When is the best Time to Book Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari

The best time to do a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda is when you are ready as the park is open all year around. Queen Elizabeth National park enjoys its stunning location on the floor of the Albertine rift valley. The dramatic scenery of Queen Elizabeth National Park is largely due to mountains beyond the park boundary.

Queen Elizabeth National park is a biosphere reserve with diverse wildlife and scenery that delights any visitor. The park stretched from the crater dotted hills of Lake Edward to the remote Ishasha River in the south. The presence of different habitants in Queen Elizabeth National Park favors the long list of fauna and flora in the park

The habitants of Queen Elizabeth National Park include acacia woodland, open savannah, wetland or lakeshore vegetation, closed forest, bush grassland and others.

The dry season which is normally June, July, August, September, December and January is the most sought after season. The animals in this park can easily be sighted during the dry season when the grass is lower and visibility is clearer.

The stunning floor of the rift valley is decorated with amazing views including the erected Rwenzori rolling hills that form the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park rises about 480 meters from 910 meters at the Kazinga channel to 1390 meters in the explosion crater field.

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For the wet season, Queen Elizabeth National Park has something to offer as many infants are born in this season. The wet season in Queen Elizabeth National Park is normally March, April, May and November when the grass is higher and the infants can hide from possible predators.

What activities to do During Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National park

Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park on Uganda Safari

Taking a game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park is best early morning when animals are just rising from there night hide outs or late afternoon as they head for night hideouts. The various tracks in the park enable you to spot a number of animals like herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, giant forest hogs and others.

Taking the tracks in the north Kazinga channel close to Mweya within the open Kasenyi plain east of Kasese road you can spot several animals and lions that prey on Uganda kobs. In the far southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park with diverse habitants like Ishasha River and savannah grassland home to the tree climbing lions. Within this sector a visit to the marshy Edward flats in Ishasha area gives you an opportunity to see a variety of wildlife including birds like the rare shoebill stork.

Chimpanzee Trekking In Queen Elizabeth National Park In Uganda Safari

A descent into the 100 meters deep forested Kyambura gorge for chimpanzee trekking and other primates that live in this part of the forest. The Kyambura Gorge is a result of erosion of Kyambura River as it flows towards Kazinga channel.

The guided walk to do chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge starts at 0800 hours and 1400 hours that is two sessions per day.

Launch Trip In Queen Elizabeth National Park on Uganda Safari

Taking a launch trip for about 3 hours return trip on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park is stunning. Kazinga channel is the prime wildlife location for Queen Elizabeth National Park. As you look over to the shoreline you may spot a variety of animal, birds, reptiles and others that move down to quench thirst and take a bath.

Some of the animals you may spot include crocodiles, hippos, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions and others. Watch the sunset and spread its ray on the waters of the channels on a clear day.

Volcanic Crater lakes tour

On the floor of the rift valley in Queen Elizabeth National Park is a cluster of crater Lakes north of Mweya peninsular. You can take this 27 kilometers long crater drive from the main park entrance gate to equator gate. This is filled with wet and dry craters.

Some of lakes you may spot include the nasty Lake Nyamunuka with a putrid smell taken as the animal hospital, Katwe ancient salt mining lake with centuries old evaporation pans. At Katwe salt lake you can spot salt being produced. Enjoy these stunning views towards Mountain Rwenzori and a cross the rift valley floor.

Visit the Equator and Queen’s Pavilion

The point where the equator crosses is marked by two concrete circles where you may stop for some photo taking. At the northern entrance get to the crater lakes drive is the Queen’s pavilion where a shelter is constructed at the point where the fallen Queen Elizabeth II of England stood during the visit to Uganda in 1954.

There is also an information center with a coffee shop.

Visit the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve

A visit to Kyambura gorge wildlife with four crater lakes may give you an opportunity to see thousands of flamingos that congregate periodically on the shores. This reserve protects the southeastern banks of Kazinga channel.

Nature walk in Maramagambo Forest

A nature walk in Maramagambo forest gives you chance to spot several animals. the sunny plains around Kazinga channel contrast starkly with Maramagambo forest.

During the walk in the forest, you may spot a variety primates like black and white colobus, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons and others. lookout for the several birds that inhabit the forest.

Watch several animals in the forest and around Lake Nyamusingire. Look out for several primates in the forest. The bat cave, that has been a meal for an old python enjoy the view of the Blue copper Lake.

Mweya nature walk

This is a guided walk that enables you to explore remoter parts of the peninsular. A visit to the Mweya information center may offer you more activities to do. This facility overlooks the Katwe Bay of lake Edward

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The birding experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park gives you chance to spot a variety of birds to see. At the moment, about 602 bird species are registered as residents of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

You can sight easy from the comfort of the launch trip on the banks of Kazinga channel which is a magnet to both local and foreign birds like the water birds, search for the rare bird species in Maramagambo forest,

In the crater lakes area north of Katwe road, chances of spotting grassland birds are more open. During the birding and venture in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot African Jacana, Great and Long tailed Cormorants, Malachite and Pied Kingfisher, Black headed Gonolek, Yellow-Backed and lesser Masked canary, Black Bee eater, papyrus canary and others.

Is Queen Elizabeth National Park safe for a Uganda safari?

Queen Elizabeth National Park is safe for a safari as the park is watched by professional Uganda wildlife Authority. The ranger guides are trained to protect the wildlife in the park, the park boundaries and visitors.

Other Uganda security organs are present in Queen Elizabeth National Park to keep law and order in and around the park. They work closely with the security team of the park.

Before taking on any activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you have to report to the headquarters for registration and for monitoring in case of an emergency. There are guidelines given for any activity you do in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

While in the park on a game drive, you must not get out of the vehicle without an escorting armed ranger guide because you donot know what is watching you. Dangling your limbs while in the forest is forbidden as you may attract carnivores that may pounce on you.

Shouting or hooting at the animals while on game drive may cause them to charge at you which may be dangerous for you.

How much is a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park?

The costs of safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park varies with activities you are to engage in. the cost of the park entrance fees is the compulsory cost before entering Queen Elizabeth National Park.

At the moment, the cost of park entrance fees for Queen Elizabeth National park is $40 per person for international nonresidents. The validity of park entrance fees for this park is 24 hours from the time of entry into the park.

Our safari package costs are graded according to luxury, mid-range and budget but to make these safari quotations, we consider factors like the number of people travelling with, number of days, activities to engage in and other factors.

How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park?

From Kampala or Entebbe, you can get to Queen Elizabeth National Park by road or air transport.

By road

 The distance you drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National park is about 420 kilometers passing via Mbarara. You can enjoy a detour for a game drive at Lake Mburo National park the home of most ungulates in Uganda

When you take the northern route via Fort Portal, the distance from Entebbe or Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 410 kilometers. Making a stopover in Kibale National park for chimpanzee trekking or chimpanzee habituation experience is remarkable.

From the southern route, Queen Elizabeth National Park can be reached from Bwindi Impenetrable National park or Mgahinga National Park. the distance you cover from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking to Ishasha sector or Queen Elizabeth National park is about 64 kilometers  or to Mweya Peninsula is about 160 kilometers.

By Air

From Entebbe airport or Kajansi airstrip, you can take domestic daily flights to Mweya or Kasese airstrip. You have to hire a transfer vehicle to your lodge.

For Private flights charter flight services are available at Entebbe or Kajjansi airstrip to Mweya or Kasese airstrip. You must also hire a transfer vehicle.

What Accommodation Book In Queen Elizabeth National Park?

Queen Elizabeth National park has a variety of accommodations you can book while on safari. The accommodations range from Luxury to mid-range to budget

List of the Queen Elizabeth National park accommodations in Uganda include

Mweya Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Bush Lodge, Jacana Lodge, Simba safari Camp, Ishasha Wilderness camp, Engiri game Lodge, Tembo Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge, Elephant Plain Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Topi Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Marafiki safari Lodge

Guidelines on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Never get out of your vehicle while on safari or get out in the night without any lodge staff with you because you may encounter carnivores.

Driving off track is forbidden unless you get permission from the Uganda wildlife Authority.

Dangling your limbs out of the windows while on safari is forbidden because you may be attracting animals that may hurt you.

There are no toilet breaks while on game drives because you donot know what is watching you.

 Feeding the wild animals is forbidden because they must search for there own food.

Children must be in the company of parent or guardians while on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park to avoid chances of getting lost in the jungle.

Littering the park is forbidden especially with none decomposing material like plastic wraps as this changes the nature of the environment where these animals thrive.

Shouting or hooting at animals while on game drive is forbidden because you may cause them to charge at you.

Drive with in the allowed speed limit while on the tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park as knocking down any animal is punishable.

When you purchase park entrance fees, they expires after 24 hours from the time you enter the park.

Donot touch the wild animals even though they are harmless as these are still wild.

No swimming in the water bodies within the park unless those in the lodges like swimming pools. Some of these bodies contain natural chemical with water that may not be suitable to your skin. Several of these water bodies in Queen Elizabeth national Park have animals like crocodiles that may be dangerous

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