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Uganda Wild Animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park-Wildlife Species/Animals of Uganda
Uganda wild animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park- wildlife species/animals of Uganda are widely recognized to be highly concentrated in one place.
A census in the 1970s revealed that this park harbored the highest quantity of herbivores on planet earth!
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to an extensive diversity of wildlife in Uganda. This is one of the reasons it was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The park boasts over 95 mammal species, which vindicates it as one of the best Uganda safari parks to experience the wildlife of Uganda.
Four of the “big five” wild animals of Africa also settle in Queen Elizabeth National Park. They are the Lions, African Elephants, African Buffaloes, and Leopards.
Tree-climbing lions and Hippos are the most acknowledged wild animals in this park by Uganda tourists. This is because the park is one of the only two places in the world where there are tree-climbing lions. The second destination is Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 76 lions out of the estimated 400 in Uganda! These lions are both tree-climbing and ground-dwelling.
Moreover, it was declared a lion conservation unit in 2006 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN. This was one of the ways to protect the tree-climbing lions from human-lion conflicts.
In addition, the park hosts the highest world concentration of Hippos in one place that is, at the Kazinga Channel. There are over 5000 Hippos stretched in this stream.
The Elephant population has also grown to over 4000 and the Buffaloes to over 1700.
This shows how the park healed over the years from the extreme poaching of previous nationally unstable years. Consequently, wildlife safaris in Uganda have also improved because of this stability.
Other wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the large herds of Antelopes.
This includes the Royal antelope which is the smallest in the world. Others are the endangered Chimpanzees and nine other primate species.
Other than mammals, Queen Elizabeth National Park also hosts many reptiles like the Nile Crocodiles and many Amphibians too.
You can experience Uganda wildlife tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park on a safari game drive, and a boat cruise at Kazinga Channel.
The wild animals are widely spread in the vast landscape of wetlands, swamps, savannah woodlands, tropical forests, and grassy plains.
These sectors include among others the Kasenyi area, the Ishasha sector, the Kazinga Channel area, the Maramagambo Forest area, Mweya Peninsula, and the Kyambura Gorge area.
The highest number of animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park is in the Kasenyi plains.
Ishasha Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts the tree-climbing Lions. On the other hand, the Kyambura Gorge has the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve which protects the Chimpanzees.
There is no shadow of a doubt that Queen Elizabeth National Park is indeed a “medley of wonders”. The park is a big contributor to your Uganda wildlife safaris.
Below, we break down the animals found in Queen Elizabeth National Park/mammals.
Uganda Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park | List of Animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park
What animals are in Queen Elizabeth National Park? The park adorns the precious wildlife of Uganda.
Below are the most renowned animals in Uganda, Africa’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Carnivores
| 1. Lions 2. Leopards 3. Spotted Hyenas | 4. Side-Striped Jackal 5. Serval Cats 6. African Civets |
Herbivores
| 7. Hippopotamus 8. African Bush Elephant 9. Cape Buffalo 10. Uganda Kobs 11. Bush Buck 12. Topi 13. Defassa’s Waterbuck | 14. Common Warthogs 15. Forest Hogs 16. Bush pigs 17. Sitatunga 18. Oribis 19. Bohor Reedbuck |
Queen Elizabeth National Park Primates
| 20. Chimpanzees 21. Olive Baboons 22. Black and White Colobus Monkey 23. Vervet Monkeys 24. Red-Tailed Monkeys | 25. Blue Monkeys 26. L’Hoest’s Monkey 27. Red Colobus Monkeys 28. Bush Babies 29. Potto |
Reptile
| 30. Nile Crocodile |
Let’s dive into the detailed study of the most common wild animals in this park!
Carnivores Wild Animals Of Uganda In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda Lions In Queen Elizabeth National Park | Are There Lions In Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park | Queen Elizabeth National Park Lions
Uganda Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park are one of the great animals of Uganda to behold during your Uganda safari!
In 2006, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the park a Lion conservation unit. They also classified the cats as vulnerable. This is due to their population decrease since the early 1990s.
There are about 76 lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which are a big part of its Uganda tours and safaris.
These large cats are scientifically called Panthera Leo and they are native to Africa and India.
They are also known as the “kings of the jungle” because of their rare dominance and physical strength
The Etymology Of The Lion (Panthera Leo)
The names “Lion” and “Panthera” are from the ancient Greek root words “Leon” and “panther” respectively.
“Panthera” identifies the kind of large cats that belong to the family of panthers.
Physical Description
The lion is sexually dimorphic. This means that the males and the females look different.
The male has a brownish noticeable mane with yellow, orange-brown, and black hair. The projecting mane covers its head, neck, chest, and shoulders.
The female is different in the lack of a mane.
However, they both have a macular and broad-chested body, a short round head and ears, and a dark hairy tuft at the tip of their tail.
Still, the male has broader features than the female.
Their fur color differs in degree from the light buff, yellowish red or orange, dark brown, and silvery grey. Yet, their underparts are lighter.
A newborn cub has dark spots which fade as it grows even though they can remain on its legs and underparts.
Social Life and Community Structure
The lion animals of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park are very social.
They live in prides of about 15 members which consist of adult males, females, and cubs.
A female pride regularly hunts on large ungulates together.
The lion is more active during the day but can adapt to being nocturnal under certain circumstances.
It spends most of its daytime walking, eating, and resting while the night is for socializing, hunting, and grooming.
The tree-climbing Lions in Ishasha spend most of their time on trees from where they can easily view their prey.
Male cubs leave their mother’s pride at two or three years when they have matured.
Males and females defend pride together, even though the male leader is physically fit for this duty.
Males also protect their pride from other outside males who may want to assume power in the pride.
Feeding and Diet
A lion is called a “keystone predator” because it preys more than it scavenges.
This carnivore preys more on ungulates like the antelopes and African buffaloes and avoids big animals like elephants, rhinos, and hippos for safety.
Reproduction
Lions mate any time of the year although the females are polyestrous. They mate with more than one male when they are in heat.
The gestation period of a lion is about 110 days. The female gives birth privately to a litter of about one to four cubs. She may give birth in a cave, an isolated den, or a thicket.
Her cubs are born blind, and helpless and weigh about 1.2 to 2.1 kilograms. They can only crawl after a day or two after birth and can walk in about three weeks.
A mother protects are cubs from predators by moving from one den to another now and then every month. She carries them one at a time by the back of their neck to the new den.
The lifespan of a lion in the wild is about 12 to 16 years.
Distribution Of Uganda Lions In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park tree-climbing lions occupy the Ishasha sector.
However, sometimes they wander in the Kasenyi plains where they can easily hunt for the large prey of antelopes. In Kasenyi are three prides of lions which are a major tourist attraction in this region.
Visitors can see them during a lion-tracking adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda tour.
This experience incorporates you closely studying the life of these lions and contributing to the research data through your findings.
Leopard (Panthera Pardus)
The Leopard is also one of the animals of Uganda In Queen Elizabeth National Park.
It is a widely spread big wild cat native to most parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
The Etymology Of The Leopard
The name leopard roots from the Greek words “leon” meaning “lion” and “pardos” meaning “male panther”.
Just like the Lion, this cat also comes from the family of panthers.
Physical Description
This cat is sexually dimorphic in a way that the males are larger and heavier than the females.
Males are between 60 to 70 cm tall while females are 57 to 64 cm.
They are similarly muscular with a broad head and fairly short limbs.
Leopards also have black spots on their light-colored bodies.
Social Life and Community Structure
The leopard is a solitary and territorial cat that only associates with others during the mating season.
This cat is normally shy and vigilant of its environment.
It is believed that the spots on its back and tail help in communication.
They are tree-climbing creatures that are more active at night than during the day.
Feeding and Diet
The carnivore leopard mostly preys on mid-sized animals ungulates like the bushbuck and duikers. The leopard can hunt and keep its prey for feeding later.
They seldom hunt large mammals to avoid being harmed by them.
The leopard hunts in the stages of stalking, killing, and dragging the prey to its hiding place.
Reproduction
The gestation period of a leopard is about 90 to 105 days.
The females give birth privately in a cave, thicket, or any other hidden place to a litter of about 2 to 4 cubs.
They are born with closed eyes that open in about 9 days.
The lifespan of a leopard is about 12 to 17 years.
Distribution In Queen Elizabeth National Park
You can see the leopards in the Kasenyi Plains.
Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta Crocuta)
The spotted hyena is also called the laughing hyena.
It is another of the animals of Uganda In Queen Elizabeth National Park native to sub-Saharan Africa.
This carnivore is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as “least concern”. This is because of its wide population.
- The Etymology of Spotted Hyenas
The name of the spotted Hyena originates from the Latin word “crocutus” which means ‘saffron-colored one’ in a way to refer to the color of its fur.
Physical Description
The spotted hyena has strong forequarters and weak hindquarters.
It also has a strong neck and a rounded rump that protects it from predators.
The animal has a wide and flat head and a muzzle with a broad rhinarium.
The spotted hyena is different from the striped hyena by its rounded spotted ears rather than the pointed ones of the striped hyena.
It has webbed feet with short claws, and a short tail too.
The color of their fur changes with the growth stage but generally, they either have a pale greyish-brown or yellowish-grey color with round spots on their back and hind limbs.
These spots have different colors ranging from red, deep brown, or black.
The spots are also more faintly spread on the legs and belly.
Social Life and Community Structure
The Spotted Hyenas are social mammals who stay in big united groups called clans.
These clans are led by the females who rule over the males. It is a few cases where the male leads the clan.
A female cub usually takes over matriarch leadership when its mother dies. This shows nepotism in their leadership structure.
Feeding and Diet
The Spotted Hyena is very carnivorous and is well known to be a predator and not a scavenger.
It prefers mid-sized ungulates like the antelopes.
Reproduction
The Spotted Hyena breeds any time of the year although the peak of its breeding season is the wet season.
Its gestation period can go up to 110 days.
The Spotted Hyena gives birth through the narrow clitoris which breaks during birth and so the birth process is very difficult for them.
Cubs have soft, brownish-black hair and weigh about 1.5 kg. Young ones become sexually mature at three years and their lifespan is about 12 years.
Distribution In Queen Elizabeth National Park
You can see them at the Kasenyi plains.
Side-Striped Jackal (Lupulella Adusta)
The Side-Striped Jackal is also one of the carnivore animals of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Physical Description
The side-striped jackal is a mid-sized carnivore of about 6.5 to 14 kg.
It has buff-grey fur with a darker grey back than the underside.
They also have long, curved canines that favor their omnivore diet.
Feeding and Diet
The Side-Striped Jackal is an omnivore but less of a carnivore than it is an herbivore.
Its diet mostly consists of invertebrates, small mammals, and fruits.
Social Life and Community Structure
The Side-Striped Jackal lives both alone and in family communities of around seven members.
Breeding pairs stay monogamous for many years, and they dominate the family group.
- Reproduction
The gestation period of the Side-Striped Jackal is about 57 to 70 days and it gives birth to a litter of between three to six young ones.
The young ones are sexually mature at 6 to 8 months, but leave their mother at 11 months.
Distribution In Queen Elizabeth National Park
They wonder about the Kasenyi plains or the Ishasha sector’s woodland and scrubs.
Serval Cats(Leptailurus Serval)
The Serval Cat is native to Africa and the only member of the genus Leptailurus.
The Etymology of the Serval Cats
The name Leptailurus roots from the Greek word “leptos” meaning “fine or delicate” and “ailouros” meaning “cat”.
Physical Description
Serval Cats are slender, mid-sized cats of about 54 to 62 cm.
They have small heads, large ears, and golden-yellow to buff spots on their back with black stripes. These cats also have short tails with a black color at the end of them.
Their legs are the longest in the cat family.
They also have whitish chins and whiskers, brown or green eyes, spots and streaks on their cheeks
Social Life and Community Structure
Serval Cats are active both during the day and at night.
They spend the day resting and grooming and usually walk 2 to 4 kilometers every night.
These animals are also solitary and the only bonding relationship is between a mother and a kitten.
Feeding and Diet
The Serval Cat animals of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park feed on rodents, rats, small birds, reptiles, frogs, and insects.
They trace their prey by their strong sense of hearing. On sensing its prey, it remains motionless for about 15 minutes and then attacks the prey with its strong front paws.
With prey being helpless, it then bites its neck and kills it.
Reproduction
Serval cats mate once or twice a year.
The gestation period is about two to three months, during which the female births a litter of between one to four kittens.
Mothers wean the kittens at one month and they start hunting for their own food at six months. They become independent at around 12 months.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
You can spot them in the Kasenyi plains.
African Civets (Civettictis Civetta)
African Civets are native to sub-Saharan Africa.
They are listed as “Least Concern” on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature red List from 2008.
The Etymology of the African Civets
The French and the Greek merged the words “civette” and “ictis” respectively to get the name “Civettictis” which means “weasel”.
The name civetta and “civet” are believed to originate from the French word “civette” meaning “civet cat”
Physical Description
African Civets have a cat-like appearance with black and white spots on their brownish-grey fur.
They also measure about 17 to 28 inches long.
Social Life and Community Structure
The African Civet is a solitary mammal that is primarily nocturnal.
They are also territorial, and when threatened, they raise their dorsal crest to appear larger.
Feeding and Diet
African Civets are mostly omnivorous and they prey on small vertebrates and invertebrates, eggs, carrion, and vegetable matter.
They sense their prey mainly by smell and sound and not by sight.
Reproduction
Females African Civets are polyestrous, and they mate for about 40 to 70 seconds, mostly in the rainy season.
They give birth in a nest made in a hole dug by another animal.
The female produces one to four crawling young ones with short dark furs.
Even though young ones leave the nest at 18 days, the mother still protects and gives them milk for more than two months.
Their life span is about 15 – 20 years.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They stay in the Maramagambo forest.
Other carnivore wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Mongoose
Mongooses also support wildlife tours in Uganda through Mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Mweya Peninsula.
Examples of mongooses in Queen Elizabeth National Park include the
- Banded Mongoose
- Greater Grey Mongoose
- Lesser Slender Mongoose
- White-Tailed Mongoose
- Marsh Mongoose
Physical Description
Mongooses are small weasel-like animals with long bodies, short legs, small ears, pointed faces, and long furry tails.
They have five toes on every foot, grayish-brown fur, and are sometimes mistaken to be rodents.
Feeding
Mongooses are predators who feed on rodents, reptiles, birds, insects, frogs, and worms.
Reproduction
They have a gestation period of about 42 to 105 days depending on the mongoose species. A female gives birth to about one to four offspring.
African Wild Cat (Felis Lybica)Physical Description
The African Wild Cat is identical to the domestic cat but has a reddish color, longer legs, and a long thin, tail.
Feeding
It is a solitary nocturnal cat that hunts and feeds majorly on birds and small mammals.
Reproduction
Its gestation period is about 56 to 68 days and the female gives birth to a litter of about 2 – 4 kittens.
Honey Badger(Mellivora Capensis)
Physical Description
A Honey Badger has grey hair from its eyes, tail tip, and black underparts. They also have tiny ears, stout legs, and big claws.
Feeding
They mostly feed on reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds, and mammals. They also eat roots, fruits, berries, and bulbs.
Reproduction
The Honey Badger has a gestation period of about 7 to 10 weeks in which the female produces one cub or rarely two offspring.
Aardvarks (Orycteropus Afer)
Physical Description
Aardvarks are shy animals with thick bodies, pinkish-gray or grayish-brown skin, a long nose, and a short tail.
Also, they have the face of a pig and the ears of a rabbit.
Feeding
Aardvarks are nocturnals that sense ants and termites using the smell of their long nose.
These also rarely feed on beetle larvae.
Reproduction
The gestation period of the Advark is about eight months, and it produces one offspring.
Genets( Genetta)
Physical Description
Genets are long-bodied catlike animals with small heads with whiskers, large eyes, and large oval ears.
Feeding
They are carnivorous animals that feed on small reptiles, birds mice, rats, and insects.
Reproduction
These animals have a gestation period of about 10-11 weeks where the female births about one to three kittens.
Weasels
Queen Elizabeth National Park has the African- Striped weasel.
Physical Description
Weasels are slim animals with long bodies, flat triangular heads, large eyes, rounded ears, and pointed noses with long whiskers.
They are generally brown, grey, or black with white or pale yellow patterns.
Feeding
Weasels majorly feed on voles and mice. However, they also feed on lizards, rats, birds, birds’ eggs, and frogs.
Reproduction
Their gestation period is 32 days after which the female produces two or three offspring.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs in Queen Elizabeth National Park include
- East African hedgehog
Physical Description
Hedgehogs have dense spines on their short, stout body.
Feeding
They mostly feed on caterpillars, beetles, worms, and slugs.
Reproduction
Their gestation period is about 35 days and the mother births a litter of about 6 to 7 hoglets.
Pangolins
Physical Description
Pangolins are nocturnal animals with plate-like scales, a small cone-shaped head, short legs, long noses, and thick tails.
Feeding
Pangolins use their sticky tongues to eat ants, termites, and larvae.
Reproduction
They have a gestation period of between 70 to 140 and the mother births only one offspring.
Viverrines
Herbivore Animals Of Uganda In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Hippopotamus( Hippopotamus Amphibious)
Hippopotamuses are also called the Hippopotami, Hippo, Common Hippopotamus, or river Hippopotamus.
They are large semi-aquatic mammals that are native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Queen Elizabeth National Park holds over 5000 Hippos.
Name Etymology of the Hippopotamus
The name Hippopotamus comes from the ancient Greek words hippos (horse) and potamós (river) meaning “river horse”.
Physical Description
Hippos are one of the largest land mammals together with Elephants and Rhinos.
They have barrel-shaped torsos, almost hairless bodies, pillar-like legs, and wide-opening mouths having large canine tusks.
These large mammals are not sexually dimorphic but bulls weigh about 1, 500 kg, and females weigh about 1,300 kg.
Social life and Community Structure
Bulls are territorial in water, but not on land, and the Hippo pod has over 100 individuals.
In the pod, the Hippos live according to their status that is females, bachelors, and the head bull.
A bull can mate with all the cows in his territory.
They spend the day cooling in water at the Kazinga Channel and the night grazing on land.
Feeding and diet
Hippos are herbivores, who feed on grass, and aquatic plants.
Reproduction
Hippos mate and give birth in water.
At about five to six years, cows are sexually mature while the males are at 7 and a half years.
Their gestation period is 8 months, and the female produces one calf. Mothers wean their calves at one year.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They are highly concentrated in Kazinga Channel since they live in rivers and lakes.
African Bush Elephant(Loxodonta Africana)
There are over 4000 elephants in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The African Bush Elephants are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Physical Description
These mammals are the largest and heaviest terrestrial animals of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
They have grey skin comprised of scanty hairs and large triangular ears that help them to cool on hot days by flapping.
African elephants also have a big trunk that starts growing when they are about 1 to 3 years.
Their trunk helps them in defense, feeding, smelling, and producing sound.
Social Life and Community Structure
Elephants are social mammals that live and move in herds that mostly have cows and young ones. The herds are united and they look for food together.
Bulls live alone or in bachelor’s groups.
Feeding and Diet
African Bush Elephants are herbivores who feed on grasses, leaves, herbs, creepers, herbs, and tree barks.
They eat about 150 kg of food and drink about 180 to 230 liters of water per day.
Reproduction
Female elephants menstruate for three to four months, and their gestation period lasts 22 months. This is the longest gestation period in mammals.
It gives birth to one calf and its life span is about70 to 75 years
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
On a boat cruise, you can see them at the Kazinga Channel banks bathing or on a game drive in the Kasenyi plains and the Ishasha sector. They love forests, grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands.
Cape Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer)
Cape Buffaloes are also called African Buffaloes.
Physical Description
They are large, heavy, and tall with short, thickset legs.
They weigh about 425 to 870 kg dark brown or black coats as they grow. Calves however have red coats.
Feeding and diet
African Buffaloes are grazers who mainly feed on grass and drink a lot of water.
Reproduction
Cape Buffaloes mate and give birth only in the rainy season.
Cows first give birth at 5 and the gestation period is about 11 and a half years.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visitors can see them on a game drive at the Kasenyi and the Ishasha sector.
Uganda Kobs (Kobus Kob Thomasi)
The Uganda Kob is an antelope native to the sub-Saharan.
It is a Uganda national animal that features on the coat of arms together with the Grey Crowned Crane.
Physical Description
Uganda Kobs are reddish-brown and only males have horns.
Males are a bit larger than females because they weigh about 94 kg and 63 kg respectively.
Social life and Community Structure
They live in a herd and sometimes, the non-breeding males stay in a single group.
Feeding and Diet
They are herbivores who mostly feed on grasses on plains and reeds near valleys.
Reproduction
Females Uganda Kobs produce in the rainy season and their gestation period is about nine months.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They can be seen on a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel and also in the rolling plains of the Kasenyi and Ishasha sections
Bush Buck (Tragelaphus Sylvaticus)
Bush Bucks are a type of Antelope that is widely spread in the Sub-Saharan African regions.
They are one of the common antelope animals of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Physical Description
They are between 45 to 80 kilograms heavy and have light brown coats, with white muzzle stripes and spots.
Social life and Community Structure
Bush Bucks are normally solitary and territorial, especially on feeding grounds.
They are active during the day, but nocturnal where there is active human activity.
Feeding and diet
These animals are territorial browsing herbivores that feed on leaves, shrubs, and seldom on grasses.
Reproduction
Their gestation period is about 180 days and they produce only one calf.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visitors can see them on a boat cruise at Kazinga channel.
Topi (Damaliscus Lunatus Jimela)
- Etymology of the Topi
The name “Topi” is a Swahili word that was used in the 1880s to refer to a large number of Topis on Lamu Island in Kenya.
Physical Description
The Topi is a sexually dimorphic antelope with the males being taller, larger, and heavier than the females.
They are normally red-brown with the back of their legs being black.
Social life and Community Structure
Topis are one of the most social antelopes that live in herds.
They have the territorial reproductive herd where they portray the lek behavior.
In this group, males meet the females who they try to court using different displays to attract females.
Topis also have bachelor herds for males that are chased by territorial bulls.
Both males and females defend territories.
Feeding and Diet
They are herbivores that mostly feed on leaf-like swards. In feeding, they chew at a very fast rate while taking small bites.
Reproduction
Its gestation period is about eight months and the female produces one calf at a time.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They can be seen in the Ishasha or the Kasenyi sector since they love grasslands mostly near woodlands.
Defassa’s Waterbuck (Kobus Ellipsiprymnus)
The Defassa’s Waterbuck is a mammal that is near threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Physical Description
The Defassa’s waterbuck is a sexually dimorphic antelope whereby the males are heavier and taller than females.
Their coat ranges from brown to grey.
Males have long, backward-curved horns of about 55 to 99 cm long.
Social life and Community Structure
They are social antelopes that live in herds that are bachelor herds, nursery herds as well as spinster herds.
Feeding and Diet
The Defassa’s waterbuck feeds on grass and they drink a lot of water. This causes them to stay in places with water sources.
Reproduction
Females are sexually mature at two or three while males are at six.
Their gestation period is about seven to eight months and the female produces one calf, and sometimes twins.
Mothers wean the calves eight months from where females join the nursery herd and males join the bachelor herd.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visitors can see it on a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel.
Common Warthogs (Phacochoerus Africanus)Physical Description
Warthogs are pig-like animals with a variation of light grey to brown color.
Their body has little black and brown hair and their large heads have manes that run to the middle of their back.
Social Life and Community Structure
Common Warthogs are social and they live in clusters called sounders.
However, they mark feeding and drinking territories.
Feeding and Diet
This animal is omnivorous and has adapted to grazing in savannahs. They feed on grass, roots, fruits, tree bark, insects, eggs, and carrion.
They feed by digging and snouting while their front feet bend backward.
Reproduction
Boars and sows breed in the late rainy season or early dry season.
The gestation period of the Common Warthog is about five to six months.
The sow gives birth to a litter of about two to eight piglets, and mothers wean them by six months.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Common Warthogs prefer savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and water sources. Therefore, you can see them at the Kasenyi plains or just along the Kazinga channel banks.
Forest Hogs (Hylochoerus Meinertzhageni)
Among the wild animals of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Forest Hogs are considered the largest wild pigs.
Physical Description
They weigh about 100 to 275 kg.
Forest Hogs have a deep orange color, large pointed ears, and male tusks of about 35.9 centimeters.
Social Life and Community Structure
Forest Hogs are nocturnal but can be active during the day in the cold season and the places without active human activity.
They live in communities called sounders that consist of boars, sows, and piglets.
Every member of the soar is responsible for protecting the piglets.
Feeding and Diet
Forest Hogs are mainly herbivores that feed on plants, but they also scavenge.
Reproduction
Their gestation period is about 151 days and a sow gives birth to a litter of about 10 piglets. Mothers wean the piglets in 9 weeks.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Forest Hogs roam about the Maramagambo forest.
Bushpigs (Potamochoerus Larvatus)
Physical Description
Bushpigs are mammals that look like domestic pigs. They have a dark reddish color that is almost black and tuft pointed ears and a face mask.
Males Bushpigs are generally larger than females.
Piglets however have pale yellowish stripes on their dark brown skin which turns dark reddish as they grow.
Social Life and Community Structure
Bushpigs are social mammals who live in sounders of about twelve animals.
It comprises boars, sows, juveniles, and piglets. Members may fight for food but come together to fight intruders.
They grant and snort while feeding or when alarmed.
Bushpigs live in dense thickets because they are nocturnal, but they do not hide in burrows of aardvarks.
Feeding and Diet
These mammals are omnivorous and they feed on crops, roots, juicy plants, insects small reptiles, eggs, nestlings, nestlings, and carrion.
They also stalk and eat young antelopes.
Reproduction
Their gestation period is about eight to ten months and the females produce 3 to 4 piglets.
Mothers send away young ones at six months.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bushpigs love forests, woodlands, and riverine vegetation. Thus, they can be seen in the Maramagambo forest and the vegetation near the Kazinga channel.
Sitatunga (Tragelaphus Spekii)
The Sitatunga is also called the Marshbuck.
Physical Description
The sitatunga is a medium-sized antelope with a rufous red coating comprised of white stripes.
Their thin hair produces an oily, water-repellent secretion.
They are also sexually dimorphic in a way that males are larger than females.
These animals are different in their long and open hooves.
Social Life and Community Structure
They are semi-social animals and they live in swamps. They spend their time alone or in groups of two to three.
Feeding and Diet
This animal is an herbivore that browses and feeds on grasses, herbs, sedges, and shrubs.
Reproduction
Sitatungas breed any time of the year and males are polygynous. Their gestation period lasts for about 247 days after which the female gives birth to only one offspring.
Their lifespan is about 20-23 years.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Sitatungas are swamp dwellers, therefore, they are near the Kazinga channel.
Oribis( Ourebia Ourebi)
Physical Description
Oribis are brown deer–like antelopes with long necks and limbs, bushy hair growth, and a little raised back.
Social life and Community Structure
They are social animals that live in a group.
Feeding and Diet
They majorly feed on grass and other low-growing plants.
Reproduction
The gestation period of the Oribi is about seven months whereby the newborn is dark brown.
Their lifespan is about 8 to 10 years.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Tourists can see them along the shores of the Kazinga channel while on a boat cruise, but they can also be seen in the Kasenyi plains.
Bohor Reedbuck (Redunca Redunca)
The Bohor reedbuck is an antelope that is native to Central Africa.
Physical Description
It is a medium-sized antelope of a yellow variation with a gray-brown coat.
The Bohor Reedbuck is sexually dimorphic whereby the males are larger than the females.
Their horns are short and hooked.
Social life and Community Structure
They are social antelopes that live in large populations, especially during the dry season.
Females are more solitary and may form a herd of about 5-10 individuals.
Bachelor males live in their group while the growing females also leave their mother’s group.
Feeding and Diet
They feed on grass, and reed shoots and depend very much on water.
Reproduction
These mammals mate mostly in the rainy season and their gestation period lasts for about 7 and a half months.
The female produces one calf that it weans at 8 to 9 months.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
In Queen Elizabeth park, you can spot them on game drives in the Kasenyi sector or around Kazinga channel banks on a boat cruise.
Other Herbivores animal species in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Hares
Physical Description
Hares are small, rabbit-like, fast-running animals that have long hind paws, long ears, legs, and a short bushy tail.
Feeding
They mostly feed on leaves, green grasses, stems, and rhizomes.
Reproduction
These animals have a gestation period of about 42 – 44 days and they birth 2 or 3 leverets.
Porcupines
An example is the
- East African Crested Porcupine
Physical Description
Porcupines are rodents with sharp spines on their back, powerful legs, big flat feet, and curved claws on every toe.
Feeding
They eat tubers, roots, and bulbs.
Reproduction
Their gestation period is about 112 days and they produce 1 or 2 off springs.
Duikers
Queen Elizabeth National Park has the
- Grey duikers/ Common duikers
- Blue duikers
- Red duikers
- Squirrels
Squirrels in Queen Elizabeth National Park include
- African tree squirrel
- Giant squirrel
- Rats
Rats in Queen Elizabeth National Park include
- Cane rats
- Langer cane rats
- Striped grass mice
- Harsh-furred rats
- Unstriped grass mice
- Common swamp rats
- Hyraxes
Examples include
- Rock hyrax
- Tree hyrax.
- Bats
Examples of bats in the park include
- Fruit Bats
- Epauletted Fruit Bat
- Rousette Fruit Bat
- Insect Eating Bats
- White-Bellied Tomb Bat
- Yellow-Winged Bat
Queen Elizabeth National Park Primates
Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes)
Chimpanzees are also called Chimps, and they have been classified as an endangered species.
Etymology of the Chimpanzee
“Chimpanzee” was derived from the Tshiluba dialect “chimpenze” meaning “ape”.
“Pan” is a name after the Greek god, while “troglodytes” was rooted in “Troglodytae”, which were a mythical race of people that lived in the cave.
Physical Description
Chimpanzees have coarse black hair that covers their body.
However, their face, hands, palms, fingers, toes, and feet soles are bare.
Males weigh about 40 to 70 kg while females weigh about 27 to 50 kg
Social life and Community Structure
Chimpanzees stay in groups of about 15 to 150 individuals that a male leads.
Feeding and Diet
Chimpanzees are omnivores who feed on leaves, bark, stems, leaf buds, and seeds.
They also use sticks, rocks, and leaves to get honey, termites, nuts, ants, and water.
Reproduction
These animals mate any time of the year and the gestation period is eight months. Mothers wean at around three years but they remain very close.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
In Queen Elizabeth Park, Chimps are reserved at the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve adjacent to Kyambura Gorge the “Valley of Apes”.
Olive Baboons (Papio Anubis)
This is a primate that is native to Africa.
Physical Description
It has yellowish-brown and black hairs on its body and a dark grey to black face.
Males have long manes that run along the back, and they are also heavier than females.
They have a long, dog-like muzzle, a tail, and four limbs on which they walk.
Social life and Community Structure
Olive Baboons live in groups of about 15 to 150 individuals.
Females lead the groups and leadership is passed on to their daughters.
Sometimes, males babysit and form a friendship with females.
Feeding and Diet
Olive baboons are omnivorous and eat leaves, roots, grass, flowers, bark, fruit, seeds, lichens, mushrooms, tubers, corms, and rhizomes.
Their animal diet consists of small invertebrates like insects, worms, spiders, grubs, and scorpions.
Reproduction
Females copulate with many males in a day and the gestation period is about 226.8 days. It produces one child in a single birth.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Olive Baboons mostly live on the Kasenyi plains.
Black And White Colobus Monkey (Colobi)
This is also a primate that is native to Africa.
Physical Description
These primates have beautiful silky black fur with white faces.
They also have whiskers and beards around their face and a bushy white tail.
Social life and Community Structure
Black and White Colobus Monkeys have greeting rituals when they meet each other again. Afterward, they spend their time grooming.
They also sleep on trees near sources of food to access them quickly.
Feeding and Diet
Black and White Colobus Monkeys are herbivorous and feed on leaves, lichens, fruits, flowers, and bark.
Reproduction
Their gestation period lasts for about 142 to 161 days and the female gives birth to one infant, every after about 20 months.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visitors can see them on nature walks in the Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest, and Maramagambo forest.
Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus Pygerythrus)
Physical Description
Vervet Monkeys are primates with grey hair on their body and black faces.
Males are larger, heavier, and longer than females.
Social life and Community Structure
They are social mammals that leave in groups. Sexually mature males leave their birth group and join other male groups.
These primates also participate in the grooming activity.
Feeding and Diet
Vervet Monkeys are majorly herbivorous and they feed on fruits, leaves, flowers, seeds, and seed pods.
They sometimes also eat the eggs and chicks of birds.
Reproduction
Their gestation period lasts for about 165 days, and the females give birth to one infant every year.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visitors can see them on a guided nature walk at the Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest, and Maramagambo forest.
Red-Tailed Monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius)
Red-Tailed Monkeys are also known as black-cheeked, red-tailed guenon, white-nosed monkey, Schmidt’s guenon.
Physical Description
It has a red tail with a white nose, cheeks, and black or dark grey body fur.
The monkey is also large with elastic cheeks for safe storage of food.
Social life and Community Structure
They are social primates that live in groups of about 7 to 30 animals led by a dominant male. It consists of males, females, juveniles, and infants.
They live together in all seasons and at all times for their whole life apart from males who mature.
Grown males leave to join other males of the same status until they can overthrow a dominant male of a social group.
Feeding and Diet
Red-Tailed Monkeys are majorly fruit-eating primates although they are classified as omnivorous animals.
They feed on flowers, leaves, and insects when fruits are few.
They gather their food in their large mouths and eat it from a safe place.
Reproduction
Male Red-Tailed Monkeys are polygynous. The gestation period is about five to six months in which the female gives birth to one child.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They mostly live in the Kalinzu forest.
Blue Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis)
Physical Description
Blue Monkeys are not prominently blue like their name suggests.
They have small hair on their face that gives them a faint blue appearance.
Their fur majorly consists of olive or grey and their face is dark with a yellow patch on the forehead.
Females weigh about 4 kg and males weigh about 8 kg.
Social life and Community Structure
Blue-tailed monkeys live in social structures majorly having females.
Males leave once they mature but can return to fight a dominant male to take on leadership.
Feeding and Diet
Blue Monkeys majorly feed on fruits, leaves, twigs, figs, flowers, and insects.
Reproduction
Blue Monkeys have a polygynous mating system. Females produce one infant after the gestation period of about five months.
They usually give birth after two years.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visitors can encounter them while Chimpanzee trekking in the Kalinzu forest.
L’Hoest’s Monkey (Cercopithecus Lhoesti) or Mountain Monkey
- Physical Description
L’Hoest’s Monkeys have short, darkish-brown coats and white beards.
They also have light gray cheeks and a pale mustache.
The male weighs about 6 kilograms and the female weighs about 3.5 kilograms.
They have a long tail that is hooked at the tip.
- Social Life and Community Structure
L’Hoest’s Monkeys live in small groups consisting more of females who are in most cases related.
The group usually has one male who leaves after some years.
They sleep while sitting on trees while holding branches or each other.
Feeding and Diet
L’Hoest’s Monkeys are majorly herbivores who eat fruits, leaves, mushrooms, roots, and herbs.
However, they also feed on eggs, small birds, and lizards.
Reproduction
L’Hoest’s monkeys are seasonal breeders. Their gestation period is about five months.
The female naturally give birth at night in any place where the birth pangs find her.
They usually produce toward the rainy season when milk production is high.
Little is known about their lifespan in the wild, but in captivity, they can live for more than 30 years.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They mostly live in the mountainous forest and are common in the Maramagambo forest.
Red Colobus Monkeys(Piliocolobus)
Physical Description
Red Colobus monkeys have dark red to black coats. It also has striped shoulders and arms with a pale underside.
They have a black face with long, white hair and pink lips and nose.
Social Life and Community Structure
Red Colobus Monkeys live in groups of over 80 members. However, only high-ranking members easily have access to the distribution of food, sexual partners, and grooming.
These groups usually have more females than males, and mothers have a strong connection to their infants.
Feeding and Diet
Red Colobus monkeys are herbivores who feed on primarily young leaves, raw fruits, and flowers.
They also eat charcoal and clay as medicine.
Reproduction
Their gestation period is between 5 to 6 months and females give birth to one infant.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They are common in the Kalinzu or Maramagambo forest.
Bush Babies(Galagidae)
Bush Babies are also called Galagos or nagapies meaning night monkeys in the Afrikaans dialect. They are native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Etymology of Bush Baby
It is believed that “Bush Baby” is either derived from the animal’s appearance or how it cries.
- Physical Description
Bush Babies have large eyes for good vision, especially at night.
They also have strong back limbs and long tails that assist them in balancing.
These primates also have bat-like ears for tracking insects and very good hearing. They normally fold back these ears while resting and also protect them from thickets and other bushes.
Social life and Community Structure
Bush Babies are nocturnal primates that are swift. They jump around very highly and in seconds of just a few yards.
As they rest, they fold their limbs closely and only release them to hold branches.
Feeding and Diet
The Bush Babies feed on tree gums, fruits, insects, and small animals.
They either get insects from the ground or grab them from the air.
Reproduction
The gestation period of the Bush Babies is about 110 to 133 days.
Females give birth to either single infants, twins, or triplets, with their eyes closed.
Mothers feed young ones for six weeks, and for two months, they leave the young ones to feed themselves.
The young ones always grow very fast even though they are young. This makes their mother look very awkward while carrying them by the mouth.
- Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They have ever been spotted in the Maramagambo forest.
Potto (Perodicticus Potto)
The Etymology of the Pottos
The name “potto” is believed to derive from “Wolof pata” which means a “tailless monkey”.
Physical Description
Pottos are primates with woolly greyish-brown fur and a non-functioning index finger.
Their fingers on both hands and toes are joined by skin and web respectively.
They also have about four to six tubercles that cover their long vertebrae from the neck. This almost appears to pierce their skin.
These primates have scent glands under their tail and an odor that some researchers compare to curry.
Social life and Community Structure
Pottos are tree occupants who move unhurriedly with two limbs holding a branch. This quiet movement helps them to prevent predators.
They also live in large territories having more females than males, but a male leads the group.
An adult male or leader can mate with all the females in his territory.
Feeding and Diet
Pottos have strong jaws that help them to eat fruits which are their major food.
They also eat strong-smelling insects that other animals do not eat.
Reproduction
Pottos breed throughout the year, and their gestation period is 193 days.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
They can be seen in the Maramagambo Forest.
Reptiles in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus Niloticus)
The Nile Crocodile is a reptile that is native to the freshwater habitations in Africa.
Physical Description
Mature Nile Crocodiles have a dark bronze with variable pale blackish spots on their back.
They also have yellowish-green sides with striped patterns and green eyes.
Social life and Community Structure
They are social animals that share food and basking spots with their fellows.
These reptiles can die from mid-day heat especially if they bind jaws together.
Feeding and Diet
Nile Crocodiles are predators who feed on fish, birds, reptiles, and other mammals.
Reproduction
They reproduce by laying eggs about one or two months after mating.
Hatchlings hunt for themselves even if their parents spend a long time protecting them.
Distribution in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Nile crocodiles live in different types of aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshlands.
Other reptiles in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Lizards for example
- monitor lizard
- snake lizard
- common house lizard
- Blue-bodied agama
- Snakes include the
- African Rock Python
- Puff Adder
- Night Adder
- Velvety-Green Night Adder
- Spitting Cobra Or Black-Necked Cobra
- Black-Lipped Cobra
- White Lipped Snake
- Fold’s Forest Cobra
- Black Mambas
- Green Mambas
- Forest Mamba
- Gabon Viper
- Rhinoceros Horned Viper
- Boomslang (Tree Snake)
- File Snake
- Worm Snake
- Slender Green Snake
- Sun Snake
- Vine or Twig Snake
- Burrowing Snake
- Western Carter Snake
- House Snake
- Wolf Snake
- Marsh Snake
However, all these snakes are hard to see in the park.
- Chameleons for example the
- Bright Green Chameleon
- Smaller Chameleon
- Pigmy Chameleon
- Lesser Chameleon
- Three-Horned Chameleon
- Skinks for example the
- Red And Black Skink
- Side-Striped Skink
- Speckled-Lipped Skink
- Grey-Black Limbless Skink
- Geckos such as the
- Blue-Bodied Agama
- Black-Throated Dwarf Gecko
- Uganda House Gecko.
- Tortoises for example
- Soft-Shelled Turtles.
- Western Hinged Tortoises.
Amphibians In Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Frogs and Tods for example
- Bull Frog
- Clawed Frog Or Plathander
- Sharp-Nosed Frog
- Tree Frog
- African Tod
Queen Elizabeth National Park holds peculiar animals as a valued tourist resource. Its varied topography suits these animals, thus enhancing a beautiful Uganda tour.
You can also experience these magnificent creatures by booking a memorable Uganda tour and safari with us!
The Big Five Animals in Africa | What Are the Big Five Animals? | What Is The Big Five In Africa?
The big five animals in Africa are also in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park has four animals out of the big five of Africa. These are the
- African Elephants
- Cape Buffaloes
- Lions
- Leopards
The fifth one which is not in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the Rhino.
They were called the Big Five because of two theories, that is,
- The traditional theory
- The conservation theory
1. The Traditional Theory | The Big Five Hunting
In the traditional theory, sport and trophy hunters from Africa’s prime safari years called them the big five because they were challenging and dangerous to hunt. Yet they had the most valuable trophies and resources.
Trophy hunters, therefore, saw it as a great achievement to hunt them down in the wild.
2. The Conservation Theory
The conservation theory explains how the big five safari animals contribute to the wellness of the ecosystem above any other animals.
Let us see how!
- The African Elephants
The elephant is known to many conservationists as the “Ecosystem Engine”.
It is both a big grazer and a browser with a poor digestive system. An adult elephant eats over 150kg of food and drinks over 40 liters of water daily.
Because of its poor digestive system, most of its food is not digested, so whatever it excretes can grow again into a healthy plant.
Animals like dung beetles contribute to this by moving the seeds on elephant dung to different places as they try to store food.
Consequently, more forests and plants grow because of this system.
It is believed that the current growing forest expanse between Maramagambo Forest and Kyambura Gorge is due to this ecosystem cycle.
Furthermore, elephants allow their feeding ground to rest so that plants grow again before coming back to feed on it.
- The Cape Buffaloes and Rhinos;
are likewise big grazers that feed on both the young and old vegetation. Thus, they control the vegetation.
They also excrete seeds in their waste that later grow into healthy plants.
The waste of these animals is also a source of manure that keep soils fertilized.
- The Lions and The Leopards
Lions and leopards contribute to conservation by controlling the hunting game.
They control the population of herbivores, which humans previously did through controlled hunting.
On the other hand, they do not hunt frequently. A Lion can stay for over a week without eating and hunts only when it is hungry. Therefore, it is a better-controlled hunter than humans.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is open to four out of the big five safaris in Uganda!
Why You Must See The Animals Of Uganda In Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the protected areas holding the largest number of Herbivores. There are about 5000 Hippos, 4000 African Bush Elephants, and 1700 Buffaloes.
- This protected area holds the highest number of Hippos in the world concentrated in one place, that is, at the Kazinga Channel.
- The park is the only place in Uganda where there are tree-climbing lions.
- It is one of the three National Parks in Uganda where you can see the Nile Crocodiles. The other two are Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the major three Chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda. The other two are Kibale Forest National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.
Best Season And Time To See Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife (Animals)
You can visit animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park any time of the year.
However, the dry months guarantee the best wildlife safaris in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is from June to September and January to February.
In this dry season, game drive tracks are dry, and many animals are easy to see in the open. Most important of all, tourists are also comfortable with the weather.
Additionally, you can choose a favorite time for your safari activities, that is, the morning, afternoon, or night.
However, the morning adventures are more highly rewarding because
- Diurnal animals are fresh and active, and they are out to begin their day of feeding and roaming around.
- It is possible to see numerous hippos in the morning Kazinga Channel boat trip.
This is because they stay in the water when the sun is up to stay cool.
- Lions hunt in the morning and spend the afternoon resting therefore, it is possible to see one preying.
- Furthermore, the morning sunlight does not scorch. Instead, it provides beautiful Uganda scenery on a sunrise.
Hence, enhancing photography moments and also feeling the warm sun of Uganda wild on your skin.
Importance of Animals Of Uganda in Queen Elizabeth Park
Uganda Animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park have highly contributed to many factors which include
- Environmental Conservation
- Ecology
- Tourism and Economy
- Research
Environmental Conservation
Seed Dispersal; animals found in Queen Elizabeth National Park are unconscious seed dispersers. They scatter seeds through
- Fur or coat.
- As they eat and throw fruit seeds.
- And through their excretion which contains undigested seeds.
So, these seeds grow as healthy plants in the environment.
Controlled Hunting by Predators; is another way in which this park’s animals conserve the environment. The Lions and Leopards are the perfect examples.
They hunt sporadically on the most vulnerable animals and only when they are hungry.
This is because they have a poor digestive system and therefore they can go for over a week without eating. This is to allow food to digest well.
Ecology
There is a cycle in which the animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park relate to one another and their surroundings.
While herbivores feed on plants, predators hunt down the herbivores and this cycle continues.
Tourism and Economy
Beneath the beauty of touring Queen Elizabeth National Park’s wild animals, there is revenue that is collected from tourists.
This improves the conservation and preservation of these animals. Consequently, it further improves the tourism section.
Research
There is a lot of wildlife research in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
From Lion Tracking to Hippo Census, these researchers aim at studying the behaviors of these animals closely.
Consequently, there is an improvement in their environment and conditions based on the findings.
Guidelines When Going To Meet Uganda Mammal Species in Queen Elizabeth National Park
It is safe to put in mind all you need to have a beautiful wildlife tour in Uganda. Because it is not just about having the experience, but also about how you live these experiences and create the best memories.
Dressing;
- Wear dull colors in order not to attract the attention of the animals, especially the inquisitive primates. Also, avoid shiny jewelry.
- When going for an activity, wear comfortable long-sleeved shirts and trousers. This is to protect you from the harsh vegetation that may hurt your skin.
- Wear comfortable trekking shoes when to ease your movements on the different terraces.
- Make sure you also have a hat and sunglasses to protect you from the scorching sun.
What to Pack;
- Kindly carry your medications in case you have any allergies.
Even if you do not have any medical issues, it is important to see your doctor and let them know that you traveling. Follow the instructions they give you.
- Carry an insect repellant too to keep the uncomfortably annoying insects away.
- Do not forget your camera because you would not want to miss anything to remember or show people back home.
You can carry a camera that you are comfortable with.
However, one with a fast burst mode is the best because animals do not usually settle in one place.
Also, consider one with fast autofocus, and long zoom lenses.
Some of the best cameras for wildlife photography and videography are
- Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 / FZ2000.
- Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV.
- Canon EOS 90D.
- Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.
- Nikon D500.
- Carry binoculars too to have a clearer close look at the game. Among the best binoculars for wildlife viewing are the
- Nikon Monarch5 8X42 Wildlife Binoculars.
- Celestron Nature DX 8X42 Wildlife Binocular.
- Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars.
- Celestron 71402 TrailSeeker 8X42 Binoculars.
- Olympus 8X42 PRO Wildlife Binocular.
Frequently Asked Questions About
What are the most sought-after Uganda animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
The most sought-after Uganda animals in this Queen Elizabeth National Park are the tree-climbing Lions in Ishasha.
What are the key animals that will surprise you in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Tree-climbing Lions; will surprise you because they are very rare. In Uganda, they are only at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Hippos; the park holds the highest concentration of Hippos in one place which is at the Kazinga channel.
Are there Rhinos in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park does not have rhinos. However, it is a rich source of 96 mammal species including Lions, Elephants, Leopards, And Buffaloes.
Are there Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Yes, there are Uganda Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is home to tree-climbing Lions that live in Ishasha.
5. Are there Giraffes in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park does not have Giraffes and Zebras. Nevertheless, you can view other animals like lions, African Elephants, Hippos, antelopes, and many others.
6. How many Lions are in Queen Elizabeth Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 76 lions in both the Kasenyi and the Ishasha sectors.
7. How many Elephants are in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 4000 African Bush Elephants.
You can spot them bathing along the Kazinga channel during a boat cruise and a game drive in the Kasenyi plains.
