Predator Animals in Uganda; Predators refer to animals that eat others. Uganda shares Africa’s wild carnivore species and tourists are likely to encounter one of the apex predators on game safari in Uganda’s National Parks.
Generally, Uganda rules more than 38 predator species thus marking up Uganda’s wilderness, preying on herbivores and other smaller animals. Some of the apex predators on Uganda adventure such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs however, there are some challenges to spot in the wilderness because of sparse populations in vast areas. A game drive safari in Uganda must go with a local guide or ranger who led you to some of the known hunting grounds.
Other predators to see include; the serval, caracal, lynx, and civet but are obscure from regular exploring. You might fail to spot all of them in the wilderness unless you visit the ‘’UWE’’ Uganda Wildlife Education to watch them behind cages.
In Uganda expect to find five canids or dog species; wild dogs, wolves, foxes, and other extant and extinct species.
Seven are feline species -wild cat species like the cheetah, leopard, lion, lynx, and golden cat.
There are three hyena species include; the striped hyena, the spotted hyena, and the aardwolf.
Other species to see;
Ten mongooses
Six mustelids – otters, badgers, and weasels.
Seven viverrids – civets and genets
Here Uganda’s Wild Cats/ predators to adventure include;
African Lion
Lions sound a special cultural significance in many Ugandan culture’s symbols of courage and strength. They are referred to as kings of the beasts. You will meet these apex predators on the Uganda game drive safari which takes place in Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Lions have powerful bodies, second in size only to tigers, and roars that can waver five miles away.
To adult lion’s coat is designed in yellow gold and young ones have some light spots that disappear with age.
Only male lions have manes, that perfect ruffle of long hair that encircles their heads.
Males can separate groups by the dominant males at the age of 3 – 4 years and start trying to take over a pride for 2 – 3 years only before being ousted by another male.
Females’ lions tend to stay in the same area as their mothers, occasionally moving to an adjacent pride when subadult and rear a litter of cubs every two years.
Leopard
They are stealth and agile hunters, quietly prey species, and abundantly seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Toro Semuliki Wildlife Reserve.
Cheetah
These are fabulous wild cats to adventure on the savanna plain. Cheetahs in Uganda tourists can be able to see them in Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park and Pian Upe Game Reserve both found in the far northeastern Karamoja region.
Serval
The serval is a small wild cat with the biggest ears relative to body size. More so, it can be watched in Bwindi but the best way of seeing this predator is by watching them behind its cage at ‘’UWEC’’ Uganda Wildlife Education Center Zoo in Entebbe.
African golden cat : Predator Animals in Uganda
The African golden cats are close relatives of the caracal and the serval which are seen as species of the west and central African forest. They are commonly seen in western Uganda and have been seen more in the forested national park except in semliki National Park.
Caracal
The caracal is in form of a cat’s monarchial, very sharp and crown in color; Its trademark is the large, tipped with black and tufted and pointy ears. This royal wild cat prey can only be seen in Kidepo National Park coming along with small monkeys, antelopes, mongooses, hyraxes, rodents and bird species.
Jackal
The Jackals are related to domestic dogs, coyotes, wolves, and foxes.
There are three jackal species; the side-striped jackal seen in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley, Lake Mburo, and Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga National Parks. Other species -black-back jackal restricted to Kidepo Valley and the golden jackal is not seen in any park but has been adventured preying on people’s farms.
Bat-eared fox
This species is small in size but a striking silver-grey insectivore. Bat-eared fox prey on insects, warms, and invertebrates; poor fellas! Generally, they are yellowish brown with a pale throat and underbelly.
In Uganda, they can be seen in Kidepo Valley and Pian Upe Game Reserve.
African wild dog
The African wild dog has a long-legged canine with large bat-like ears, irregular, mottled coat lives, and highly effective hunting packs of five to 50 individuals dominated by a female.
Unfortunately, they were last killed by humans in decades but they had been reintroduced into Uganda’s wilderness.
Another unmissable predator includes; Spotted hyena, a Banded mongoose many more.
