Why Queen Elizabeth National Park is Hot Selling Africa Royal Safari Destination

A number of world dignitaries have got a chance to enjoy a relaxing Africa safari moment in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh were one of the happy tourists that visited the park in 1954 just a year after her coronations in 1953. She conducted a meeting with the royals of Uganda from Tooro Kingdom, Bunyoro Kingdom and Ankore Kingdom within the park where they discussed a number of developmental matters.

In the memory of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Africa Uganda the Queen’s Pavilion was set up in Queen Elizabeth National Park constructed out of beautiful nature friendly materials. The stunning beauty of Queen Elizabeth National Park prompted her Majesty to return with her mother in 1959. When the Duke of Edinburgh returned to Africa Uganda in 2007, he paid visit to this well-endowed biosphere reserve enjoying a Uganda safari through the park.

During a Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National park, your eyes can be lost on which choice to make of what to see. The park has over 95 mammal species with more than 612 bird species. All these awe to the existence of a number of habitats ranging from bushy grass land, forest, acacia woodland, and lake or swamp vegetation.

The dramatic view of jagged Rwenzori form a wonderful backdrop that runs 30 miles to the north where blue Rwenzori rises from the plains,  

Highlights of what To Do In Queen Elizabeth National park

Game Drives In Queen Elizabeth National park

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National park

Launch Trip in Queen Elizabeth National park

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge

Nature Walk in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Hiking in Queen Elizabeth National park

Game Drives In Queen Elizabeth National park

Taking an early morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National park is one of the epic moments of a life times. Driving through the tracks of the northern plains may give chance to see elephants, buffalos, water bucks, bush bucks, Uganda Kobs, warthogs, mongoose and so much more. Driving in the Kasenyi plains opens more chances of spotting the elusive lions that sneak to prey on Uganda Kobs.

When you head for a game drive in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national Park you must watch out for possible chances of spotting tree climbing lions that hide in the fig trees. Driving through the Lake Edward flats may give you chance to a variety of wildlife including lions, topis, wallowing buffaloes, elephants and a number of birds like the famous shoe bill.

Exploring the beautiful crater lakes area takes you through a number of both wet and dry craters located at the bottom of the rift valley. Some of the lakes include Lake Nyamunuka with a putrid smell, Copper Blue Lake, Salty Lake Katwe and so many more.

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National park

Any birder who chooses Africa birding safari must include Queen Elizabeth National park. The park is a magnet for both local and foreign birds that fly from as far as Europe. The various vegetation zones that the park harbors forms a wonderful habitat to different species of birds. It’s a RAMZA site.

In Africa protected areas, Queen Elizabeth National Park bird list of over 605 bird species is only exceeded by the Parks in the Virunga area including Bwindi impenetrable National Park. This is one of the only homes of gorilla trekking in the world

The shores of Kazinga channel are all year round graced by variety of birds including greater and lesser flamingos, pink-backed pelicans, Egyptian geese, papyrus gonolek, chapin’s  flycatcher, African skimmers, white winged warbler to mention but a few. A number of Albertine endemics spend there life in this park too.

Launch Trip in Queen Elizabeth National park

The highlight of Queen Elizabeth National park is the mind blowing Launch trip on Kazinga channel. This enduring 2 hours or more return launch trip starts from Mweya Peninsular, sail on Kazinga channel to Lake Edward. Watch out for animals like serried huge Nile Crocodiles, schools of hippos, herds of elephants that come down to quench thirst and take a bath, herds of buffaloes, leopards, lions, water bucks, bush bucks, Uganda kobs and so many others animals.

Thousands of birds enjoy freebies of Kazinga channel marshes including foreign migrants. Some of the birds you may get to see include greater and lesser flamingos, papyrus gonolek, shoe bill, black-rumped button-quail, western-banded snake eagle, African fish Eagle, great blue turaco, African finfoot  to mention but a few.

Kazinga channel is a connecting link between Lake George which is named after Queen Elizabeth II’s Father and a grandfather to King Charles III and Lake Edward who was an uncle to Her Majesty the Queen

From the launch trip, a more pronounced view of the blue Rwenzori mountains comes into clear view extending beyond the park boundaries.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge

The abundant habitat of Queen Elizabeth National park gives home to chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge. The gorge curves from River Kyambura that connects to Kazinga channel.

The chimpanzees and other primates most of there day in the forest surrounding this gorge on the rift valley floor.

Early morning or late afternoon chimpanzee trekking starts with briefing at the Kyambura Figtree camp at either 0800 hours or 1400 hours.

While search for the chimpanzees, look out for other primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and so much more.

An array of birds also enjoy the cool environment of the gorge and for keen birders watch out for the exciting birds.

Nature Walk in Queen Elizabeth National Park

A guided walk through the thick tropical Maramagambo forest brings out the vegetation diversity of Queen Elizabeth National Park different from Sunny plains close to Kazinga channel. The forest hosts a number of primates and birds. When you take the trail to Lake Nyamusingire you enjoy a lot more beauties of the park.

You can walk to the notable blue copper lake, peep at the Bat cave where a huge python is believed to be feasting at them for years.

While at Mweya Peninsular which is the park’s major tourism center, you can enjoy a guided nature walk to more remote parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Such arrangement can privately be organised from the Mweya information center

What Accommodation To Book In Queen Elizabeth National Park

A range of accommodation facilities to book for a Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National park are available. They range from Luxury Facilities, Mid-range facilities and Budget facilities. Some of the facilities are located within or outside the Park.

Some of them include Mweya safari Lodge, Jacana Lodge, Simba Safari Lodge, Bush Lodge, Katara lodge, Mweya Hostels, Ishasha Wilderness Camp and so much more.

Itineraries With Safaris To Queen Elizabeth National park

3 day Uganda Safari To Queen Elizabeth National park

6 day gorilla trekking and Wildlife Uganda safari

7 day Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee trekking and wildlife Safari

8 Day gorilla trekking, chimpanzee and wildlife Tour

How Close Is Queen Elizabeth National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Gorilla Trekking

Queen Elizabeth National park is about 5 hours from Bwindi Impenetrable National park where to do gorilla trekking. You can pass the southern sector which is Ishasha but this is dependent on conditions of the bridge over Ishasha River.

When Is The best Time To visit Queen Elizabeth National park In Africa

The park is open all year round for all activities but the most interesting are June to September when the grass is low so you can see the animals feeding easily. The wet seasons are normally interesting with lots of infant born. The grass is long for hiding there babies from predators.

What To Pack for Africa Safari In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Insect repellant because there stinging bugs in the wilderness

Some flip flops to wear while on a gamed drive especially when it get so hot

Safari clothes that cover your body in case stinging insects attack you.

A camera with good lens to capture moments that you can keep forever and turn too late

Binoculars to get a better picture of the animals, birds, scenery from a far.

First aid kit in case you get any injury or accident while on Uganda safari

Some warmers as it gets so cold in the park early morning and late evening hours.

Toiletries in case your lodge does provide

Pajama to wear in the night.

Sun screen to wear when you relax by the pool at your lodge

Sun glasses to wear when under the scotching sun of Queen Elizabeth National Park

What To Avoid while On An Africa Safari To Queen Elizabeth National Park

Avoid feeding the animals in the park not even the charming baboons along the way. They are wild animals that must look for there own food. Feeding them over time has caused some of these animals to become human dependents.

Do not wear some colors while on Safari in Queen Elizabeth National park colors like white, blue, black attract insects like Tsetse flies that may sting you.

Avoid driving off track while on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National park. You may over run some small while animals, it scares the animals too.

Do not make noise when you spot animals in the park because this may send them into hiding or cause them to charge at you.

Avoid hanging your limbs out of the car while on a game drive as carnivores may see you as prey.

Do not litter the forest while on your Africa safari because this alters the nature of the Park.

Try not to get out of your lodge at night while on safari because there nocturnal ready to feast on night prey including you.

Do not carry your precious jewels when coming on safari to avoid tempting those around you.

Stay open minded during game drives because the wilderness may not offer you what you wish to see all the time. Some want to see all the big five but you may not see them all and become frustrated. Keep your mind open to avoid getting annoyed at the end of your Africa safari

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