Best Places to See Zebras in Uganda

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Best Places to See Zebras in Uganda: Uganda has a lot to offer as a safari destination especially when it comes to game viewing. You will be stunned by the numerous species of wildlife that you will see, but nothing stands out as significantly as the black and white stripped zebra. The zebra is both a beauty and a mystery. Zebras are striped with black and white coats and weigh about 350 to 450 kgs.

Zebras are African equids known for their unique black-and-white striped coats, which act as camouflage, bug repellent, and individual identification. There are three species of zebras and these are; Plains zebras, Mountain zebras, and Grévy’s zebras. They live in social herds, and are herbivores that can run up to 40 mph, and, unlike horses, zebras cannot be domesticated.

Just like human fingerprints, no two zebras have the same stripe pattern as they seem to be when seen from a far.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo national park is located in western Uganda; it is situated 230 km from Kampala making it the closest national park to Kampala city. It is the smallest savannah park. The park is home to some of the largest herds of zebras in the country both inside and outside the park; whether in a 4×4 wheel vehicle, nature walk, horse back riding or any activities in the park you will never miss seeing zebras.

Zebras in lake Mburo national park are so many that some of them were translocated to other protected areas. The zebra species in lake Mburo national park are of plain variety and they originally came from Tanzania.

How to get to Lake Mburo national park?

The main access options to Lake Mburo include road and air. By road; Lake Mburo is the closest national park to Kampala about 230 km and it takes approximately 4 to 5 hours to get there. The Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara route is the key route leading to Lake Mburo Game Park, and you can enter through its Nshara gate or the Sanga Trading Center Gate.

By air; domestic flight services are available, though you won’t have to take a direct flight. Taking a flight is possible from Entebbe International Airport up to Mbarara Airstrip, and then you drive 30km to get to Lake Mburo National Park.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley national park is the most remote national park found in the further corner of northeastern Uganda. It is one of the best places to find zebras in vast savannah of Kidepo. The zebras in Kidepo differ from those in lake Mburo, they originate from Kenya. These zebras in Kidepo valley have developed into sub species and their distinctive feature is that thy become almost maneless as they mature. The zebras in kidepo valley national park have been affected by climate change and have had difficulty thriving well in the area leading to the decreased number of these animals.

How to get to Kidepo Valley National Park?

To get to Kidepo Valley National Park, the most isolated park in Uganda, you can travel by air for speed or by road for a scenic adventure. Flying is the most convenient way to reach the park, reducing a 10–12-hour drive to a 2-hour flight. Driving allows you to see more of Uganda’s landscape, but a 4×4 vehicle is essential due to rough, unpaved terrain in the Karamoja region.

Pian upe Game reserve

Pian Upe Game Reserve is one of Uganda’s incredible safari destinations still not discovered by many tourists. The game reserve is located in the northern side of Mount Elgon. Its rugged natural beauty provides the perfect setting for sighting zebras. The reserve is more remote than Kidepo valley and accommodation is limited in this area, however the reserve can be included in a safari trip itinerary such as Sipi falls, Kidepo or mount Elgon. The zebras in this reserve are thriving due to the right conditions.

Katonga Wildlife Reserve

Zebras in Katonga wildlife reserve were recently introduced and they were translocated from lake Mburo national park. The park is located close to kibale national park in Kamwenge and Kyenjojo Districts, western Uganda, about 235 km away from Kampala

When is the best time to see zebras in Uganda?

Uganda is open throughout the year to see zebras. The best time to see the zebras in uganda is during the dry season which begins from June to September and from December to February. During these months, the grass is shorter, making them easier to spot, and they gather around water sources in Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. Also, the dry season allows a better, faster, and more comfortable road access for game drives.