Queen Elizabeth National Park

Known as Uganda’s second largest and most popular destination, Queen Elizabeth national park is truly a Medley of Wonders set in the low-lying rift valley in the western part of the country.

It was protected as a wildlife reserve in the early 1920’s, crossed by the equator and close to the Rwenzori Mountains. This park is the ideal destination for Wildlife due to its diverse ecosystems which include sprawling savannah, tropical rain-forests, volcanic calderas and fertile wetlands. QENP is one of the busiest safari destinations in Uganda currently making it convenient for a stop-over while transferring to Bwindi.

The famous 40Km Kazinga channel which connects Lake Edward and Lake George is full a various kinds of habitats like birds, mammals, reptiles and more. While the southern part of this park is filled with Wildlife including buffaloes, elephants, leopards and the legendary tree climbing lions which can be spotted on game drives.

Queen Elizabeth national park also has an amazing cultural history and currently has many opportunities for visitors to come and learn more about traditional dance, music, storytelling and more.

 

Attractions in Queen Elizabeth national park

Kazinga Channel

One of the best ways to enjoy your safari in this park is taking a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel to view some of the amazing wildlife like Hippos, crocodiles, elephants & buffalos on the river banks + rare bird species. The Kazinga is a 40km channel that connects Lake George to Lake Edward and is QENP’s main focus.

 

Mweya Peninsula

This is Queen’s focal point with plenty of birdlife and animals. Its elevated position gives anyone the best views of the Kazinga channel plus the surrounding areas.

 

Kasenyi Plains

The kasenyi plains provide a vast savannah landscape perfect for an African safari experience. Visitors through the park on their game drives will have enough opportunities to see & take photos of huge herds of buffaloes, elephants, kobs, warthogs and a lot more wildlife.

 

Katwe

The katwe-kabatoro community is a famous look-out point in Uganda and this is where traditional salt mining was practiced since the 16^th century. Currently the salt mined from Katwe has been able to provide for the communities surrounding QENP and allover Uganda.

 

Maramagambo forest

The rainforest is full of primates including the chimpanzees, baboons and several monkey species,  primate tracking tours can be arranged. Birds are also seen in the maramagambo forest including the rare forest flycatcher, white naped pigeon and the Rwenzori turaco.

 

Kyambura gorge

This is where you will find the ‘primates’ in plenty and a common known place for chimp tracking in Uganda. The gorge has a scenic view with a forest covering the river that flows through. Other animals like Hippos can be seen and plenty of rare bird species.

 

Kyambura wildlife reserve

The wildlife reserve has beautiful crater lakes located east of the Kyambura gorge with many excellent opportunities to see water birds including the greater or lesser flamingos & the great Egret.

 

Ishasha sector

With a few visitors to the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park, those who venture this far are rewarded with sightings of the legendary tree climbing lions lounging around the branches. At Ishasha, visitors can also get to see large herds of buffalos, topi and the Elephants. Baboons are also spotted along the way and Leopards too most especially during even hours.

 

Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Birding /Bird watching

Queen is classified as an IBA – important birding area by Birding international with over 600 bird species and the rarest species. This is the greatest of any East African national park, and a phenomenal number for such a small area. The park’s confluence of savanna and forest, linking to the expansive forests of the DR Congo allow visitors to spot East as well as Central African species.

 

Primate Tracking

The Kyambura Gorge tracking experience is more than discovering chimpanzees in their natural environment. It teaches visitors about the ecosystems of Kyambura Gorge’s atmospheric “underground” rainforest, including vegetation types; bird identification and behavior; and chimp and monkey ecology. Other primates seen include the black and white collobus monkeys, and red tailed monkeys.

 

Game Drives

You are guaranteed with buffalo, antelopes, baboons, warthogs and elephant sightings on the tracks through Kasenyi and north Kazinga plains and Ishasha sector. With an experienced guide, an early morning game drive at dusk is the most successful way to track down a pride of lions, and maybe even the odd leopard.

 

Hiking / Nature Walks

Nature treks are one of the more active ways to explore the landscapes and wildlife of Queen Elizabeth. Locations include the shady Maramagambo forest; Mweya Peninsula with its scenic views; and Ishasha River, where you may spot a variety of forest and savanna species as well as having a unique opportunity to get extremely close to hippos – on foot!

 

Launch Trips

The Kazinga Channel is an oasis for many of the fascinating species that inhabit the park, and taking a boat tour along it gives visitors the chance to cruise just meters from hundreds of enormous hippos and buffalos while elephants linger on the shoreline.

 

Cultural Heritage & nature Trails

See the energetic dances of the Kikorongo Equator Cultural Performers; workers harvesting salt on Katwe Salt Lake; a traditional Banyaraguru hut; or an agricultural village – all guided by those who know them best – local community members.

 

Wildlife Research Tours

For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of the exotic birds and mammals that fill the park, using locator devices and learn habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings and behavior.