Exploring Uganda’s 3 Top Wildlife Gem Destinations

Uganda is among the leading wildlife destinations on the African continent and the world at large with a variety of wildlife attractions that are evenly distributed all over the country. Currently topping lists of the major world travel magazines, Uganda is a very unique wildlife destination that offers very unique wildlife safari experiences. Let’s look at the major unique wildlife destinations that one must not miss visiting while on an African adventure wildlife safari in Uganda the pearl of Africa.

Kibale Forest – The Primate Capital Of East Africa

This is located in western Uganda and it’s a home to over 13 primate species with chimpanzees being the leading primate attractions, over 300 bird species, a variety of plant vegetation and some mammals like the forest elephants, antelopes, forest hogs among others. Kibale forest has the highest chimpanzee population in east Africa and the world at large, which makes chimpanzee tracking the most carried out wildlife activity. Forest walks to encounter chimpanzees in Kibale forest is done in two shifts; one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Tourists should however ensure to secure their permits on time by buying them directly fro the Uganda Wildlife Authority (www.ugandawildlife.org) or getting them through a tour operator.

Tourists interested in spending the whole day in the forest with the chimpanzees in Kibale forest can opt for the chimpanzee habituation experience that starts early in the morning and ends in the evening. This gives tourists a chance to get to know more about the chimpanzees by closely observing how they carry on while in the forest. The guides employed here are well informed with all the necessary information that a tourist might be interested in and usually give this information to the tourists as they carry on in the forest expedition.

North of Kibale forest is the semuliki valley national park, which is yet another very unique wildlife gem. This national park is very unique mainly because of the central African wildlife species it boosts. This national park is a home to wild animals like the Uganda Kob, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, bird species like the great blue Turaco, the white crested horn bill, the shoebill stork among others.

The Sempaya hot springs are very outstanding and among the visit attractions while in semuliki valley national park. Boiling eggs in the water from the hot spring takes less than five minutes. The major wildlife species here can be explored while on nature walks in the forest and while on game drives.

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park

This national park is located in western Uganda and its where adventures to the snowcapped peaks of the Rwenzori mountains are experienced. This is the only place in Uganda where tourists can experience snow however to get to it tourists first hike to the top. A hike to the top of the Rwenzori’s offers great views of the unique Afro montane vegetation species that are found in no other place in Uganda. This national park is also a home to the rare three-horned chameleon that can be sited while on the forest walk. Other major wildlife species in this forest include the giant forest hogs, forest elephants. The Rwenzori mountain national park is very unique wildlife destination and it was for such reasons that the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization named it as a world heritage site and a Ramsar site.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Popular for the highest mountain gorilla population, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is among the most visited wildlife destinations in Uganda. The national park is a haven to 10 habituated mountain gorilla families and with other two gorilla families under going the gorilla habituation process.

Mountain gorilla safari in Bwindi gives tourists a chance to spend one full hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas while the chimpanzee habituation experience gives tourists a chance to spend four full hours with the gorillas. Tourists should however ensure to secure permits early enough to avoid missing out.

Posted in Uganda.

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