Uganda’s elephants: There size, where they are found and more

Elephants, after the lion, are perhaps the second most iconic animals while on an African safari. In the African wilderness, the largest land mammal is easily recognized and its among the big five safari. Elephants have a massive, dark-grey creature with long trunks, enormous ears, and pillar-like legs that strolls through the plains with grace.  Elephants are one of the safari’s most breathtaking views with exceptional memories while on any safari in Uganda.

Unique things to know about elephants

Elephants possess unique adaptations and behaviors, making them fascinating creatures. For instance, they use their trunks as snorkels when crossing deep water, and their thick skin helps them regulate temperature. Additionally, they communicate through infrasound, which humans cannot hear, and they have extraordinary memory.

Let us looks at the different features that makes elephant standout from the rest of other wildlife.

1. Adaptation to the aquatic life

With the help of their trunk, elephants can cross deep rivers as they can keep breathing through the trunks while submerged in water.

2. Water conservation

Elephants use their thick skin to conserve huge amount of water during the dry season which can help them to survive for quiet long period of time.

3. Infrasound communication

Elephants are able to communicate with a very low sound that human can not hear. The sound can travel for a very long distance which enables elephants to communicate from far.

4. Using feet to communicate.

Elephants uses their feet to sense vibration which is also very important as the mode of communication to elephants.

5. Excellent sense of smell.

Elephants are able to use their highly developed sense of smell to detect food, water and threat from far.

6. Extensive memory

Elephants have got extensive memory that enable them to remember the past event, location and faces which is not the case with other animals.

7. Matriarch society.

The family of elephants is led by the most senior female in the group which differ from other wildlife that live in family like mountain gorillas whose families are led by the alpha male (the silverback)

8. Self recognition

Elephant have the capability to recognize themselves when they see themselves in the mirror.

9. Largest land mammal

Elephant is the largest land mammal with the male estimated to reach up to 600-kilogram live weight.

10. Growing tusk.

Tusks are actually the elephant teeth and are known to keep growing throughout the lifetime of elephant. The tusks are used for self defense, competition and digging

11. Sensitive skin.

Finally, even though their skin are known to be very hard, they are actuary very sensitive and they have to cover them with mud to protect them.

WHAT ARE THE ELEPHANT SPECIES THAT ARE IN UGANDA?

There are only 2 elephant species that can be seen in Uganda that is the African bush elephant, sometimes referred to as the African savannah elephant, and the forest elephant.

However, the African bush elephant is Uganda’s most renowned elephant species and can be traced in a variety of savanna parks throughout the country.

The forest elephants are a bit rare and can be found in Uganda’s forest parks, such as Bwindi impenetrable Forest.

Please note some of these forest elephants have been denied the rights to existence in Uganda, arguing that they are merely surviving African bush elephants rather than essential forest elephant species.

How many elephants can be found in Uganda?

Uganda is one of the few African countries where elephant numbers have recently increased substantially from years to years.

The pearl of Africa is a very perfect destination for spotting elephant species.

According to estimates, there were 7975 elephants in Uganda in the year of 2020 and today the number of the elephant species has raised compared in the past years. The information above is based on the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which is in charge of overseeing Uganda’s parks and also carrying out these censuses.

WHERE TO SEE ELEPHANTS ON A SAFARI IN UGANDA?

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is arguably the most popular wildlife destination in the country. Covering over 1,978 square kilometers, the park is a home to one of Uganda’s largest populations of African elephants.

The park encompasses Kyambura Wildlife Reserve and Kigezi Wildlife Reserve all harbouring a number of wildlife. According to the most recent census conducted in 2018, there were 3953 elephants in this area.

The area is very exceptional in elephant sightings since it is connected to the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National area and herds of elephants tend to migrate and come to Queen Elizabeth national park.

While on a safari drive, you will surely spot elephants in the Kasenyi plains, the Mweya peninsula, and the remote Ishasha plains near Congo. As the elephants gather to drink and cool down in the midday heat, the Kazinga Channel offers up-close views for even better elephant sightings on a boat cruise safari. The Kazinga Channel boat cruise actually offers some of the closest encounters you will ever have with an African bush elephant without compromising your safety.

Best time to visit: Dry season (December to February, June to August) best for wildlife viewing.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls national park, Uganda’s largest park, is one of the best and ideal places where you can have incredible elephant sightings.  Despite the fact that the park is famously known for its powerful falls, it is a home to many elephants

During the year 2019, there were 2726 elephants in the protected area, which included the park and surrounding reserves.

The best time to spot elephants at Murchison Falls National Park is during a safari drive in the savannah of the Nile River’s northern bank. Game drives and boat cruises are the perfect activities to carry out in Murchison to enjoy many sightings of the elephants.

The afternoon Nile River boat tour offers you with opportunities to see elephants along the riverside, as they congregate to drink and cool down.

Best time to visit: Dry season (June-August, December to February)

Kidepo Valley National Park

The remote rugged Karamoja plains in Kidepo valley National Park host a relatively small population of elephants that can be seen while on your safari. During the last census that was carried out in 2019 it proved 295 elephant species.

The parks open savannah and mountain backdrops provide striking photographic opportunities and it is still a home to other wildlife species such as the buffalos. The park is an incredibly beautiful safari destination that lies in the northeastern corner of Uganda, way off the popular tourist circuit.

Accessing the park is a bit long more than 8 hours so its better to visit Kidepo and combine it with other activities.

Best time to visit: (September to March) when animals congregate around the water sources.

Karenga Community Wildlife Area

Kidepo Valley National Park is essentially expanded upon by Karenga Community Wildlife Area. In 2019, 351 elephants were observed in the wildlife region. The limited number of elephants in Kidepo National Park can occasionally be attributed to their tendency to travel between Kidepo and Karenga.

Best time to visit: (Dry season, June to September)

Kibale National Park

 

Kibale Forest National Park, a famous primate capital mostly known for the chimpanzee trekking is one of the forests you easily come by elephants too. The last elephant census of 2019 put the population of elephants in Kibale National Park at 566 individuals which is quite impressive for a largely forest park.

However, since activities in Kibale Forest are done on foot, it is never safe to meet the elephant along your trail. Therefore, you do not go looking for elephants in Kibale Forest, but you stand a chance of seeing them during the activities in the forest.

Best time to visit: Dry season (December to February, June to September)

Bwindi Forest National Park

Did you know that you can see some elephant species in Bwindi Impenetrable national park. The park is situated in the southwestern parts of Uganda, and it is a home to half the total population of gorillas in the world attracting a number of tourists. Indeed, the park is an ideal destination with attractions it still serves as a home to the elephants (Forest elephants). if you are lucky, you can view some of them crossing paths with you on your gorilla trekking trip in Bwindi Forest. Or you can still be able to come across elephant footprints, dung, and fallen trees while on your trekking expedition.

It is believed that over 100 elephants thrive with in Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Best time to visit: (June to August) Combining gorilla trekking and game drives.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountain ranges varied habitats include forest that harbors among other wildlife elephants. The Rwenzori has a tiny population of elephants based on the census carried out in 2019 puts at just 13 individuals. The elephants in the Rwenzori have been the most vulnerable due to the long insurgencies in the region that rendered the park hard to protect thus exposing it to a lot of poaching.

However, you can be lucky and spot an elephant while on your hiking expedition to the Rwenzori mountains.

Best time to visit: Dry season (June to August)

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