I have seen these animals before in zoos, but finding them in their natural habitat was a different feeling. I felt connected with nature and like I was seeing something that not a lot of people have seen. Almost a year later, in 2025, I went on another safari in Uganda. First, I visited the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. It is the only place to see rhinoceroses in Uganda. Seeing the rhinoceros being taken care of by local Ugandans gave me a lot of hope. When I continued my safari trip, I saw elephants and buffalo again. I also was very lucky to see lions up close and a leopard sitting in a tree. I had officially seen The Big Five! Finding The Big Five on safaris takes a lot of patience, but when you can see some or all of these animals, it takes your breath away.
Lions live in the savannas and grasslands because they can hunt for their prey there. Leopards also live in savannas and woodlands. Leopards like to sit in trees. Elephants, like leopards, can live in both savannas and forests. Buffalo enjoy water, so they usually live near water sources in savannas or marshes. Since rhinoceroses are considered an endangered species, they typically live in sanctuaries in many African countries.
In Uganda, you can see these animals in national parks and game reserves. This includes Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
