Uganda Safari Activities To Do In Queen Elizabeth National Park And Lake Mburo National Park  

A combo of a Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park is astounding with several chances of spotting variety of wildlife, unique sceneries and amazing geographies. Both parks host abundant wild animals both carnivores and herbivores supported by the different vegetation zones. Enquire Now

While in Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National park you can engage in game drives, birding safari, water activities and much more. A 5 day Uganda safari is that itinerary you can choose for this African tour. You can spend more time on holiday in either destinations according to your interests.

Brief Details about Queen Elizabeth National Park and lake Mburo National Park

Trending Uganda safaris

3 day Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

5 Day gorilla and game safari in Uganda

6 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda

8 day gorilla, chimpanzee and wildlife safari in Uganda

20 day Uganda safari

3 day gorilla trekking in Rwanda

5 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Queen Elizabeth National park

On the floor of the Albertine rift valley is Queen Elizabeth National Park a biosphere reserve with the backdrop of the Rwenzori massif. On a clear day, the Rwenzori ranges appear to be an arms-reach while strategically positioned in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Parks hosts more than 95 mammal species, over 612 bird species a list that is the largest in Uganda so far in one destination.

When on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can choose to do a game drive, launch trip, birding, scenic viewing and much more.

From Queen Elizabeth National Park you can connect to do gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at a distance of about 64 kilometers via Ishasha sector.

Lake Mburo National Park

The position of Lake Mburo National Park as the closest game park to Kampala or Entebbe is its advantage especially for a quick getaway on Uganda safari. Lake Mburo National park is that detour destination while travelling to western Uganda National Parks.

Lake Mburo National Park is a herbivores’ spot in Uganda where you get chance to see wild animals and cattle grazing alongside one another since chances of encountering carnivores are very low.

The lake Mburo National Park is home to reed bucks, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, herds of elephants, cape buffaloes and much more.

Activities to do on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

An early morning or afternoon game drive on the tracks of Queen Elizabeth National park is mesmerizing with opportunities of identifying animals like lions, cape buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks and more.

The north Kazinga area is a great game viewing location while in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kasenyi grassland plains open more opportunities to watching lions sneaking out to catch Uganda kobs that spend most of their day in this location.

Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Kyambura gorge on the floor of the rift valley in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the home of a community of chimpanzees. This 100 meter deep gorge gets its name from River Kyambura which eroded this area as it paved its way towards Kazinga channel.

Whether scheduled for the morning or afternoon chimpanzee trekking adventure in Queen Elizabeth National park, make sure to bears some level of fitness to enable you hike into this forested ravine.

One must book a chimpanzee permit for Kyambura Gorge to be part of this memorable encounter with humans’ closest relatives.

Birding in Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park

The birding experience in Queen Elizabeth National park is one of the best on Uganda Safari with more than 612 bird species recorded as residents of the park. Sometimes birds migrate from as far as Europe to spend time in Queen Elizabeth National park.

The Kazinga channel is a magnet to a variety of birds especially the marshy banks of Kazinga channel. Some of the bird species likely to spot in Queen Elizabeth National park include African Skimmers, Pink Beaked Pelicans, Shoebill Stork, King fisher, Egyptian Geese and more.

Some of the key birding areas of Queen Elizabeth National Park include Maramagambo forest, Kazinga channel, Edward flats and more.

Launch trip on Uganda Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The highlight of safari activities of Queen Elizabeth National park is the launch trip and a prime game viewing activity. While seating in the comfort of the launch, watch out for several animals that often visit the shoreline of Kazinga channel to quench thirst, take a bath and more.

Kazinga channel has its regulars the hippopotami, crocodiles, otters and more that you spot while sailing. Lions, herds of lions, cape buffaloes, leopards and more love spending time by the shoreline of the channel. Enjoy the surrounding features including the view of the Rwenzori whose glacier top sparkles through the bright sunrays.

There is the public launch and private boats at Kazinga channel and all start from the Mweya Peninsular.

Nature Walks In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Take a guided nature walk in Queen Elizabeth National Park the Maramagambo forest a tropical rain forest. The walk on the trails of Maramagambo forest are boarded by dense undergrowth so wear safety gears and safari convertible trousers and long sleeved shirt.

On the way, you may come across animals like olive baboons, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more.

Keen birders have so much to spot out while on forest walk in Maramagambo forest including forest birds that often flock the forest.

Enjoy the view of the blue copper lake, the bat cave with multitudes of bats, natural tree species and so much more.

Volcanoes lakes track

The Volcanoes Lakes area is mesmerizing to drive through where you get to spot both wet and dry craters. There are about 27 volcanoes lakes you get to see in this area including Lake Nyamunuka which produces a putrid smell to that of rotten eggs. Lake Katwe is one of the oldest and ancient mining spots in Uganda where salt is extracted from spans using rudimentary methods.

Extension activities from Queen Elizabeth National Park

Gorilla safaris in Bwindi impenetrable National park

While in Queen Elizabeth National park, you can connect with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to do gorilla trekking or gorilla habituation experience.  From Queen Elizabeth National park the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park takes about 3 hours to 4 hours.

Note that you must be sure of gorilla permit availability as the Bwindi permits sell out fast yet their supply is limited to maximum 8 per day per family.

Chimpanzee trekking Kibale National park

The prime chimpanzee trekking destination of Uganda is Kibale National park which is about 2 hours drive away. One can choose to do chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park instead of Kyambura gorge. Kibale forest has over 12 chimpanzee communities open to the public and home to a population of over 1500 chimpanzees.

Kibale forest too is the primate haven of Uganda with more 12 other primate species recorded including bush babies, pottos, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and more.

Visit lake Bunyonyi

The scenic Lake Bunyonyi is a place to relax, wind and unwind from the daily stress. Take a boat ride to the multitudes of Islands in Lake Bunyonyi including the Akampene Island where girls who got pregnant before wed locks were abandoned to death. Lake Bunyonyi is often visited by several small birds just like the local meaning of its name” Bunyonyi.”

Safari Activities to do in Lake Mburo National Park

Game safari in Lake Mburo National Park

A game drive on the different tracks within Lake Mburo national park get you to spot a range of animals like zebras, waterbucks, bushbucks, reedbucks, Uganda kobs, cape buffaloes, herds of elephants and more.

While in lake Mburo National Park, a visit to the salt licking area gets you to spot a number of animals that often spend time at this spot to enjoy the salty taste of the soil in this area. Several animals often get to this point o enjoy the taste.

Boat Ride On Lake Mburo

Enjoy the boat ride on lake Mburo situated in the middle of the park. While watching from the comfort of the boat, enjoy the abundant green vegetation around the lake often visited by several water birds. Hippos and crocodiles are often seen enjoy the lake Mburo water too.

The cool breeze off lake Mburo is refreshing

Guided Forest walk on Lake Mburo

The Rubanga forest in lake Mburo National Park provided a great environment to enjoy a nature walk. This natural forest is home to a variety of primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus and more.

Several birds are often spotted during the forest walks and botanists can also spot plant species that are getting rarer to find on the main land.

A walk on the eastern side of Lake Mburo gets tourists to see rock kopjes.

Birding in lake Mburo national Park

Lake Mburo National Park is home to a number of bird species and so far about 315 bird species have been recorded as residents of this park. The birding safari in Lake Mburo National Park may give you the opportunity to spot pelicans, African fin foot, saddle billed stork, white winged warbler, Abyssinian ground hornbill, shoebill, brown chested wattled plover and more.

A walk in Rubanga forest give you chance to see a number of wild animals. Acacia woodland bird species are often spotted in Lake Mburo National Park.

Tips To Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park And Lake Mburo National Park

Reserve accommodation to use during this Uganda safari in advance to avoid last minute disappointments. Hire a 4×4 wheel drove vehicle in good condition for this Uganda safari as the roads in the countryside get messy especially in the dry season.

Pack the right Uganda safari gears putting in the mind that during the dry season temperatures in Queen Elizabeth National Park and lake Mburo National Park may rise so carry some light wears.

The best time to do this Uganda safari is the dry season even though the country is open all year. Most wild animals are most active in the dry season and grass lower creating better visibility.

Apply for the Uganda visa before the safari to avoid delay at the airport in advance on at immigration in case you must obtain one before getting into the country.

Follow the Uganda Wildlife Authority guidelines while on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and lake Mburo National Park. Stepping out of your vehicle while on safari is forbidden because some animals may pop out of the wilderness and pounce on you.

How To Get To Lake Mburo National Park And Queen Elizabeth National Park

From Kampala or Entebbe, you can get to Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park via Mbarara. The distance from Kampala or Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park is about 228 kilometers taking about 3 hours.

The distance from Lake Mburo National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 192 kilometers.

Charter flight services for more private travel during Uganda safari is available however you need to do advance arrangements.

Do not forget to hire a transfer vehicle as the air strips are located some distance from the main park entrance.

How Secure Is Queen Elizabeth National Park And Lake Mburo National Park

• The Uganda wildlife Authority has the mandate to protect wildlife in all Uganda National Parks and have instructions every tourist is expected to abide by. The security of wild animals is top priority but even human existence is considered too so do not neglect your safety.
• When on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park or Lake Mburo national park, you are recommended to drive at a recommended speed and avoid going off track without permission because you may end in the wrong spots of the park.
• Communicate with the ranger station or lodge in case you notice something odd while driving in the park so that the patrol team can take charge.
• Avoid touching the wild animals because no matter how adorable they may seem to look, they are wild animals that can charge anytime and it may end in a nasty mess. Do not feed the wild animals in the jungle because they must depend on supplies from the wild and not humans.