The African big 5 animals in Uganda

The African big 5 animals in Uganda: Africa The phrase “Big 5” was first used by trophy hunters in the 1800s to describe the animals they believed to be the most difficult and hazardous to hunt on foot. These include the Cape Buffalo, Rhinoceros, Lions, Leopards, and African Savannah Elephants. These days, the phrase is most well-known among Uganda safari tourists who shoot the bug 5 using a camera instead of their preferred deadly weapon. All five of the African animals are found in Uganda and are easily observable in all savannah parks.

 

Nowadays, the phrase is frequently used to promote safaris. The Big Five gained notoriety because, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, everyone from American presidents to European royalty aspired to capture an African hunting trophy, with the idea that the bigger and more unpredictable the animal, the better.

The big five species are still hunted today, particularly in South Africa, where the wealthy and privileged enjoy legal game hunting. The slaughter of the Big Five is viewed with revulsion by the general people outside of hunting cliques, and the practice may eventually disappear. The Big Five are now a “awe-inspiring” objective for any safari traveler, nevertheless, due to a move toward tourism.

Despite their frightening and menacing name, the Africa Big 5 may require our assistance to avoid extinction. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), African elephants, lions, and leopards are all considered vulnerable. The western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011 primarily because of hunting for its horns. The northern white rhino subspecies is functionally extinct, with only two females left after the death of the last male in 2018. The Northern White rhino of Uganda is still alive in the highly protected Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary thanks to conservation efforts.

In Uganda, where can one locate the Big Five?

Visitors have a good chance of seeing the other members of the Africa Big 5 in any of Uganda’s four savannah national parks, including Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park, with the exception of the Northern White Rhino, which is only found in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Entebbe UWEC Zoo. These parks will place you in the middle of African elephants hunting pride of African lions and casual herds of cape buffalo. You can find the hunting spots of the shy leopard by taking a leisurely and patient drive in the early morning or late evening on the savannah.

To see the Africa big five in Uganda, take a boat safari on the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park on the Kazinga Channel. Heat will undoubtedly entice them to the coastlines to sip on the freshwater, particularly during the dry seasons (December to February and June to July).

The Savannah Elephants 

The largest terrestrial mammal in the world is the elephant. Although they can live up to 60–70 years, the males always achieve their full size at 35–40 years, which is half of their lifespan. They can weigh up to 3 m and 6 tons. The African big five creatures in Uganda are wild elephants, which grow enormous both as adults and as newborns. At birth, an elephant can weigh up to 120 kg.

The skin of African elephants is thick, measuring up to 2.5 centimeters. They regularly take mud and dust baths to keep their skin clean and prevent sunburn. The elephants also consume a lot of food, which causes them to eat for nearly three-quarters of the day. Elephants are known as gentle giants, but when they feel threatened, they can pose a serious threat to people, cars, and other animals. Elephants consume savannah grasses, bushes, fruits, roots, tree bark, and twigs because they are vegetarians.

Lions

The largest and friendliest of the wild cats is the lion. It weighs 225 kg and is considered the king of the savannah, making it one of the most dangerous animals on the planet. While on Uganda Safaris Tours, the lioness, or female lion, hunts and shares with the lions in the areas to provide excitement. The lioness lives in groups of approximately 40 lions.

The buffalo is the most ferocious and hazardous of the big five animals to people. Buffaloes graze the savannah and floodplains primarily in herds and in groups. To keep the calves safe, the adult buffalos always congregate. Buffalo diet: Buffaloes are herbivores that eat grass, leaves, and other types of plants.

The rhinoceros

The rhino is the most difficult of the big five to see in the wild. Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, it was widely distributed until being hunted to extinction. The two species of rhinoceroses are the critically endangered black rhino and the white rhino. These species are distinguished by their size, food preferences, temperaments, and mouth shapes rather than by color. The mouth of a white rhino is broad and flat. Both black and white rhinos pose a threat to people, but mostly to cars that approach them. Rhinos eat a range of grasses, stems, fruits, and leaves because they are herbivores.

Leopards

Among the great cats, leopards are among the strongest. They rest on tree branches during the day and climb trees even while carrying hefty prey. Against their fur, leopards’ characteristic rosettes—dark spots—create lovely patterns. Since they are rarely spotted together outside of mating situations and when a mother is with her cubs, they are challenging to track down and find in the wild. Leopards hunt at night most of the time. These animals are best found in the early morning or at night. Leopards eat fresh meat and other animals because they are carnivores. They hunt antelopes, jackals, African monkeys, impala, and other animals.

 

Buffaloes from Cape

The buffalo is the most ferocious and hazardous of the big five animals to people. Buffaloes graze the savannah and floodplains primarily in herds and in groups. To keep the calves safe, the adult buffalos always congregate. Buffalo diet: Buffaloes are herbivores that eat grass, leaves, and other types of plants.