori bustards, and Abyssinian scimitarbill. You also see yellow-billed and Jackson’s hornbill, little green and red-throated bee-eaters, and others.
To enjoy the best of Kidepo Valley National Park, you drive through tracks that go through the Narus Valley. This is where most wild animals normally congregate. The Morungule mountains rise above the plains a few kilometers northeast of Apoka. With a ranger guide, you can explore their stunning beauties.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park hosts some giraffes that the Uganda Wildlife Authority reintroduced there. It did so after realizing that they could survive in the environment of this park. Lake Mburo National Park lies in western Uganda and is the closest Ugandan national Park to Kampala, as it takes about 3 to 4 hours to get there.
The different vegetation zones of this park favor the survival of various ungulates, including Rothschild giraffes. Other animals that live in Lake Mburo National Park include herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, and impalas. You can also see waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, elands, Impalas, Bohor reedbucks, Oribi, Burchell Zebras, and others. Interestingly, you can explore wildlife in Lake Mburo on horseback or while cycling.
The bird list of Lake Mburo National Park is long, with chances of spotting different bird species. These include the African finfoot, saddle-billed stork, Tabora cisticola, great snipe, Abyssinian ground hornbill, white-winged warbler, and others.
When Is The Best Time To Plan A Uganda Safari To See Giraffes?
Planning a Uganda safari to see giraffes is open all year round. However, the dry season is better and more popular because the grass is shorter, making it easy to see giraffes. Even though giraffes are tall, the high bushes and thickets may cover their bodies during the rainy season. This thus obstructs you from clearly taking and filming photos.
Generally, the dry season in Uganda is normally from June to September and from December to February, if all factors are kept constant. The dry season is also the peak of Uganda’s tourism season. Thus, timely booking for logistics to support your Uganda safari is necessary.
If you wish to see the birth of infants in the wild, the wet season may provide you with the right opportunity. In general, the wet season in Uganda is normally from March to May and from late September to November. The grass in these game parks is taller, providing a suitable environment to hide infants from predators.
Also, there are fewer vehicles on the tracks of these Ugandan game parks during this time. Thus, there’s nothing to disrupt your chance to observe and take enough photos of the giraffes, plus other wild animals that you get the opportunity to see.
How much is a Uganda game Safari?
The cost of a Uganda game safari depends on the safari package you choose. However, the cost of the park entrance fees per individual cuts across all budgets. At Anthill Safaris, we package Uganda safaris according to high-end, mid-range, and basic. When you enquire (for example, by filling out the form at the end of the article) from us about your Uganda safari specifying national parks with giraffes, our tour consultant works with you to customize an itinerary that suits your interests and budget.
When costing the Uganda safari inclusive of destinations hosting giraffes, there are some of the items we consider to make a quotation. These include the number of people you’re traveling with, accommodation costs, transport costs, and others.
How Safe Is Uganda For A Safari?
Uganda is safe for safari,s as there are Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides on the ground. These give protection to the wild animals, their habitat, and visitors in the parks. There are several checkpoints in and out of these game parks. Also, ranger guides often patrol the park to check on the security status.
In these Uganda game parks are other Uganda security agencies who work closely with park authorities and ranger guides to keep law and order.
As a tourist, you must report to the park headquarters to register your presence in these national parks. Also, you should follow the game safari guidelines while in the game parks. This helps you not to fall prey to predators in these game parks. Some of them include not getting out of your room at night when staying within or on the outskirts of the game parks, as this is dangerous, and making short calls in the park because you are not sure of what is watching you and others.
Do hire a vehicle in good condition for your Uganda safari. This will help you avoid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere while on a Uganda safari. You may fall prey to carnivores in the wilderness.
What else to do on the Uganda safari?
Gorilla Safaris In Uganda
You can do gorilla trekking, where you have only one hour with a fully habituated gorilla family. The gorilla habituation experience is open to the public, too, where you spend four hours with a semi-habituated gorilla family.
Two destinations are home to the mountain gorillas in Uganda. These are: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. One must secure a gorilla permit to do either of these activities.
Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda
Uganda hosts a population of about 5000 chimpanzees. They live in destinations like Kibale National Park, Kaniyo Pabidi, Kalinzu Forest, Budongo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and others. You can do chimpanzee trekking, where tourists have only one hour with a fully habituated chimpanzee community. Alternatively, you can go for a chimpanzee habituation experience. The experience allows tourists to spend four hours with a semi-habituated chimpanzee community. You must book a chimpanzee permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority for either activity.
Golden Monkey Safaris in Uganda
Golden monkeys are some of the endangered primates in the world, currently living in a few destinations like the Mgahinga forest in Uganda. They live in communities under the leadership of an alpha male. Golden monkeys have golden brown hair on their lower body and a larger body structure compared to other monkeys.
Although golden monkeys are habituated, they still possess their charming nature. You must secure a golden monkey safari permit to do golden monkey trekking or a golden monkey habituation experience.
Birding in Uganda
Uganda boasts a long list of over 1000 bird species, a list compared to no other in Africa. Different Uganda safari destinations can be added to your list of sights to visit for the Uganda birding adventure. Some of the Uganda birding destinations include the Mabamba swamp, Mabira forest, Mpanga forest, Bwindi forest, Mgahinga forest, Lake Bunyonyi, and Musambwa Island, to mention but a few. Keen birders on Uganda safaris have a long list of destinations to choose from, including game parks.
Whitewater rafting on a Uganda safari
No experience is needed for you to feel the thrill of whitewater rafting on a Uganda safari, as on the ground are experienced and knowledgeable instructors to take you through all the necessary procedures. You can do white water rafting at Itanda Falls in Jinja or in Murchison Falls National Park.
Mountain climbing on the Uganda safari
Uganda is endowed with several highlands that you can hike in a day or more. You can hike the Rwenzori mountain ranges that overlook Queen Elizabeth National Park. The trek may take about 7 days or more to get to Margherita Peak. Guided excursion mountaineering is possible too at Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo, and Mountain Gahinga.
What Is The Packing List For The Uganda Safari?
- A travel Journal to take notes of your moments on the Uganda safari
- Binoculars to get a clearer view of the far-ranging attractions in the park.
- Sunscreen to smear on your body in case stinging insects attack you during the game drives or Boat ride
- A torch to use for lighting when the lights go out, especially at night. Most accommodations in Uganda National Parks use solar power.
- Pack wilderness friend wear, but try to avoid bright colors as these may be misunderstood by animals and insects,s and they attack you.
- A camera to take photos and keep as memories of your Uganda safari
- Some hard cash to change into local currency in case you wish to do any local transactions. Credit cards are not commonly used in Uganda because of their lengthy procedures.
- Carry an extra fully charged battery for the camera or your phone to exchange with when one runs low.
- Insect repellent is important as the wilderness is a habitat for several insects that may be stingers.
- Pack a First Aid kit just in case of an injury while in the wilderness,s and if you have any personal illness. Do not forget some of the health documents from your doctor.
- Toiletries, just in case the lodge doesn’t provide
- Energy snacks to bite while on game drives and other activities in the park.
