Uganda is best known for gorillas and chimpanzees, but its savannas, swamps and forests hold a remarkable variety of antelopes, from the elegant Uganda kob to tiny forest duikers. Some are everywhere; others live in just one corner of the country. This guide covers the ones you’re most likely to meet, and where to find them.
The savanna regulars
- Uganda kob: the national antelope, shown on Uganda’s coat of arms with the grey crowned crane. Golden-brown, with lyre-shaped horns on the males. Uganda has around 175,000, the most numerous antelope in the country. Males gather on traditional breeding grounds called leks, where they compete for small territories. See them in huge numbers in Queen Elizabeth (Kasenyi plains) and Murchison Falls, and in Toro-Semliki; they were also reintroduced to Kidepo in 2017.
- Defassa waterbuck: large, shaggy and grey-brown, always close to water. Common in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and Kidepo.
- Jackson’s hartebeest: a tall, long-faced antelope with a sloping back and bracket-shaped horns. Look for it on Murchison’s northern grasslands and in Kidepo.
- Oribi: a small, slender antelope with a dark spot below each ear. Murchison is excellent for them, and they’re also found in Kidepo, Lake Mburo and Pian Upe.
- Topi: glossy red-brown with dark patches on the legs, often standing on termite mounds as lookouts. Best seen in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth and in Lake Mburo.
Lake Mburo specials
Lake Mburo National Park is the best place in Uganda for antelope variety, and you can explore it on foot.
- Impala: Kampala takes its name from this graceful antelope. Lake Mburo is the main place to see it in Uganda; impalas have also been reintroduced to Pian Upe.
- Common eland: Africa’s largest antelope, which moves in herds across parts of the park. Also found in Kidepo and Pian Upe.
- Klipspringer: a small antelope that stands on the tips of its hooves on rocky outcrops. Look on Lake Mburo’s rocky ridges.
- Bohor reedbuck and common duiker are also regularly seen here.
Kidepo and Karamoja: the dry-country antelopes
Kidepo Valley National Park and the semi-arid north-east have species you won’t find elsewhere in Uganda:
- Lesser kudu and greater kudu, with their spiralled horns and white stripes.
- Bright’s gazelle, a form of Grant’s gazelle, and Guenther’s dik-dik, one of the smallest antelopes in Africa.
- Chandler’s mountain reedbuck on the rocky slopes.
The rarities
- Roan antelope: one of Africa’s biggest antelopes. Once found in Kidepo and Lake Mburo, it’s now locally extinct there. The Uganda Wildlife Authority’s 2026 report says roan survive only in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, where 352 were counted in 2023.
- Sitatunga: the shy swamp antelope of Lake Mburo, Bigodi and Katonga. Read more in our guide to the sitatunga.
- Forest duikers: several small duiker species live in forests such as Kibale, Bwindi and Semuliki. They’re usually glimpsed for a second as they dart across a trail.
- Bushbuck: widespread but shy, found on forest edges and in thickets across most parks, with white spots and stripes on a chestnut coat.
Uganda has also lost some antelopes entirely. UWA records that the oryx of Karamoja, the bongo of Mount Elgon and Derby’s eland of West Nile all disappeared during the years of conflict, a reminder of why today’s protection matters.
Good to know
- Early and late is best: antelopes are most active in the cool of the morning and late afternoon, and the light is better for photos.
- Go on foot: guided walks in Lake Mburo let you approach zebra, impala and eland quietly.
- Bring binoculars: they turn a distant brown shape into a named species.
- Combine parks: Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo sit on the road to Bwindi, so a gorilla trip can easily include ten or more antelope species.
Plan an antelope-rich safari
Whether you want the kob herds of Murchison, a walking safari in Lake Mburo or the rare kudu of Kidepo, we’ll put together a route that suits your time and interests. Have a look at our wildlife safaris, then get in touch and we’ll start planning.
