Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s true Medley of Wonders, home to diverse biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes. Located in Western Uganda, astride the Equator, Queen Elizabeth National Park is named after Queen Elizabeth II, and it is one of the top-notch African wildlife destinations. The Park is set at an elevation of 910-1390m, and is a declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is strategically set in the area, offering breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. Its landscape is extensively composed of wetlands, savannas, volcanic crater lakes, and lush rainforests. Its strategic location also comes with stunning views of Lake Edward’s shores.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth National Park was officially declared a National Park with a current area coverage of 1979 sq. km. The Park spreads over the 4 main districts in Western Uganda, including Rukungiri, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Kasese. The largest portion of the park lies in the Kasese district. It is also surrounded by the beautiful Bushenyi District.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a well-established National Park with main sectors including Mweya Peninsula, Ishasha, Kasenyi Plains, and Kyambura Gorge.
The park can be accessed from Kasese town along the Kasese-Ishaka road or from Kanungu in Ishasha or Kyambura in Rubirizi.
A 3 days trip to Queen Elizabeth national park gives an ultimate wildlife safari to the park or an extension trip on your Uganda safari can get your to the park with Bujuku Ecotours.
Contact us for a tailored wildlife safari just for you to Queen Elizabeth national park or contact us to book your trip here;
The Attractions of Visitor Interest in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the premier destinations with abundant tourist attractions. The main attractions to explore in this Park include wildlife, bird species, Crater Lakes, and many more.
Wildlife
Over 95 mammal species survive in the various habitats in Queen Elizabeth national Park, including 4 of the Big 5 game. Animals are cape buffaloes, elephants, lions, hippos, topis, waterbucks, bushbucks, and spotted hyenas. Other wildlife to find on a tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park includes chimpanzees, sitatunga, tree-climbing lions, leopards, colobus monkeys, olive baboons, Nile crocodiles, Uganda Kobs, side-striped jackals, and more.
The Birds.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is an important bird area with a remarkable bird population of 625 birds. The Park features a range of habitats, each with diverse birdlife. The bird habitats range from lush rainforests, lakes, wetlands, to savannas. A variety of birds can be identified on a birding tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park, including the African fish eagles, African jacanas, African skimmers, papyrus gonoleks, malachite kingfishers, black crakes, pink-backed pelicans, Handsome spurfowl, long-crested eagles, white-tailed larks, Helmeted Guineafowl, Grey kestrel, long-crested eagles, and lappet-faced vultures.
Additional birds to spot include Diederik cuckoos, African mourning doves, slender-tailed nightjars, Ruppell’s griffon, hooded vultures, brown-backed scrub-robin, Grey-backed fiscal, green crombec, and many more.
The main areas to explore diverse bird species in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Maramagambo Forest, Katuguru Bridge area, Katwe, Lake Kikorongo, Ishasha, and Kasenyi Plains.
Memorable Activities to Enjoy on a Vacation in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The diverse safari activities to enjoy in and around Queen Elizabeth National Park include game drives, nature walks, chimpanzee trekking, boat/launch cruise, birding or bird-watching, and community tours.
Game drives
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park perfectly introduce you to the best sites to explore the Big game. About 4 of the Big 5 game reside in this Park together with many other mammal species, including bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks -(antelopes) and warthogs. The usual guided game drive session takes about 2-3 hours, and the park’s plains are excellently explored in a 4×4 safari vehicle. Game drive options offered at Queen Elizabeth National Park include driver-guided game viewing or self-drive, and you can engage in the morning or afternoon options.
Boat cruise
Boat or launch cruise offers excellent sightings of the aquatic species along the Kazinga channel. The Kazinga channel launch cruise takes about 2 hours and comes with astonishing sightings, including the Nile crocodiles, hippos, and birds. The Kazinga channel joins two lakes –Lake Edward and Gorge. It is one of the longest natural channels on planet earth and is known for aquatic birds such as the African jacanas, saddle-billed storks, yellow-billed storks, African skimmers, goliath herons, pelicans, long-tailed cormorants, African spoonbills, and more.
Lion tracking
Lion tracking is a perfect way to immerse yourself in the scenic Kasenyi Plains on the search for lions. Visitors get a chance to witness lions in the wild, and the focus for this particular experience is to visit the collared lions. It is done with a team of experienced researchers or scientists allocated to you by the Uganda Wildlife Authority official. The round lion trek lasts for 2-3 hours, and the options available include morning and afternoon.
Nature walking
Nature walks offer visitors a deeper connection with the natural environment. Visitors penetrate deep into the wilderness while exploring the lovely wildlife and birds. The best areas to visit to experience an intimate nature walking excursion in Queen Elizabeth National Park include the Crater Lake, Maramagambo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and Mweya Peninsula.
Birding tours
With over 600 bird species surviving in the varying habitats, birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is enriching, and visitors have a higher possibility of spotting diverse species. The popular sites to consider for birding in this Park include Kyambura Gorge –the Valley of Apes, which holds birds such as the blue-headed bee-eaters, African broadbill, Chapin’s flycatchers, papyrus canary, black-rumped buttonquail, African skimmers, white-winged warblers, and martial eagles.
Birds to identify in Maramagambo Forest include African emerald cuckoos, black coucals, African mustached warblers, African fin foots, blue-shouldered robin chat, and red-throated wryneck.
Mweya Peninsula offers amazing bird sightings, including the swamp flycatchers, Nubian woodpeckers, little bee-eaters, grey-headed kingfishers, African mourning doves, and many others. Other ideal birding tourist sites to visit include the Ishasha sector, Kasenyi, Lake Kikorongo Area, and Katuguru Bridge Area.
Chimpanzee tracking
Visit the Kyambura Gorge to explore chimpanzees in their natural setting. At the Kyambura Gorge, expect to embark on a 2-4-hour tour with chimpanzees. This can be done in the morning or afternoon, with the entire session guaranteeing visitors a maximum of one hour for an up-close and personal encounter with a habituated chimpanzee community.
Hippo Census
Hippo census is ideal for anyone on a research tour. This is done once every two years and involves monitoring the hippos. Visitors interested in hippo census pay USD 100 per visitor (for foreign non-residents), USD 80 for foreign residents, and Ugandans + East African citizens are charged UGX 100,000.
Banded mongoose trekking
If you are interested in exploring the mongoose, then Queen Elizabeth National Park should be a must. The Mweya Peninsula offers ideal location for mongoose tracking. Over 400 banded mongooses are estimated to be in the Mweya Peninsula.
When to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for a holiday
Queen Elizabeth National Park welcomes guests worldwide at any time of the year. But the dry season is often regarded as the best period to explore wildlife. This can be done during the extended dry season often recorded in June to September or visit the Park anytime around the short dry months; December to February. Even during the wet or rainy season, it is possible to organize a tour though this period often experiences heavy rains. The longest wet or rainy months occur from March to May but you can also opt to embark on a tour during the short wet/rainy season from October to November.
Available Accommodation Choices to Stay
The main accommodation options to book for overnight in and around Queen Elizabeth Park include Enganzi Game Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Kyambura Gorge, Engiri Game Lodge, Pumba Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Bulbul Safari Lodge, Embogo Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Topi Lodge, and more.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park
To reach Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can take a road or air transportation option. By road, guests have 6-7 hours to drive from Kampala to this Park through the Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal-Kasese town route. Or spend between 7 and 8 hours driving through the Masaka–Mbarara–Bushenyi route. Both routes offer a chance for you to have a photography moment at the Equator crossing while en route.
By air, depart from Entebbe Airport to Kasese, and this should be booked in advance. You land at Kasese Airstrip, and the driver guide can pick you up. You connect with ease to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.
Conclusively, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a picturesque destination with abundant attractions and diverse experiences all awaiting nature enthusiasts to enjoy. With this updated travel guide, feel free to plan a memorable safari with your expert. Talk with your safari planner –Bujuku Eco Tours and Travel to secure a slot early.