MAMMALS TO SEE ON UGANDAN SAFARI

With more than 340 distinct mammal species, Uganda is undoubtedly that one most endowed safari destination with biodiversity. If you are on African wildlife safari and you wish to catch a glimpse at a huge concentration of mammal species then consider Uganda a must to include in your travel plan.  The notable mammals to explore while on Uganda wildlife safari include;

Lions

Lions are a few creatures that attract most tourists to Africa. They feature among a few big cats and scientifically, they are famously called Panthera Leo. The male lions usually weigh about 250 kilograms and they feature as the second largest living cats just after the tiger. Females have a gestation period of 110 days.  A pride can have like 15 individuals. In Uganda, you can find them in Queen Elizabeth National Park plus the tree climbing lions at Ishasha sector; Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park.

Panthera leo

Leopards

Scientifically known as Panthera pardus, leopards equally belong to cat family. Females have gestation period of 105 days. They are the smallest compared to other big cats. They come in golden, spotted bodies and graceful. They thrive from 12 to 15 years in the natural habitat and 23 years in the zoo.

Panthera pardus

African elephants

Best popular scientifically as Loxodonta Africana, elephants are a few most exciting mammal species that most visitors on African safari in Uganda look out for. They come in large grey color with long flexible trunk, thick legs and pointed tusks. They are largest land animals and they are bigger than the Asian elephants. The males stretch up to 3.64 meters and do weigh about 5455 kilograms whereas females stand about 3 meters and have weight of about 3636 to 4545 kilograms. 

 

Loxodonta africana

Buffaloes

Buffaloes come in large bodies. They are usually spotted within the woodland savanna areas and forest. They weigh between 500 and 900 kilograms and have a height of 1 to 1.7 meters. While on Uganda safari, you can spot them in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Lake Mburo National Park a mention but a few.

 

Syncerus caffer

Serval cats

These are also known as the leptailurus serval and they come in slender bodies with long legs and fairy short tail. Their heads are small just like bodies, tall and females weigh about 9 to 16 kilograms and males weigh approximately 12 to 26 kilograms. Their life expectancy ranges from 12 to 16 years in the wild and in captivity, they thrive up to 20-25 years. Besides catching rodents, they are also predators whose diet is largely dependent on hares, birds, hyraxes, reptiles, insects, fish, frogs and many others.

Other mammal species to look out while on Uganda safari include;

Uganda Kobs 

      Spotted hyenas

·        Topis

·        Bohor reedbuck

·        Bush duikers

·        Chimpanzees

·        Mountain gorillas at Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park

·        red tailed monkeys

·        Golden monkeys

·        Giraffes

·        Zebras

·        Hippos

·        Cheetahs

·        Banded mongoose

·        Black and white colobus monkeys

·        Hartebeests

·        Oribis a mention but a few.