Watching wildlife is one of the main attractions and highlight of a visit to Uganda. Uganda’s ten National Parks and 12 Wildlife Reserves are some of the most diverse in the region and some of the best in the world.
The endowment of natural resources, largely covered by large vegetation and huge expanses of tropical forests that are rich in flora and fauna has made the country a home to unique physical landscapes, lakes and rivers. All these physical attributes provide a habitat for the diverse wildlife that forms bedrock of Uganda’s tourism industry.
Uganda has a 342 number of mammal species with both West and East African mammals being well represented. Of these recorded species, a remarkable 132 are classified as large mammals and the remainder is small mammals comprising 94 bat species, 70 rats and mice, 33 shrews and otter shrews, 8 gerbils, 4 elephant shrews and 1 solitary golden mole.
On a Uganda Safari you can see a profusion of Hippos, herds of Elephants, Buffaloes, Giant Forest Hogs, the handsome Ugandan Kob, Sitatungas, and Zebras among others. Over the past twenty years wildlife numbers have steadily increased in Uganda’s safari parks and higher chances of seeing almost all animal species in Ugandan parks are guaranteed.
Tropical forests found in national parks support this diversity. They contain endemic, rare and endangered species of 
animals, bird, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and plants. Some of them are so species rich that they have rankings in the region and the world.
The most popular destinations for game viewing are Kidepo Valley National Park which boasts of over 90 species of mammals grazing in a serene environment characterized by a range of mountains, Murchison Falls National Park famed for its unique landscape and abundant wildlife and Queen Elizabeth National Park which offers over 100species of animals that are easily accessible.
Other famous parks for game viewing include Kibale National Park which is known to harbor the greatest variety and concentration of primates found anywhere in East Africa, Lake Mburo National Park whose massive acacia woodlands harbor a wide range of species. Katonga Wildlife Reserve is also home to over 40 species of mammals and 150 species of birds.
Detailed information about the unique game species in different protected areas can be viewed from our National Park profiles.
