Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the Africa’s bio-diverse wildlife safari parks, home to the rare tree climbing lions and other abundant mammal species, birds and reptile species. This spectacular Uganda safaris park has plenty of attractions and tourist activities to explore and experience.
Where is this park found?
Geographical location of Queen Elizabeth National Park- this park is located in Western Uganda and its boundaries span in the 4 districts: Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Kasese and Rubirizi. Gazetted in 1952, this park was originally called Kazinga National Park and it was only renamed in remembrance of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s visit. It is Uganda’s 2nd biggest National Park with the land area measuring 1978 sq.km and comes after the stunning Murchison Falls National Park.
Queen Elizabeth NP is set at an elevation range of 884 to 1338 meters and boasts of its exceptional landscape. The park’s breathtaking landscape is characterized by Lakes, savanna grassland, woodland, wetlands and rainforests. Its expansive size encompasses other areas including Kigezi Game Reserve, Kazinga Channel, Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo Forest, Ishasha Areas and Katwe Explosion Craters.
Queen Elizabeth N. Park is one of the splendid parks that are situated along the Albertine rift valley and it is adjoined by the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve in the East. It is surrounded by other protected areas including the leading chimpanzee trekking destination- Kibale Forest National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park (premier mountaineering adventure paradise) and Semuliki Wildlife Reserve/Park.
Vegetation cover
The park’s unique landscape features a lush vegetation cover and there are 5 different vegetation levels that make up this protected area. These include forests, bushy grassland, acacia woodlands, swamp vegetation and Riverine. The sectors that make up the Queen Elizabeth National Park include Maramagambo Forest, Mweya Peninsula, Kyambura Gorge and Kazinga Channel.
Wildlife species
Queen Elizabeth National Park is notably a bio-diverse park, home to numerous mammal and bird species. The park contains more than 620 species of birds, 95 mammal species. These include 4 of the big 5 game species –lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, African bush elephants, antelopes, warthogs, primates such as the red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, etc.
Bird of Queen Elizabeth N. Park –Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a rich birding destination with forest, woodland and aquatic birdlife. The long list of birds to identify during the birding tour in this park include black crowned tchagra, hooded vultures, African wattled plovers, slender-tailed nightjars, black-bellied bustards, yellow-throated cuckoos, pink-backed pelicans, lesser and greater flamingos, martial eagle, grey kestrel, blue napped mouse bird, papyrus canary, white-tailed lark, scarlet chested sunbird, brown snake eagle, African fin-foot, Caspian plovers, green crombec, green blue turacos, rufous napped larks, handsome francolins, African hobby, palm-nut vultures, pygmy kingfishers, double toothed barbets,
Black-lored babblers, lappet-faced vultures, sand martin, squire-tailed nightjar, black bee-eaters, knob-billed ducks, African harrier hawks, swamp flycatchers, verreaux’s eagle owl, greater swamp warblers, little stint, curlew sandpipers, spur winged plovers, pin tailed whydah, Eurasian pigeon, open billed stork, and more.
Tourism Activities in Queen Elizabeth N. Park- Uganda
Game drive
A game drive is Queen Elizabeth National Park’s leading safari experience that attracts most travelers worldwide. The park is rich in wildlife, especially the big game species that make it the best wildlife viewing destination. With over 95 mammal species, birds and several reptiles, a game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP is amazingly a great opportunity to encounter animals such as elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, warthogs, antelope families and bird species. It is a 2-3 hours expedition and this is done in different locations of the park including Kasenyi and Ishasha sectors.
Boat cruises
Boat cruise is a recreational experience offering tourists a great chance to explore diversity of aquatic life. This is conducted on Kazinga channel taking 2-3 hours and likely aquatic species to observe include hippos, Nile crocodiles and birds. Boat cruise excursions on Kazinga channel are available in the morning and afternoon.
Chimpanzee trekking
At Queen Elizabeth NP, not only do visitors get to enjoy incredible game views of savannas but also immerse themselves into the spectacular tropical forests to encounters important primates. The park is home to range of primates and include chimpanzees that are trekked in the Kyambura Gorge. This dominated-forest gorge is 100 meters deep and holds more than 10 primate species.
Hot air balloon
Hot air balloon excursions in Uganda are conducted only in 2 places and include Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. You get to enjoy aerial views of savanna wildlife on a hot air balloon unlike using a 4×4 vehicle.
Birding
As an important birding area, a birding tour in this park allows birders to keep an eye on distinct birds. These include Egyptian geese, lappet-faced vultures, flamingoes, African fin-foot, malachite kingfishers, water-thick knee, Nubian woodpeckers, black-rumped buttonquail, black-headed gonoleks, slender-billed weavers, red-chested sunbird, African emerald cuckoo, African green pigeon, Ross’s turacos, red-shouldered cuckoo-shrike, and more.
Lion trekking
Lion trekking is a remarkable experienced available for tourists on Uganda safaris to enjoy in Queen Elizabeth NP. It is the best for researchers and it is entirely about exploring how lions do behave. This is done on Kasenyi Plains which is the Northern sector.
Nature/forest walks
A nature walk offers a memorable foot-walk experience and the ideal area to do it is around Maramagambo Forest, Mweya Peninsular and more. You get to see a variety of wildlife on foot and especially primates, birds and other species.
Queen Elizabeth National Park tours can also include the best of guided cultural experiences in the nearby communities, especially Nyanzi’ibiri cave community, Kasoga community experience, leopard village or go tour Lake Katwe and explore how salt is mined.
When to visit Queen Elizabeth NP for wildlife expedition
Trips to explore Queen Elizabeth N/Park are done at any time of the year. But the best time to go and explore this park, especially for guests interested in a game drive is during the dry season. Each year the park records 2 phases of dry season –short and long. The dry months of the year are; – June, July, August to September (long dry months); December, January to February (for short dry months).
Places to stay and have meals
Visitor overnight stay options at Queen Elizabeth NP are available as budget, midrange and luxury. The park’s accommodation choices include Enjojo Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge, Elephant Hub Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Katara, Kasenyi Safari Camp, and others.
Getting to Queen Elizabeth N. Park By road and air- travel by road starting from Kampala via Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi route which is 7 to 8 hours’ drive or Kampala-Mubende via Fort Portal tourism city 7 hours’ drive. By air, fly from Entebbe International Airport to Mweya or Kasese airstrips.