The Herbivores of Uganda
Information, Background, Parks and Wildlife Reserves where herbivores such as Elephants, Giraffe, Buffaloes, Zebra, and Rhinos, Warthogs, Bush Pigs, are found in Uganda.
African Elephants: This is the largest land animal in the world and at the same time one of the most intelligent ones and to watch a herd of Elephants can be most fascinating. An adult elephants grows as tall as 3 1/2 meters and 6000 kg in weight.
The females live in close groups and the oldest female is in charge as the matriarch of the family. A mother daughter relationship can last up to 50 years long. The young males leave at the age of 12 and they can be on their own or be part of a herd of bachelors.
In Uganda you can find two kinds of elephants, the Forest Elephants that are smaller and hairier than their savanna cousins, though there can be interbreeding and the savanna elephants. You can find elephants of either the forest or savanna kind in all national parks except Lake Mburo.
African
Buffalo: Uganda is has many buffaloes found in many of the game
parks such as Murchison Falls
National Park, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley
National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and others. You can find them
in forest areas and in the savannas of Uganda. They are adaptable
to a variety of habitats and you can even find some hybrids which are a
cross between the red buffaloes of the West African Forests and the Savanna
buffaloes of East Africa. These can be found both in Murchison Falls
National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Buffaloes live in large herds in the savanna areas of Uganda and in smaller herds in the forest areas. Within those herds there are smaller smaller family clans and you can often find a lone Buffalo. The females have a tendency to kick out males who are no longer welcomed by them
Rhinoceros: Uganda was home to both the black and northern white Rhinoceros. Poaching and the war years took their toll and today you can only find them in the Ziwa Rhino Reserve and from there the plan is release stocks into places such as Murchison Falls National Park in the future.
Hippopotamus: Large animals, responsible for more deaths in Africa than any other mammal, you will find them not just in National Parks but along rivers and lakeshores throughout Uganda.
They are fast and cover a large territory roaming around in order to find a prey to kill. Stealth and Power would be the key words to describe a leopard.
You might be able to spot them at Queen Elizabeth Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
Giraffe: This is the tallest animal in the world. They can grow up to 5 1/2 meters and they live in semi-structured groups, but you will find them often in larger herds moving through the savanna areas of Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley Park grazing in the trees. They move gracefully with their large bodies, it is a humorous sight when you watch them coming to a watering hole and as they crouch down and partake of the water. In Uganda you will find the Rothchild Giraffes.
Wild Swine: The one you will see most often in Uganda's game parks and wildlife reserves is the lovable warthog. Grey in color, nice tusks, seen in family groups, trotting around with their tails raised up, it just makes you smile. They are most often found in savanna parks such as Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Parks.
Though harder to spot because of its nocturnal ways, the Bushpig is common. It is a bulkier and hairier and you can find them in all National Parks except Rwenzori National Park in Uganda.
Then there is the Giant Forest Hog which is the largest of the wild swine found in Africa. Again they have nocturnal habits and live inside of forest, you might be able to spot them by day in Queen Elizabeth National Park along the Channel drive.
Zebra: This lovely striped horse is found in two national parks in Uganda which are Lake Mburo and Kidepo Valley National Park. The Burchell Zebra is commonly found all over eastern and southern Africa. You can see them in large groups, but they are usually various made up of family groups consisting of one stallion, five mares and offspring.
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Herbivores up Close in a Uganda Safari
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Last updated: 11 July 2010
Herbivores in Uganda
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