Best Time To Book A Uganda Safari To See Hippos
When Is The Best Time To Book A Uganda Safari To See Hippos?
Best Time To Book A Uganda Safari To See Hippos. You can see Hippopotami can be seen in any season of the year as they spend most of their day in water. The boat trips in Uganda are open all year but advance arrangement is a necessity. When the water level of most water bodies where these hippos live dries up, they wallow in the mud to cool off the day’s heat.
The dry season which is normally June to September and December to February lowers the water level of some water bodies pushing the hippos to the muddy pods.
During the wet season, the temperatures in these Uganda National Parks are lower. So, the chances of seeing hippos grassing in the open grass in this period are high. The western season is normally March to early June and September to November.
Hippos are wild animals that are not habituated to human presence. So, you must follow the guidelines given during your stay. When angry, hippos cause a lot of distraction including capsizing the boat in which you are sailing. Hippos fear the sound of the engine, which is why boats used to sail on the bodies are engine boats.
Do not provoke the hippos because you may agitate them, hence turning against you. You may have to do a night game drive to see the hippos’ nightlife. But, you need to make this arrangement with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. This will allow me to make all the necessary arrangements for the night game drive. Carry night vision equipment so that you can see their animals because bright light disturbs their peace and vision.
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Uganda is indeed a country with natural gifts. It has breathtaking views and an extraordinary density of animals. These include thousands of hippos that love the water in these game parks.
Several other wild animals also love to spend time in these Uganda game parks. During the game drives, you may get the opportunity to spot them. Hippopotamuses love water because they have a lot of fat in their bodies. Thus, they have to stay underwater during hot sunny days. You can hear them granting and some spilled water up like a fountain.
The hippos love wallowing in mud, especially when there is water scarcity in the game parks. This helps them to cool off the heat from the scorching sun as temperatures may rain up to about 37 degrees centigrade.
Other animals also live in these National parks. These include crocodiles, otters, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, reedbucks, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, herds of elephants, Uganda kobs, hartebeests many others.
Some of the Best National Parks in Uganda to See Hippos on a Boat Cruise
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best Time To Book A Uganda Safari To See Hippos- Queen Elizabeth National Park. During the launch trip on the Kazinga channel of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot schools of hippos embedded in the water like rocks. Kazinga channel is the link between Lake George and Lake Edward. This 40-kilometer-long channel hosts schools of hippos, Nile crocodiles, otters, and others.
From the Mweya peninsular, you can hear the granting sounds of these hippos too. Kazinga channel provides Queen Elizabeth National Park’s prime wildlife spectacle. While on a boat trip on this channel, you may spot other animals. They move down to the channel to quench their thirst and take a bath.
An array of birds grace the marshy shores of the Kazinga channel too. It is like a magnet to several birds including foreign migrants that fly from as far as Europe. Some of the birds you may spot at the shores of Kazinga channel include greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian geese, papyrus gonolek, African fish skimmer, pink-backed pelicans, and others.
When you take a game drive in the other tracks within Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot lions, topis, waterbucks, bushbucks, hyenas, herds of buffaloes, and elephants, to mention but a few.
The Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to chimpanzee trekking. This 100-meter-deep gorge formed due to the erosion of river Kyambura as it pushed its way towards the Kazinga channel.
Murchison Falls National Park Boat Cruise
Best Time To Book A Uganda Safari To See Hippos- Murchison Falls National Park. The highlight of Murchison Falls National Park is the launch trip to the bottom of the falls. From the pier, you sail on the boat or launch wards, Murchison Falls. When you look into the River Nile water, you can spot out number of hippos gathered like rocks. Crocodiles are usual suspects in River Nile and when you get to the crocodile restaurant, you may spot them basking under the sun as they wait to catch a meal.
Several other wild animals love spending their daytime on the shore of the river Nile. These include giraffes, herds of elephants, herds of cape buffaloes, bushbucks, and hartebeest to mention but a few.
As you draw closer to Murchison Falls, the river course gets rough, and boat turbulence changes, too. You hear thundering sounds as you finally get into an open space to view the falls. At Murchison Falls, River Nile staggers over a bed of rocks. Then, it gains momentum to push through the 6-meter-wide bend furiously and burst out. They then form a cloudy appearance and finally cascade down the 43-meter-high cliff to continue.
Sir Samuel Baker, one of the great explorers, called Murchison Falls one of the greatest points of the entire course. Taking an optional hike to the top of the falls allows you to see where this drama is generated.
Other Wildlife in Murchison Falls National Park
By taking a game drive on the different tracks in Murchison Falls National Park, you may spot animals. These among others include lions, herds of buffaloes, lions, waterbucks, leopards, bushbucks, warthogs, oribi, hartebeests, reedbucks, giraffes, and others. Taking a birding safari in Murchison Falls National Park allows you to spot several birds. More than 450 bird species are recorded as residents of this park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kaniyo Pabidi forest, just 8 kilometers from Kicubanyombo gate of Murchison Falls National Park, is exciting. You need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit in advance. This is because the number allowed to do chimpanzee trekking in this forest is limited.
Lake Mburo National Park
Best Time To Book A Uganda Safari To See Hippos- Lake Mburo National Park. You can spot several hippo schools in Lake Mburo during the boat trip. Lake Mburo National Park is the gem of game parks in western Uganda where you can do a detour to and from Kampala city. While on a boat trip in Lake Mburo, you may spot hippos and crocodiles.
Lake Mburo National Park has vegetative habitats in the southern part surrounding the open water of Lake Mburo. It also has grassy escarpments covering the shoreline fringed with acacia forest and a closed canopy of Rubanga forest. The north and east grass valley floors are made of seasonally lush and soggy rain.
Other than the hippos, during the game drive, you may spot Burchell zebra, impalas, elands, waterbucks, bushbucks, giraffes, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, oribi, reedbucks, leopards, hyenas and others.
Birders have a variety of birds to spot in Lake Mburo National Park as more than 315 bird species are residents of this park. Some of the birds you can spot during a tour in Lake Mburo National Park include saddle-billed storks, African fin foot, Acacia woodland birds, Tabor cisticola, and others.
What are the requirements for Uganda Safari?
Purchase park entrance fees from Uganda Wildlife Authority from their headquarters in advance, as no cash is allowed on the ground.
Hire a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition with a professional and experienced driver guide. It is best to hire a driver guide in advance, especially when your Uganda safari is in the peak season.
Book accommodation to use during the Uganda safari in advance because options run out as the high season breaks in.
Brief people traveling about the guidelines of a game safari in advance. This will help them avoid penalties for violating them, like not dumping garbage or feeding the animals while on a Uganda tour. They are wild animals that must search for their food.
Do not wear clothes in colors that are not wilderness-friendly like blue, red, black, or blue that may attract stinging insects.
Do not drive off-track during the game drive because you may knock down some animals, and this is a serious offense.
Carry some cash with you in case you are home to do on-ground purchases or tip service providers like ranger guides, lodge staff, and others.
In case you have children on Uganda, safari, ensure they are always in your company. This will guard you from animals that may grab you.+
What is the Packing list for the Uganda safari?
A travel Journal to keep a record of every detail that you may get to see in the park.
Binoculars to get a clear picture of fur-hidden animals and birds.
Sunscreen is used to protect your skin from sunburns and to apply while at the pool in case your lodge has one.
A torch just in case lights go out at night, and because most accommodation facilities use solar, sometimes the panels may run short of power.
Try to avoid bright colors because they may look suspicious to some wild animals and cause them to charge at you. The wild is dusty at times, which may make your clothes dirty, in case they are brightly colored.
A camera for taking memories of your honeymoon adventures in the National Parks
Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need to have an on-ground transaction.
Carry an extra fully charged battery to switch with in case one runs low.
Insect repellant as the wilderness has stinging insects that may hurt your skin.
First Aid kit for just in case of any illness that you are aware of.
Toiletries just in case the lodge doesn’t provide
Energy snacks to bite while on game drives and other activities in the pack.
What else to do on the Uganda safari?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda
In Uganda, gorilla trekking safaris happen in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. You need a gorilla permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority to participate in this adventure.
The age limit for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 12 years and over. This is because of the nature of the topography of the Virunga area which is rugged resulting from volcanic action in this park.
At the moment Uganda has over 21 gorilla families open to the public. You can do a gorilla habituation experience too where tourists are in the company of a semi-habituated gorilla family for four hours. Uganda has about four gorilla habituation experience families open to the public.
Chimpanzee safaris in Uganda
While on a Uganda safari, you can experience chimpanzee trekking or habituation. Some of Uganda’s chimpanzee safari destinations include Kibale National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Kalinzu Forest, Kaniyo Pabidi Forest, and the Ngamba chimpanzee sanctuary.
To attend the morning or afternoon sessions, you must secure a chimpanzee permit. The chimpanzee safaris are limited to a maximum of 6 people per troop, so booking in advance is necessary.
Golden Monkey Safari in Uganda
Golden monkeys live in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. You need to book a Golden Monkey permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority in advance. You can do golden monkey trekking or golden monkey habituation experience.
Whitewater rafting in Uganda
Excite your feelings with the thrilling whitewater rafting adventure. You do not have to bear any experience. Instructors are on the ground to take you all that is necessary to do this adventure. Although there are different levels of these tides, do end where you are most comfortable.
Safari Vacations and Travel Services offers these and many other adventures. We arrange for such activities in Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, and Tanzania. Therefore, Contact us for more information by filling out the form below. We’ll turn your dream adventure into reality.
