Best Place to See Warthogs in Uganda
What is the best place to see warthogs in Uganda? Warthogs are part of the pig family living in the sub-Sahara grasslands of Africa. They are similar to pigs in the domestic farms. They are more omnivores and they prefer eating grass and meat. Warthogs survive more in the wild than other wildlife since they can switch to any type of food. Warthogs have delicate skins which are affected by sunshine and they usually prefer playing and rolling in mud to protect their skins from direct sunlight.
They also have tuskers like elephants with upper and lower jaws that are used to fight predators. When confronted by predators, warthogs run so fast to hide away from predators. During this interaction with the predators, warthogs tend to stop as if they don’t know why they are running. As they see the predators again, they run to hide away. Warthogs live in burrows at night which they do not own with their young ones to protect them away from danger.
What are the interesting facts about warthogs?
Warthogs have several interesting facts about them and they include;
- Male warthogs are heavier than females
- Warthog bodies are covered by sparse bristles in the middle of the back along the spine.
- Warthog skins are either black or grey
- Their head snout is elongated and has generally a flat face
- It has a tail and during the run, the tail is elongated in the air as it runs
What is the life expectancy and production rate of a warthog?
Warthogs live for a long period and they tend to live up to 17 years in the wild and even go beyond if there are no factors affecting their life expectancy like diseases, lack of food, and predators. Their production is about 2 to 3 piglets and they reproduce in about 5 to 6 months after breeding.
Where to see warthogs in Uganda?
In Uganda, there are several destinations that travelers can visit to see the warthogs and they include;
Lake Mburo National Park
This park is located in western Uganda and it is one of the smallest parks in Uganda. It is also the nearest park to Kampala which can be accessed by travelers on their safaris. Lake Mburo is a great destination for travelers to see several warthogs which travelers can encounter with other wildlife.
Murchison falls National park
The park is situated in the northwestern part of Uganda and it is one of the largest and most popular national parks in Uganda. It originates its name from the world’s strongest falls located within the park. While in this park, there are several wildlife that travelers on their safaris can encounter. Warthogs are also in this park where travelers can see them around their accommodation facilities, in the wild.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park was gazette in 1952 as Kazinga National Park and it was later named Queen Elizabeth after the visit of the Queen of England. It is one of the most popular and visited parks in Uganda. In this park, there are several warthogs situated in the Kasenyi and Ishasha sector of the park.
Kidepo valley National park
This park is located in Northwestern Uganda with the Karamoja region at the border of Uganda and South Sudan. The park is situated in the semi-arid region of Uganda and it a home to several wildlife. It has two valley regions, the Narus and Kidepo valley where travelers can see several wildlife during the safari. Warthogs in this park are usually spotted in the Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley grazing within the park.
Entebbe zoo or Uganda wildlife research conservation center
The zoo is located in central Uganda near the Entebbe International Airport and Lake Victoria. In this place, there are several wildlife seen in captivity that travelers on their safaris can see. Warthogs are among this wildlife where they are seen grazing within the captive area at the zoo.
Which safari activities to see warthogs in Uganda?
While on a safari to see warthogs in Uganda, there are activities that travelers engage in to see the warthogs and they include;
Game drive or game viewing
The game drive or viewing is one of the key activities that travelers engage in to see wildlife like warthogs. It is done in a 4×4 safari van with a pop-up for the viewing of the wildlife. Game drives have gazette trails in the park that help in the viewing of the wildlife. In the game drive, warthogs are usually seen grazing in the open grasslands. Game drives are usually done in several sessions like morning, afternoon, evening, full day, and night game drives.
Nature walks
Nature walks or safari walks are also activities that travelers engage in on foot in search of wildlife. This walk is done under the guidance of the ranger guide who ensures the safety of travelers. During the safari walk, the warthogs are seen in the park grazing. Travelers are supposed to have water bottles to keep hydrated, binoculars to view the wildlife, and walking sticks to ensure availability.
Cycling
In Uganda, the cycling is done in Lake Mburo National Park where travelers engage in the safari to see the wildlife on bicycles. The warthogs are also among the wildlife in the park that are seen while cycling. The cycling is done under the guidance of the ranger guide who will take you through the gazette trails and also ensure safety during the safari.
What is the best time to see warthogs in Uganda?
During a Uganda safari to see warthogs, the country is open throughout the year for travelers to see the warthogs. The best time is the dry season June to September and December to February when the area is more dry and clear for the viewing of wildlife like the warthogs.
