Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

With its breathtaking natural beauty and abundant wildlife, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a gem in Uganda’s varied environment that captivates tourists. The Kazinga Channel boat ride, the tree-climbing lions in Ishasha Sector, the chimpanzee hiking in Kyambura Gorge, and the wildlife game drives in Kasenyi and Mweya trails are some of the top attractions.

 

A gem amid Uganda’s varied environment, Queen Elizabeth National Park captivates tourists with its breathtaking natural beauty and abundant animals. The Park, which is roughly 1,978 square kilometers in size, was created in 1952 and given its name in honor of Queen Elizabeth II after she visited Uganda in 1954. Savannahs, woodlands, marshes, and volcanic craters are among the diverse ecosystems that make up this area, which is tucked away between the beaches of Lake Edward and the breathtaking Rwenzori Mountains.

Large savannah plains and undulating hills interspersed with crater lakes, like Lake Katwe, which is well-known for its salt production, are highlights of the park’s distinctive topography. One of the park’s main features is the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake George and Lake Edward. It is well known for having a sizable hippo’s population, which is supposedly the highest in East Africa. Boat trips that provide up-close views of the water’s edge fauna, such as elephants, buffaloes, and other bird species, are available here.

A remarkable variety of species can be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park. With more than 600 bird species and more than 95 animal species, it is a sanctuary for both nature lovers and bird watchers. The well-known tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha area, who have adapted to sleeping on fig trees—a unique sight that attracts a lot of tourists—are among its noteworthy residents. In addition, there are chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, warthogs, hyenas, Uganda kobs, elephants, leopards, and other primates.

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

A beloved wildlife sanctuary in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is well-known for its abundant biodiversity. The Park is one of the most diversified national parks in Africa, with over 600 bird species, 10 primate species, and over 95 animal species.

There are many different kinds of mammals in the park, including several well-known ones:

The Big Four: Four of the Big Five can be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park: elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and lions. Particularly in the Ishasha area, where they are frequently spotted relaxing on branches, lions are renowned for their unusual habit of climbing trees. Despite being mostly nocturnal, leopards—known for their elusiveness—can be seen sleeping in low-hanging tree branches during the day.

Antelopes: The park’s savannahs provide excellent habitat for a variety of antelope species, such as the Uganda kob, waterbuck, topi, and defassa waterbuck. These herbivores are important to the ecosystem because they sustain predator populations. Other mammals include spotted hyenas, giant forest hogs, and several monkey species, including the olive baboon and the black-and-white colobus.

Hippos: These enormous mammals spend the majority of their days relaxing in the Kazinga Channel.

Primates in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

In Chimpanzees, Kyambura Gorge is renowned for its chimpanzee population and is one of the greatest locations to witness them in the wild. Trekking chimpanzees in this region gives tourists the opportunity to see these sentient animals in their natural environment.
Other primates include several species of baboons and mangabeys, as well as the blue and red-tailed monkeys. On guided nature hikes through wooded areas such as Kyambura Gorge and Maramagambo Forest, you can see these primates.

Birds & Reptiles in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

One of Uganda’s best places to go bird watching is Queen Elizabeth National Park, which has over 600 kinds of birds known to exist. Notable birds include the African fish eagle, yellow-billed stork, and several kingfishers. The Park is one of Uganda’s top birding sites because of its varied habitats, which are home to a variety of avian species.
With its abundance of aquatic species like pelicans and cormorants, the Kazinga Channel is especially rich in wildlife. Herons and other wading birds can be seen around the shoreline, providing ample opportunity for birdwatching.
The Kazinga Channel’s banks are frequently home to crocodiles, while the Maramagambo Forest is home to African rock pythons, which feed on bats in the cave systems.

Activities and Adventures in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

1. Game Drives

Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park offer the kind of wildlife encounters that create outstanding safari tales, from breathtaking lion encounters to gentle giants passing past. Every game drive puts you up close and personal with some of Africa’s most fascinating animals, whether it’s a herd of elephants strolling past your car or a curious bushpig pacing the grass. Popular routes like Mweya and Kasenyi turn into wildlife highways when accompanied by an experienced safari guide, offering the kind of close-up experiences that make Uganda wildlife safaris so unique. Along the main game tracks in the park, you may anticipate the following:

Kasenyi Game Drive Circuit: The Kasenyi plains are located next to Lake George’s western shoreline, close to the point where the Kazinga Channel meets the lake, in the northeastern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. A popular destination for safari game drives, this region is well-known for its profusion of animals. Large herds of Uganda Kobs, the national antelope, roam the plains, drawing lions and other predators that are usually seen hunting or sleeping during the day. Warthogs and bushbucks roam the meadows, while buffaloes are frequently observed grazing. Game drives in the morning and evening, when animal activity is at its highest, are very rewarding.

Ishasha Game Drive Circuit: Situated in the park’s southern region, the Ishasha sector is well-known for its unusual tree-climbing lions, which are frequently spotted relaxing on fig trees—a behaviour that is uncommon for lions. This habitat also harbours populations of Uganda Kobs and topis, serving as prey for the resident predators. It is common to see buffaloes and elephants, particularly in the vicinity of water supplies. The Northern and Southern loops, the two main circuits in the Ishasha sector, are each over 20 kilometres long and provide plenty of chances to see animals.

Channel Drive Circuit: The Kazinga Channel, a 40-kilometer waterway that connects Lake Edward with Lake George, travels parallel to this circuit. The canal is well known for its abundance of crocodiles that sunbathe along the banks and its sizable population of hippopotamuses, who are frequently spotted swimming in the water. It is common to see waterbucks and elephants drinking at the water’s edge. Birds such as storks and pelicans are frequently sighted in the area, which is also a birdwatcher’s paradise. The overall wildlife experience is improved by the beautiful water views and abundant flora.

Crater Drive Circuit: With some of the most breathtaking views and distinctive geological features, the Crater Drive circuit winds through the park’s volcanic craters. The dense flora surrounding the craters is home to waterbucks, bushbucks, and the elusive gigantic forest pigs. It is a great place to go birdwatching in Uganda because of the wide variety of bird species that call these environments home. For this drive, a 4×4 vehicle is advised due to the rocky and uneven terrain.

Best Time For Game Drives

Morning Game Drives: From 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, when animals are most active, you can see herbivores grazing and predators hunting.
Evening Game Drives (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM): As animals get ready for the night, there is still a lot of wildlife activity, providing great viewing chances.
Night Game Drives (6:00 PM and up): Using spotlight torches, guests can see nocturnal creatures including hyenas, leopards, serval cats, and bush babies during these drives, which are primarily held in the Mweya Peninsula.

2. Boat Safaris on Kazinga Channel

One of Uganda’s most immersive wildlife experiences is a boat safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which takes guests on a relaxed two to three-hour trip down the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometer natural river that connects Lakes Edward and George. Visitors can witness one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of hippos wallowing in the water from the comfort of a covered boat that leaves from the Mweya Peninsula. Elephants and herds of buffalo visit to drink, Nile crocodiles lounge on the banks, and hundreds of water bird species, such as African fish eagles, kingfishers, and pelicans, wade along the coast or soar overhead.

The boat safari offers amazing photo possibilities and an immersive experience, bringing you closer to animals than most land-based game drives. Every boat tour is accompanied by knowledgeable guides who offer perceptive commentary on the park’s ecology, fauna, and bird species. They augment your experience with fascinating knowledge and are proficient at detecting even the most elusive species. More concentrated observation is also made possible by the boat ride’s serene cadence.
The greatest viewing circumstances usually happen during the dry seasons, which are December to February and June to September, even though this iconic safari experience is offered all year round. In the golden light of the afternoon, wildlife photography prospects are especially striking.

The majority of boat safaris take place on communal vessels, however for a more individualized experience, Africa Reveal Safaris specialists can set up private boat excursions. While private trips provide a more intimate, quieter experience with nature, group outings are excellent for meeting other travelers.

3. Guided Nature Walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Game drives and boat safaris are enhanced by nature walks at Queen Elizabeth National Park, which provide a personal, up-close encounter with the park’s varied landscapes and wildlife. Visitors can fully immerse themselves in Uganda’s wilderness on these walks, which are led by knowledgeable rangers and provide a unique perspective on the park’s flora, animals, and ecosystems. Among the well-known walking routes are:

Mweya Peninsula Walks: A well-liked walking trail on the Mweya Peninsula gives expansive views of Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel. Walking along the beach allows you to take in the beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes and see a variety of animal species.

Maramagambo Forest Walks: Guided nature excursions through Maramagambo Forest bring you face-to-face with tremendous biodiversity, including diverse monkeys, tree species, and countless birds. The Bat Cave, located in the forest, is another place to see fruit bats and sometimes even the rock python, which is their predator.

Kyambura Gorge Trekking: Kyambura Gorge, one of the park’s highlights, provides guided nature hikes through a deep, verdant canyon that was formed by the Kyambura River. Trekking in this “Valley of Apes” offers an exciting and immersive experience in a unique ecology, even though sightings of the chimpanzees that call this area home are not guaranteed.

Crater Lakes Walks: Ancient volcanic activity created the park’s crater lakes, which provide picturesque and frequently unexplored walking routes. These treks provide stunning vistas, fascinating geological formations, and the chance to hear from informed guides about the ecology and history of the area.

4. Lion Tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

An unmatched chance to get up close and personal with one of Africa’s most recognisable predators is provided by lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Through this interactive experience, guests may learn about the behaviour of lions and support important conservation initiatives, protecting these wonderful creatures for coming generations.

The Kasenyi Plains, a desirable location in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s northern section, is usually the site of the lion tracking experience. Trained researchers from the Uganda Carnivore Program carry out the study, tracking the activities of particular lions with radio collars attached to them. This increases the likelihood of seeing lions and supports significant conservation initiatives.

Typically, lion tracking sessions take place either late in the afternoon, at approximately 4 PM, or early in the morning, at approximately 8 AM. These hours are selected to increase the possibility of seeing lions at their busiest. Participants can learn about lion behaviour, social structures, and feeding patterns over the course of one to three hours.
at order to reduce animal stress and improve the quality of the experience, only a small number of people are allowed to follow lions at Queen Elizabeth National Park. This guarantees a personal and instructive experience.

Participants are given radio receivers that aid in locating collared lions. Given her propensity to stick with the group, the dominant pride lioness is typically chosen for collaring. This makes it possible for researchers to efficiently monitor the entire pride.
The cost of a lion tracking permit is 100,000 UGX for East African citizens, $80 for foreign residents, and $100 USD for foreign non-residents. There is a $10 community charge included in these pricing.

Wildlife Safaris

Two game drives through Queen Elizabeth National Park and a boat ride are common components of a Ugandan wildlife safari. Say, at least two nights. Before continuing on to Queen Elizabeth, your safari can start with the chimpanzee adventure in Kibale or smoothly transition to Kibale Forest for a close-up look at chimpanzees. In order to fully experience the chimp forest, stay in Kibale for at least two nights. The journey might continue from Queen to the renowned Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undertake gorilla trekking.

Experienced professionals at Africa Reveal Safaris will carefully plan your schedule, taking care of all the preparation and logistics. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may thus concentrate entirely on making treasured memories and customizing your safari experience. Look over these packages or get a quote right now.

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Uganda Safaris and Packages

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