Uganda Hunting Safari
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT UGANDA
Your Uganda hunting Safari will take place in the Republic of Uganda, which is a country in Eastern and Central Africa bordered in the east by Kenya, in the North by South Sudan, by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the West, Rwanda in the Southwest and Tanzania in the South.
The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the historical Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a portion of the south of the country, including the capital city of Kampala.
The current president of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is both head of state and head of government. The president appoints a prime minister. The parliament is formed by the National Assembly, which consist of 526 members of whom 86 members are nominated by interest groups, including women and the Uganda People’s Defense Forces. The remaining members are elected for five-year terms during general elections.
Uganda is divided into districts spread across four administrative regions: Northern, Eastern, Central and Western. The districts are all named after their chief towns.
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt, oil and gas. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Uganda is located on the East African Plateau, averaging about 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level, which slopes steadily downwards to the Sudanese Plain to the North. Much of the South is poorly drained, the center is dominated by Lake Kyoga and surrounding marshy areas.
Uganda is situated almost completely within the Nile basin. The Victoria Nile drains out of Lake Kyoga, then into Lake Albert and North to Sudan. One small area on the eastern border of Uganda is drained by the Turkwel River, which is part of the internal drainage basin of Lake Turkana.
Although generally equatorial, Uganda’s climate is not uniform as the altitude modifies the climate, but temperatures rarely climb to the 900F during the day or drop to the 400F at night. Southern Uganda is more humid, with rain generally spreading throughout the year, but mainly occurring in March to June and November to December. Further to the north, the dry season gradually emerges (320C) so that January and February are much drier than the rest of the year.
Most of the important cities are located in the south near Lake Victoria, including the capital, Kampala, as well as the international airport of Entebbe (EBB). Uganda is landlocked and has many large lakes. In addition to Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga, there are, Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and the smaller Lake GeorgeYour Uganda Hunting Safari
ACCOMMODATION IN KAMPALA AND IN THE FIELD
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport (Airport Code: EBB) or departure, depending on your flight schedule, while on your Uganda Hunting Safari, you will be accommodated in top hotels in Kampala close to the airport. Our staff will pick you up at the airport and drop you off.
Your lodging in the field will be either in colonial-style East African safari tents (Kafu & Karamoja Blocks) or traditional grass thatched tented bungalows (Mayanja Lodge) serviced by our well trained staff.Our field cooks provide three solid meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and various snacks per day. The cooking in our restaurants samples different kitchens such as Indian, African, German, Italian and Chinese.All our camps and lodges are semi-permanent structures equipped with 24/7 power supply and satellite internet.
HUNTING SEASON
Our hunting season is from January to December. It rains all year round (which is why the country is so lush) with slightly more rain on average in May to June and October to November. However, the rainfall varies from year to year. Some species move with the rain, which we take into account to make every safari a success.The best time to hunt Buffalo is during the months of December to end of June. After that the grass is high and hunting buffalo becomes challenging. All other species can be hunted year- round.
SITATUNGA HUNTING
Our safaris for the elusive ghost of the swamp, the Sitatunga, are undertaken in the Kafu River Basin and in the papyrus belts along the banks of River Nile, Mayanja and Kafu. On average, the density of Sitatunga is from 5 to 7.5 per square kilometers.Our Sitatunga concessions hold the highest density of Sitatunga anywhere in Africa. It is not uncommon to see 7 to 25 Sitatunga (Males, female and young animals) daily in the course of our safaris.
Trophy Gallery Uganda
HUNTING CONCESSIONS
Our hunting areas include Aswa-Lolim, Karamoja North and South, Kafu River Basin and Lake Mburo. Below are the driving distance between selected areas. Flight charters are available directly from Kampala to Kidepo at an additional cost for a maximum of 3 people in a Cessna 206/210 or in a Cessna 208 Caravan for more than 3 people. Safaris can start in Mayanja, Aswa-Lolim or Karamoja depending on camp occupancy. Charters can be taken as well directly out of Entebbe International Airport in case of early arrivals at an additional charge.
6-hrs drive from Aswa- Lolim to Karamoja11-hrs drive from Kampala to Karamoja
6-hrs drive to Karamoja south
5-hrs drive from Mayanja to Aswa-Lolim
4-hrs drive from Kampala to Mayanja
Entebbe International Airport – EBB
4-hrs drive from Kampala to Lake Mburo
8-hrs drive from
Karamoja south to Kampala
45 min from Entebbe to Kampala
Kafu River Basin.
The Kafu River Basin stretches along Lake Kyoga, Kafu and Mayanja Rivers and covers the six districts of Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Kiryandongo and Masindi covering about 420,000 hectares.
The landscape in Kafu consists mainly of papyrus swamps and dense bush thickets making it a prime hunting ground for the East African Sitatunga, East African Bush Duiker, Eastern Bohor Reedbuck, Nile Bushbuck, East African, Uganda Kob, East African Defassa Waterbuck, Leopard, Common Oribi and Bush Pig.
We hunt in Kafu from January to December. This is the best concession for big Sitatunga. Our average horn lengths on Sitatunga are 25 inches with bulls taken in the 29 to 31.5-inch range over the years.
Aswa Lolim Ranches
The former Aswa-Lolim Wildlife Reserve was degazetted under Idi Amin in the 70s. It covers the sub-counties of Purongo, Alero, Anaka and Koch-Goma. Although many commercial farmers have settled in this prime hunting ground, we still hunt for Nile Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Oribi and warthog.
Aswa-Lolim lies on the eastern side of the Nile. It covers 45,000 hectares and shares a 110km direct border with Murchison Falls National Park in the South and about 78km with the Nile in the West. The landscape is dominated by light rolling grass hills with palm trees, small valleys with creeks and light forest.
Near the river, you find dense forests and large stretches of papyrus swamps. We hunt in Aswa-Lolim from January to end of April/May. The Sitatunga hunting takes place year- round.
Karamoja North
Our Karamoja concessions are stretching over 1.2 million hectares from Kidepo Valley National Park all the way to central Karamoja. They include 6 Districts (Karenga, Kitgum, Agago, Kaabong, Kotido and Abim) and are rich in Buffalo, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Oribi, Eastern Bohor Reedbuck, Chandler’s Mountain Reedbuck, Gunther’s Dik-Dik, East African Defassa Waterbuck, Warthog and the Sudan Maneless zebra. Due to increased anti-poaching, lesser and greater Kudu are as well spotted more frequently.
Currently we operate out of one hunting camp situated in the Karenga Community Wildlife Area. In 2022 we opened more camps to spread out to other prime hunting grounds. Among these are Kalapata Community Wildlife Area and the former Lipan Controlled Hunting Area, a prime block for buffalo bordered by Kidepo Valley National Park and Kidepo Game Reserve on the South Sudan side.
SAFARI ADD-ON’S
The ranches around Lake Mburo National Park are situated in the South West of the country. The lush rolling green hills are covered with light bush and also comprise of wide- open areas. Lake Mburo is an extremely game rich area and well known for its great hunting opportunities for Eland, Impala, Zebra, Topi, Waterbuck and huge Warthogs.
The accommodation is in tented bungalows on wooden platforms on the shores of Lake Kachera. The camp has got all amenities including. WiFi.
In Lake Mburo we co-operate with a local operator.
PASSPORT AND VISA
A passport valid for at least six months after your arrival with some blank pages is mandatory. For U.S. citizens and citizens of the European Union we recommend to obtain an E-visa in advance for $ 50.00. Visa application can be made online at: https://visas.immigration.go.ug
HUNTING PERMITS AND RIFLE IMPORT LICENSES
All sport hunters entering Uganda have to obtain a hunting license and a rifle import permit prior to their arrival. A daily conservation/concession fee of 100 US$ per hunter/ day and US$ 60 non-hunters/day is charged by the authorities. These and the cost of rifle & ammunition importation is included in your safari package under ‘royalties’.
RIFLES AND AMMUNITION
Bring what suits you best for hunting, but we recommend a .270 to .300 for most species and a .375 to .416 for buffalo. Most airlines limit your ammunition to 11 pounds packed in a locked case in a separate bag than the rifle case. A good combination would be 60 rounds for your light rifle and 20 softs and 20 solids for your heavy rifle.
HANDLING OF YOUR SAFARI
Field preparation, dip and pack, export documents and permits are included in your safari package under “Royalties”. The actual shipping costs from Uganda to your final destination (taxidermist and/or importing agent) are additional expenses.
CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT
Lightweight clothing is adequate with a jacket or sweater for the evenings or early mornings. We recommend to bring long sleeve shirts and trousers, preferably dark khaki or green colors.
Be sure to pack some light rain gear because it is common to experience some rain several days per month in some regions.
INSURANCES AND HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
Each hunter and observer are responsible for his or her health-related problems and own insurance including evacuation insurance and trip cancellation insurance. Please talk to your medical insurance provider about coverage in a foreign country. Each insurance company has different requirements regarding receipts they require for reimbursement of medical costs.
We ask you to take responsibility for your own health and be aware that our hunting locations are often hours if not days away from competent medical care.
By joining these safaris, you assume the responsibility of the risks associated, which can be, but are not limited, to tropical diseases, animal attacks, uprisings among others.
See your doctor for routine international vaccinations including mandatory yellow fever Corona Vaccinations or PCR Tests and an optional anti-malarial prescription.
You may also want to request precautionary anti-biotic and anti-diarrhea tablets. Yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Uganda. Visitors arriving into Uganda or Rwanda by plane or road are required to present updated yellow fever certificates to immigration upon arrival.
