Recreational pursuits in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park; Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest national park situated in the western region of Uganda, encompassing four districts: Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. The park encompasses an area of 1,978 square kilometers and hosts a diverse array of wildlife, including 95 mammal species such as buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, topi, hippos, and primates like chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, and black and white colobus monkeys, as well as over 600 bird species, including the grey-headed kingfisher, slender-tailed nightjar, swamp flycatcher, and pin-tailed whydah, among others.
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The game drive is the most renowned activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park, entailing the exploration of the savannah plains in a comfortable pop-up safari vehicle. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be conducted either in the early morning or in the evening with a knowledgeable professional driver-guide familiar with various trails. During the game drive, you will get the opportunity to observe various species, including the renowned tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, elephants, leopards, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, buffaloes, waterbucks, topi, and warthogs, among others.
Queen Elizabeth National Park provides nocturnal game drives, allowing exploration of the park at night in Uganda safari vehicles equipped with spotlights for optimal visibility of nocturnal wildlife, including lions, leopards, serval cats, civets, genets, hyenas, and hippos feeding, among others.
Boat excursion at Queen Elizabeth National Park
The boat ride is a captivating activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park, conducted on the Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometer waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. The boat ride operates on two schedules: the morning schedule commencing at approximately 9:00 AM and the afternoon schedule beginning at approximately 2:00 PM. During the boat excursion on Kazinga Channel, lasting around 2 to 3 hours, you will observe substantial populations of hippos in the water, Nile crocodiles sunbathing on the shoreline, as well as buffaloes, elephants, and warthogs, among others. Throughout the boat ride, you will get the opportunity to observe several aquatic bird species, including kingfishers, cormorants, hornbills, fish eagles, and bee-eaters, among others.
Avian observation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts approximately 600 documented bird species, establishing it as one of the premier birdwatching locations in Uganda. Birdwatching in Queen Elizabeth National Park occurs in various locations, including Maramagambo Forest, Mweya Peninsula, Kazinga Channel, Kasenyi, Katunguru Bridge, Katwe Area, and Ishasha Sector, where one can observe avian species such as the African Finfoot, Red-chested Cuckoo, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Square-tailed Nightjar, African Mourning Dove, Swamp Nightjar, Palm-nut Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, African Wattled Plover, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Grey-backed Fiscal, and White-browed Robin Chat, among others.
Nature excursions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
A nature walk in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an exhilarating activity that enables participants to exit the Uganda safari vehicle and explore the park on foot, accompanied by a knowledgeable park guide and armed ranger guides for protection against hazardous wildlife. Queen Elizabeth National Park features several nature walk places, including Maramagambo Forest, Mweya Peninsula, Kyambura Gorge, and regions next to the Ishasha River, among others. On the guided nature walk, you will encounter various wildlife species, including elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, and vervet monkeys. You will also observe diverse bird species, including greenbuls, woodpeckers, and chestnut wattle eyes, while enjoying the picturesque vistas of Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward, all within a tranquil environment.
Trekking for chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee trekking is an exhilarating endeavor in Queen Elizabeth National Park and serves as a primary attraction for several people. Chimpanzee trekking occurs in Kyambura Gorge, sometimes referred to as the Valley of Apes, situated in the eastern region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge commences early in the morning with a briefing at the headquarters, after which an experienced park guide will be assigned, and the trekking will begin. Chimpanzee trekking lasts between 30 minutes to 4 hours, contingent upon the location of the chimps, as they frequently relocate in pursuit of food. While trekking, you will observe several primates, including black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys, as well as diverse bird species, among others. Upon locating the chimpanzees, you will be permitted to observe them for one hour in their natural habitat, providing you opportunity to study their habits, witness feeding, aggression, nursing, hunting, play, resting, capture photographs, and document remarkable moments.
Optimal period for visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is accessible year-round, although the optimal visiting period is during the dry season, specifically from June to September and December to January. In the dry season, less rainfall occurs in the park, resulting in sparse vegetation that facilitates clear observation of several wildlife species. During the dry season, access roads to the park and hiking trails will be traversable, in contrast to the wet season when the paths become muddy and treacherous.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is accessible throughout the wet season, specifically from March to May and November, as this period is optimal for avian observation, allowing for the viewing of migratory bird species.
Accommodation options for your safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a diverse array of lodging options for your safari in Uganda. The accommodations encompass budget, midrange, and luxury options, including Elephant Plains Lodge, Kasenyi Lake Retreat, Kyangabi Crater Resort, Mweya Safari Lodge, Kingfisher Lodge, Elephant Hab Lodge, Tembo Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Engiri Game Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Enganzi Game Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Parkview Safari Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge, Pumba Safari Cottages, Katara Lodge, Kikorongo Safari Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, and Kyambura Game Lodge, among others.
Directions to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is situated in the western region of Uganda and is accessible via both road and air transportation.
Air travel entails booking charter or scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Mweya or Kasese airstrips, followed by a road connection to the park headquarters.
Traveling by road from Kampala or Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Mubende, Fort Portal, or Mbarara, Bushenyi requires approximately 6 to 7 hours in a 4WD safari vehicle.
Queen Elizabeth National Park may be reached from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, requiring an approximate driving time of 3 to 4 hours.
