About Queen Elizabeth National park

About Queen Elizabeth National park

Placed on the western arm of the Rift Valley is Queen Elizabeth National park. This park occupies an area of about 1978 square kilometers between lake Edward and Lake George. Over 95 mammals have been recorded as residents of Queen Elizabeth National Park but this long list is awed to the different habitats.  More than 612 bird species are confirmed residents of Queen Elisabeth National Park too.

From the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park explodes the Blue Rwenzori which is a massif of mountains that are forty miles wide and sixty miles long. From Lake Edward on the western part of the park is the Mitumbe hills are also erected and overlook Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Albertine rift valley which is often shaded by green cover forms the eastern boundary of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National seats on the rift valley floor at an altitude of about 480 meters to 910 meters at Kazinga Channel to about 1390 meters at the explosion crater area. Because of the low altitude and position on the rift valley floor, the temperatures of Queen Elizabeth National Park often rise at an average of 18 degrees centigrade to about 28 degrees centigrade. 

This park forms part of the extensive system of contiguous protected areas such as Kyambura Wildlife Reserve at 154 squares kilometers, Kigezi at 265 Square kilometers, Kibale National Park, Rwenzori National Park  and Virunga National Park in D.R.Congo.

What To See and Do On Uganda Safari In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

By driving through the tracks in Queens Elizabeth National Park during Uganda safari, you may get the chance to spot a number of wild animals. The game drive on tracks like Kasenyi track which is a grassland where lions in drama may be spotted as they sneak on the herds of Uganda kobs that are residents of this area. In the far south in the remote grasslands of Ishasha are chances of spotting the famous tree climbing lions.

While on a game drive through Queens Elizabeth National Park, you may spot herds of buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, topis, warthogs to mention but a few. it is more rewarding to start the game drive in this park early morning or late afternoon.

The Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is 100 meters from Mweya the main administrative center of the park is the true definition of untamed nature with divers habitants for both wild animals and other park in habitats. The Ishasha River, marshy Edward flats, Savannah woodland support a number of animals and birds.

The Mweya peninsula us the Queen Elizabeth National Park tourism hub. This is where the headquarters of the park are situated. Mweya peninsular overlooks the Katwe Bay of lake Edward.

Launch trip on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The highlight of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the 40 meters long launch Trip on Kazinga channel. The launch trip starts from Mweya peninsular sail on Kazinga channel to Lake Edward. This about three hours return launch trip on Kazinga channel is the most enduring activity of the park.

From the launch, you spot the common suspects of the park the crocodiles and schools of hippos. On the shoreline there are chances of spotting the regular visitors from the north including herds of Elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, waterbucks, warthogs to mention but a few who often come down to quench thirst. The Kazinga channel is a wildlife spectacle nestled between lake Edward an lake George.

Kazinga channel is an all year around magnet for a plethora of birds including foreign migrants that often fly from as far as Europe during the winter season. Some of the birds that flock Kazinga channel included greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian geese, Kingfisher, saddle bill storks, African skimmers, Papyrus gonolek, pink backed pelicans to mention but a few. 

Chimpanzee trekking on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The chimpanzees trekking in Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park is exciting . The Kyambura gorge is s forested area of the park situated about 100 meters deep on the floor of the rift valley. This gorge was a result of the erosion of River Kyambura as it created its way towards the Kazinga channel.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge starts from the fig tree camp where tourists gather for briefing and the escorted by the ranger guides to search for this community of chimpanzees. The way is quite challenging as you have to slope into this forested gorge to where the chimpanzees may have spent the day or night.

Two chimpanzee trekking sessions are open at Kyambura gorge that is morning and afternoon.

Birding on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts over 612 bird species. The Birding opportunities in Queen Elizabeth National Park range from easy water bird sighting from the comfort at Mweya launch to carefully searching for the birds in Maramagambo forest.

The shoreline of Kazinga channel is often graced with a multitude of bird species including foreign migrants. Some of the residents birds of Queen Elizabeth National Park including Pel’s fish eagles, Papyrus gonolek, greater and lesser flamingos, western banded snake eagle, African fin foot, Egyptian geese, rufus-bellied herons, white backed night heron, black- rumped button quail, shoebill stork, black bee eater and others.

For better results from a birding safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, an early start is very helpful with a professional birding guide and a birding guidebook are very handy.

Nature walks on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park .

Queen Elizabeth National Park has restricted places where Nature walks are often conducted but must be in company of a ranger guide from Uganda wildlife Authority. The Savannah experiences in this park are often complemented by walks in the tropical natural forest called Maramagambo.

The forest has several trails which are followed by tourists during the nature walks and keen birded often enjoy this activity in Maramagambo forest because there is so much to see including forest birds. Maramagambo forest is home to several primates species including grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys and others.

The nature walks at the Mweya peninsula wit ranger guide gives you chance to enjoy the remote parts of the peninsula. This can be arranged from the Mweya information center.

Visit the Crater lake area of Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Katwe crater lakes area of Queen Elizabeth National Park is a spectacle where you find wet and dry craters. This 27 kilometers drive from the main gate to Equator gate of the park is the crater lakes area which is very scenic with lakes, savannah and forest. In the Kyambura wildlife Reserve, flamingos are often seen

These crater lakes are punctuated on the floor of the rift valley towards Rwenzori ranges. Some of the outstanding crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park including Lake Nyamunuka which emits a putrid smell, Katwe salt lake one of the prehistoric mining industries in Uganda. Salt has been extracted from this lake using evaporation beds as method that is still used to date.

When Is The Best Time To Do A Uganda Safari To Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is open for a visit all year but the dry season is often most preferred when the track are quicker to explore. The dry season, which is normally June, July, August, September, October and December to January, is often characterized by dry conditions in the wilderness.

Generally, the grass is lower permitting better visibility of the wild animals in the park and other features on the floor of the rift valley. Connecting from one track in Queen Elizabeth National Park to another is quicker.

During the dry season, there is food scarcity because grass is insufficient for the large population of herbivores who are residents of Queen Elizabeth National Park so majority are often spotted feeding closer to the water sources.

This is the high tourism season in Uganda and so expect to find more vehicles on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Even options of accommodation to book in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the peak season may run out.

The wet season which normally rhymes with the low tourism season in Uganda is also great season for a visit in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is often visited by fewer people and not so busy. For those wishing to spend time away from the normal environment with less disturbance from other tourists may make use of this season. The park is normally greener as it recovers from the harsh conditions of the dry season.  

There are chances of witnessing new births in Queen Elizabeth National Park in the wet season as many of the wild animals try to hide there infants from possible predators. There is also less noise from the vehicles on game drive in the park and completion for watching space is not often seen in the low season.

How much is the cost of Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The cost of Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park starts with the price of park entrance fees which is at the moment at $40 per person per 24 hours from entrance time. The least number of days in this park is 3 day Uganda Safari Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The safari packages to Queen Elizabeth National Park are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. The accommodation type use on Uganda safari in this park plays a major role in the determining the category of tour package you choose.

Queen Elizabeth National Park has a wide range of safari activities you may wish to be part of during Uganda safari and so these also play a big role in determining the cost of this safari.

What Accommodations To Book On Uganda Safari In Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Accommodations in Queen Elizabeth National Park are categorized into Upscale, mid-range and basic. Majority of accommodations in this park are situated within or on the outskirts of the park.

Accommodations of Queen National Park including Mweya safari lodge, Bush lodges, Elephants Plain lodge, Jacana lodge, Simba safari Camp

The cost of accommodations to Queen Elizabeth National Park vary with the inclusive and exclusions in the price.

What Is The Distance To Queen Elizabeth National Park

From Kampala the distance to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 410 kilometers passing via Mubende Fort portal route. When passing via Masaka Mbarara road, the distance to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 420 kilometers.

From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the distance to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha sector is about 64 kilometers and 160 kilometers to Mweya area.

There are daily domestic flights from Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe airport

Is Queen National Park Safe to Visit For a Uganda Safari

Queen Elizabeth National Park is safe to visit for a Uganda safari. This park is under the security of Uganda Wildlife Authority well trained ranger guides who often patrol the park and its boundaries. They coordinate the security of Queen Elizabeth National Park with other Uganda security agencies on ground to keep law and order.

On ground are guidelines expected to be followed by tourists on Uganda safari in and outside Queen Elizabeth National Park. In case your accommodation is within or on the outskirts of the park, donot get out in the night because you may encounter some predators. Donot step out of your vehicle while on game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park not even for a short call because you are not aware of what is watching.

For personal security, donot move alone in the forested areas of the park but must be in company of a ranger guide. Keep your valuable belongings out of reach to the public to avoid chances of losing them during the safari.

In case you wish to taste the local cuisines during Uganda safari, donot eat street food but find a safe local restaurants where you can have a taste of Uganda. In Uganda, some of the common meals served include Oluwombo, Eshabwe, Millet posho and others all organic foods. Taste the Uganda carefully roasted coffee from a café shop nestled in different town centers that you stop at