Amazing Animals Uganda

Uganda is a landlocked country and home to the largest lake in Africa and the largest tropical lake on Earth, Lake Victoria.

Official National Bird

Crested crane

The bird appears on the country’s flag and on the coat of arms.

Native Animals

African bush elephants count as part of the “Big Five.” These are the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot. They are the largest terrestrial animals on Earth. They are also the most iconic animals from the African continent. They inhabit seasonally flooded grasslands, wetlands, woodlands, temperate and subtropical forests, and agricultural land. African bush elephants are herbivores, eating grasses, barks, leaves, roots, and fruit.

African leopards are the most widespread and common subspecies of the leopard, being found across sub-Saharan Africa. They inhabit a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannas, excluding only extremely sandy deserts.  Leopards are carnivores and have an exceptional ability to adapt to changes in prey availability. They have a very broad diet ranging from dung beetles to adult elands. In sub-Saharan Africa, at least 92 prey species have been documented in leopard scat, including rodents, birds, small and large antelopes, hyraxes, hares, and arthropods.

African lions are also part of the Big Five. They are social big cats living in family groups called prides. Lionesses do the hunting, targeting big game such as giraffes or buffalo. The male lion protects the pride from enemies.

Cape buffaloes are also members of the Big Five. They are a subspecies of the African buffalo, the only bovine in Africa. Both the females and males have horns. They are aggressive animals living in herds that can have from 100 to 1000 members. Cape buffalos are strictly herbivores and consume a wide variety of grasses, leaves, sedges, and other plant matter.

Eastern chimpanzees are native to central and eastern Africa. They spend time both in trees and on the ground but usually sleep in trees, where they build a nest for the night. Chimpanzees live in communities of typically 20 to over 150 members but usually travel in small parties of just a few individuals. They are omnivores, eating seeds, fruits, honey, leaves, bark, fungi, and insects such as termites and ants, and small prey such as birds and monkeys. They often use a twig as a tool to reach termites or ants in nests and have been seen using sticks to hunt other small mammals.

Golden monkeys have golden fur on their bodies, tails, and cheeks, but their limbs are black.  Uganda is home to a dozen primate species. Golden monkeys are primarily herbivores, which means that they primarily eat plants. Their diet consists of a variety of fruits, leaves, seeds, and flowers.

Great blue turacos are very endangered birds. They are teal-colored with a black crest and red and yellow beaks. These birds primarily eat fruits, leaves, and flowers.  They are known for their preference for soft fruits, particularly those from trees like figs and berries. In addition to fruits, they may consume seeds and occasionally insects, but their diet is predominantly plant-based.

The hippopotamus, also known as the common hippopotamus or the river hippopotamus, is a large species of semi-aquatic ungulate native to much of sub-Saharan Africa. They are recognizable for their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths with large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, pillar-like legs, and large size. The eyes, ears, and nostrils of hippos are placed high on the top of their skulls. As semiaquatic creatures, they prefer living in shallow water bodies such as lakes, rivers, or swamps.  These hippos are highly social, nocturnal, and sedentary animals. They usually form groups of 20-100 individuals. Common hippos are herbivores and feed almost entirely on grass, with only minimal consumption of aquatic plants.

Marabou storks are wading birds and often described as the ugliest birds in Africa. They have naked pink necks with a pair of air sacs, one on the back at the base of the neck and a bigger one hanging from the front. They are scavengers.

Mountain gorillas inhabit the forests of Uganda. They live in family groups. These gorillas have silvery hair that forms a large saddle-like mark on their backs. They are very intelligent and known to use tools when needed. Mountain gorillas primarily eat a herbivorous diet consisting of leaves, stems, and fruits.

Nile crocodiles are one of the three crocodile species in Africa. They are the second-largest crocodiles on Earth. They stay near or in water, inhabiting swamps, estuaries, rivers, and lakes. They feed on both fish and large land animals.

Rock pythons are not venomous and kill by constriction. They usually feed on large rodents or small antelopes. They can be seen at the bat cave in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Maramagambo Forest.

Rothschild’s giraffes are also called Uganda giraffes and are the one type of giraffe found in the country. They are the tallest giraffes and can reach a height of 19 feet. They are found in the savannahs, grasslands, open woodlands, wooded plains, shrubs, and thickets. These giraffes are herbivores and primarily feed on thorny acacia trees and other similar plants and trees.

The Shelley’s crimsonwing is a member of the finch family. They are among the rarest birds in the world. These birds can only be found in the Albertine Rift that borders Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda.

Shoebill storks are the most elusive birds in Uganda. They stand about five feet tall, with massive bills. These birds inhabit swamps and feed on lungfish but will also enjoy frogs, other fish, snakes, and baby crocodiles.

Sitatungas are semi-aquatic antelope. They inhabit swamps and have splayed feet that help them swim. They are active mainly during the early hours after dawn, the last one or two hours before dusk, and at night. They spend most of this time feeding.  Sitatungas are herbivorous animals. They feed mainly on new foliage, fresh and aquatic grasses, sedges, flowers, buds, and seeds.

Uganda kobs are medium-sized antelope that are depicted on the country’s coat of arms. They primarily eat grasses and herbs.  They are grazers and prefer open savanna and grassland habitats.