Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives
Uganda Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives
Uganda wildlife safaris take you far beyond the gorilla forests. In the west, lions rest in fig trees and elephants wade across the Kazinga Channel. Meanwhile, in the north, the Nile squeezes through a narrow gorge before it reaches Lake Albert. Further north-east, cheetahs hunt across the Narus Valley, often with no other vehicle in sight.
At Roots Tours & Travel, we plan every game drive around you. First, we choose the parks. Then we time each drive for the best light and animal activity, and finally we match lodges to your budget. Our driver-guides have worked these tracks for years. So they know where the lions turned up yesterday and when the elephants come down to drink. All the savannah parks are managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and we follow its park rules on every drive.
Big Game to Look For in Uganda
Every park has its own stars. Below are the animals our guests ask about most, and where you have the best chance of finding them.
Lions
Lions are the animal most guests hope to find first. In Queen Elizabeth, prides hunt Uganda kob on the Kasenyi plains at dawn. Down in the Ishasha sector, they also climb fig trees to rest in the shade. You can find lions in Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley too, so most Uganda wildlife safaris give you more than one chance.
Elephants and Buffalo
Elephants roam Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley. On a Kazinga Channel boat cruise, you often watch them drink and bathe just metres from the boat. Likewise, big buffalo herds graze the open plains, and in Kidepo they can number in the hundreds.
Rothschild's Giraffe
Uganda is a stronghold for the Rothschild's giraffe, one of the rarest giraffe subspecies. The largest herds live on the northern bank of Murchison Falls, where you may count dozens on a single morning drive. You can also see them in Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo.
Antelopes, Zebras and Predators
Uganda kob, topi, Jackson's hartebeest, oribi and waterbuck fill the grasslands. In addition, Lake Mburo is the best place in Uganda to see impala, eland and zebra. Keep watching the edges as well, because leopards, spotted hyenas and, in Kidepo, cheetahs follow the herds.
Best National Parks for Game Drives in Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth is Uganda's most visited savannah park, and it is easy to see why. Morning game drives on the Kasenyi plains bring herds of Uganda kob, buffalo and elephants. Lions often hunt here at first light. Leopards are also seen along the Channel Track.
In the afternoon, a two-hour boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel brings you close to hippos, crocodiles and bathing elephants. Birders will enjoy the pelicans, African skimmers and fish eagles along the banks. Down in the southern Ishasha sector, lions climb fig trees to rest in the shade. This behaviour is rare in Africa, so it is a highlight of many Uganda wildlife safaris.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls is Uganda's largest national park. Here the Nile forces its way through a gap about seven metres wide, then thunders into the pool below. You can hike to the top of the falls and feel the spray on your face.
Game drives take place on the northern bank, mainly around the Buligi area. Expect big herds of Rothschild's giraffe, Jackson's hartebeest, oribi, buffalo and elephants. Lions are seen fairly often, and leopards tend to appear on evening drives. In addition, a boat trip down to the Nile delta gives you a fair chance of spotting the shoebill.
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale is East Africa’s best place to track wild chimpanzees. You’ll hear a group calling long before you see it. The forest holds 13 primate species, including red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys. The nearby Bigodi Wetland walk and the crater lakes around Fort Portal make for a full, unhurried stay.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo is the closest savannah park to Kampala, about four hours away by road. It is the best place in Uganda to see impala, and it also holds zebra, eland, topi and buffalo.
There are no elephants here, which makes it ideal for walking safaris. You can also explore on horseback, by bicycle or on a night game drive. Since it lies on the road to Bwindi, Lake Mburo is a perfect stop before or after the gorillas.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo is remote, wild and quiet. It lies in Uganda's far north-east, close to the borders of Kenya and South Sudan. Because so few travellers make the journey, you may drive for hours and meet only a handful of other vehicles.
The Narus Valley keeps water for most of the year, so animals gather there in the dry season. Look for lions, cheetahs, large buffalo herds, ostriches, bat-eared foxes and striped hyenas. Some of these, such as cheetahs and ostriches, are hard to find anywhere else in Uganda. Kidepo needs a long drive or a short charter flight. For that reason, we plan at least two nights there.
Why Choose Uganda for a Wildlife Safari?
Uganda is small, yet it packs a rare range of habitats into one trip. Within a week, you can cross open savannah, cruise past hippos and walk among chimpanzees in a rainforest. In fact, few safari countries offer that mix within such short distances.
Fewer crowds are another reason. In some of Africa’s busiest reserves, a single lion sighting can draw a long line of vehicles. In Uganda, however, you often share a pride with just one or two other cars. As a result, sightings feel calmer and far more personal.
You can also see the Big Five here. Lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo roam the national parks. Meanwhile, rhinos live at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you track them on foot with a ranger.
What to Expect on a Game Drive with Roots
On all our Uganda wildlife safaris, you travel in a 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof. That way, everyone gets a clear view. Every seat is a window seat, and there is room to stand and take photos. We also keep cold drinking water on board, along with binoculars and a field guide.
Your driver-guide speaks English and knows the animals well. Besides, the pace stays relaxed, and nobody rushes you. If you want to spend an extra half hour with a pride of lions, just ask. After all, it is your safari.
Combine Game Drives with Gorillas and Chimpanzees
Most of our guests do not stop at the savannah, and the best Uganda wildlife safaris rarely do. A classic route links Murchison Falls or Queen Elizabeth with chimp trekking in Kibale and gorilla trekking in Bwindi. That way, you see big game and great apes in one well-paced trip.
Short on time? Our 3-day Queen Elizabeth tour or 3-day Murchison Falls safari gives you a strong taste. For the full picture, the 10-day Best of Uganda safari covers several national parks. Alternatively, we can add Rwanda’s Akagera, Kenya’s Maasai Mara or Tanzania’s Serengeti for a wider East Africa safari.
Why Book Your Wildlife Safari with Roots Tours & Travel
We are a locally owned tour operator based in Naalya, Kampala. We are registered with the Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) and affiliated with ESTOA. Above all, we write every itinerary from scratch for your group, with one clear price and no hidden extras.
Our work also gives back. Each month, part of our profit supports the Toto Africa Initiative Uganda, which helps women build income through farming. So when you travel with us, your safari supports the communities that live beside the parks.
Uganda Wildlife Safaris: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo live in the national parks. For rhinos, you visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which sits on the road to Murchison Falls.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a great start. It combines game drives, a boat cruise and tree-climbing lions. It is also easy to pair with gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
Three days is enough for one park. For two or three parks plus gorillas or chimps, plan seven to ten days.
Pack neutral colours such as khaki, olive or beige. Avoid dark blue and black, because they attract tsetse flies in some parks. Mornings can be cool, so bring a light fleece, plus a hat and sunscreen for the afternoon.