Uganda is a uniquely gifted nation by nature, with incredible attractions, some very rare to spot. Among the 10 national parks in Uganda, a few are known for their exquisite and adventurous game drives. This is because these particular national parks are savannah in nature and offer a complex of the diverse savannah wilderness of the untamed Africa.
On the face of the earth, Uganda has long been known as an incredible destination with a lot to offer. Its beauty transcends across the borders to the world stage, impacting thousands and attracting hundreds to come and explore this beautiful destination. Among those touched was the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He was astonished by the amount of beauty and diversity Uganda has.
Traveling across the country through national parks, sailing on rivers and lakes, tasting the food, Churchill was blown away. Uganda was not his first rodeo, but the country’s immense beauty was next level. Documenting his journey in his book My African Journey, he named Uganda the Pearl of Africa.
Although Uganda is further known for the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking, game drives are also offered. Game drives involve viewing the game, in this case, the wildlife, in the comfort and safety of a safari vehicle. The African game includes the Big Five animals, lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes, and other animals like antelopes, giraffes, hyenas, warthogs, etc.
Encountering some of these animals on foot can some be a deadly move as these animals are very dangerous. Therefore, game drives are the perfect solution and the best way to safely get closer to these animals in their natural environments. Game drives are very safe and comfortable, where visitors can drive for long distances across the national parks, spotting animals.
There are a designated number of the best national parks for game drives in Uganda. Each national park offers a unique experience. These include the following.
Murchison Falls National Park
The northwestern region of Uganda is brought to light by the famous Murchison Falls National Park. This massive national park spans across the districts of Nwoya, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, and Masindi. Murchison Falls National Park is arguably the largest national park in the country, with a massive size of 3,893 square kilometers. It is mostly known for hosting the Murchison Falls, the most powerful waterfall in the world.
Murchison is among the few places where visitors can have a game drive experience, as it harbors a lot of animals. It hosts four of the Big Five animals, with the rhino being the only missing Big Five animal. Other savannah animals like antelopes, giraffes, warthogs, hyenas, hartebeests, oribis, and waterbucks, among others, can also be spotted.
Murchison was established in 1952 as a national park. Before, it was known as Kabalega National Park, named after the Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro. This later changed to Murchison Falls National Park following the visit of Sir Samuel Baker and Florence Baker. They named the park after the president of the Royal Geographical Society.
Kidepo Valley National Park
The northern region of Uganda, on the border with South Sudan, is shaded by the lush savannah wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park. It is only recently that Kidepo became a complete Big Five destination following the reintroduction of white rhinos to the park. This move further sealed Kidepo among the best national parks for game drives in Uganda.
Although Kidepo is the most isolated national park in Uganda, it is the most natural destination with a diverse ecosystem. Its landscape is also one to explore with a variety of unique valleys and savannah plains. These offer a perfect platform for game drives in the park. Kidepo Valley National Park is a keeper of speed, hosting the fastest land mammal, the cheetah, and the fastest bird on land, the ostrich.
Kidepo is shadowed by the Mountain Morongole in the Karamonja sub-region, creating a rain shadow. The park is drained by rivers Kidepo and Narus that keep the park in shape by providing water to the large concentrations of animals in the area. Established in 1958, Kidepo is a fortress of ancient, uncharted wilderness. It spans across this region for over 1,442 square kilometers.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the jewel of Uganda’s tourism industry. It is the face of Uganda’s nature, traversing as the most popular national park for game drives. Found in the western side of the country, Queen Elizabeth is crossed by the equator, adding to its natural wonders.
From tree-climbing lions to the large herds of cape buffaloes, and elephants to the elusive leopards and common antelopes, Queen Elizabeth is truly a medley of wonders. Its popularity was earlier affirmed by the visit of the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1952. Game drives offer a secure attachment of the visitor to the park as they spot the animals.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest savannah park in the country. The park offers an unmatched game drive experience that allows visitors to drive through the large herds of zebras. Game drives in Lake Mburo offer visitors a chance to spot a variety of animals, even in places hard to reach on foot.
The park misses some animals like lions, elephants, and hartebeests, but it makes it up for with topis and elands, which are hard to see. The game drive eases the time for traveling and navigation, increasing the time to spend with the animals due to its size. It spans 260 square kilometers in the semi-arid region of Kiruhura district.
Other tourist activities in Uganda
Uganda offers other tourist activities other than game drives. These activities are conducted, and many other destinations. These activities include the following.
Gorilla trekking
Done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, gorilla trekking is one of the most commonly done activities in Uganda. Gorilla trekking refers to encountering mountain gorillas for over an hour after navigating through the thickets to find them. Gorilla trekking takes place among the habituated gorilla families that are used to human presence.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is similar to gorilla trekking as it features encountering chimpanzees in their natural habitat for an hour. The chimpanzees live in a tropical rainforest atmosphere and are found in most of the forests in Uganda. Kibale National Park, Kalinzu forest, Budongo forest, and Kyambura Gorge are some of the places where chimp trekking is done.
Boat cruise
Boat cruise is another impactful tourist activity and the best way to explore the aquatic life of Uganda. Away from land to water, a boat cruise offers an exciting time to spot animals of the deep like hippos, crocodiles, and monitor lizards, among others. A boat cruise also gives a chance to spot a variety of animals in large concentrations as they come to quench their thirst.
The best for game drives in Uganda
The dry season is always the best time to have a game drive experience in Uganda. However, all the savannah parks are always open, thus visitors can visit at any time of the year. The dry season happens from June to September and from December to February. It is a time when the sun is at its strongest, and there are high temperatures. Such conditions leave vegetation sparse for easy visibility and trails dry for easy navigation.
The changing conditions in the weather and climate have impacted Uganda as well, thus making the weather unpredictable. Therefore, even the wet seasons can be a favorite time to have a game drive, as the rains can be light.