Queen Elizabeth National park: Dubbed as ” Medley of Wonders”, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s popular and most sought for National Park. It is one of the most visited parks. Situated in the western Uganda, occupying districts of Kasese, Rubirizi, Rukungiri and Kamwenge. The park spans over 1,978sq.km making it the second largest National Park after Murchison Falls National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is approximately 400km from Kampala city.
Queen Elizabeth National Park was first gazetted as Kazinga channel National Park. In 1954, it was named Queen Elizabeth National Park to commemorate the first visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1952. It was officially open to the public in February 1966. It is a true safari destination that will surprise and delight you with its natural wonders and cultural heritage, The park sits on the rift valley floor surrounded but stunning lakes, escarpments and the snow capped Rwenzori mountains, has a variety of habitats such as grasslands, Acacia woodlands, forest wetlands and open water which sustain a wide range of mammals, primates and birds.
The Park is home to a stunning array of wildlife such as four (4) of the Africa’s big five (5), hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, chimpanzees and over 600 bird species
How to reach to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s old National Park, gazetted in the 1952. It was locally known as Kazinga National Park but later was renamed to Queen Elizabeth National Park to commemorate a visit from Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. It is located in the southwestern Uganda, approximately 400 km (250 miles) from Kampala city and can be accessed by road which takes around 6-7 hours to reach the park using the Kampala-Mbarara-Kasese highway.
Alternatively, visitors that would like to access the park by Air. To Fly into Queen Elizabeth National Park, visitors need to book a charter flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kasese Airport which is 1 hour away from the park. Either way, there are scheduled Flights that fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese Airstrip, Mweya Airstrip and Kihihi Airstrip.
Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a treasure trove of natural wonders, boasting an incredible array of attractions that showcase the park’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, and cultures.
Some of the top attractions include
Wildlife
Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for its incredible diversity of wildlife, boasting over 95 mammal species,10 primate species and a wide range of reptiles. These live in the park’s varied habitats such as savannahs, forests, and wetlands, support a wide range of wildlife, including the Big game ( lions, leopards, Elephants and buffaloes), Cape buffalo, Uganda Kob, water back, warthogs, leopard, hyena, the giant forest hog, hippos, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras among others.
Birdlife
The park is a true birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting an incredible array of bird species. Over 600 species of birds have been recorded in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park’s diverse habitats, including savannas, forests, and wetlands, support a wide range of birdlife, from iconic eagles and storks to colorful kingfishers, Shoe-billed Stork, Papyrus Gonolek, African Fish Eagle, Kingfishers, Flamingos, Pelicans, Storks species such as the Marabou Stork and the Abdi’s Stork, Eagles like the Tawny Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle among others.
Kazinga channel
The Kazinga channel is about 40m long joining Lake Gorge to Lake Edward. It has the perfect view of the parks’ major wildlife annals. The shore of the lake attracts a large concentration of mammals, birds as well as reptiles all year around. These include Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants, Buffalo, Antelopes and over 100 Bird species. The kazinga channel has the highest concentration of hippos in the whole country and the best way to explore them is through a boat cruise. The boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and the opportunity to spot a wide range of wildlife.
The Ishasha sector
The Ishasha Sector is a remote and scenic area of Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its unique landscape and wildlife. It covers an area of about 100 km south of Mweya covered with savannah woodland and it’s drained by the Ishasha River that flows towards Lake Edward. The sector is famous for its high diversity of wildlife such as climbing lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes among others.
Kyambura Gorge
Also known as the “Valley of Apes,” Kyambura gorge is a unique and fascinating destination located in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park, southwestern Uganda. This stunning gorge is carved by the Kyambura River and stretches for 16 km (10 miles), with depths of up to 100m (330ft). It is world apart from the rest of the park, with its lush, tropical forest and unique wildlife. The gorge is home to a diverse array of wildlife.
The main attraction of the Kyambura Gorge are the chimpanzees.The gorge is home to a large and healthy community of chimpanzees, and visitors can take part in guided treks to track and observe these amazing animals in the world. In addition to chimpanzee trekking, the Gorge offers a range of other activities, including nature walks, birdwatching, and scenic viewing.
Explosion crater
The Explosion Crater is a unique geological feature located in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is a large, shallow crater formed as a result of volcanic activity. It is believed to have been formed around 8,000 years ago when a magma chamber beneath the surface of the earth exploded, creating a large crater. This crater offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and an insight into the park. It is home a variety of wildlife, including antelopes, buffaloes, and birds.
Activities to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a wide range of exciting activities that cater to different interests and preferences. From wildlife and scenic experiences to adventure, cultural, and community activities, the park provides endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers exciting game drives through its diverse habitats, including savannas, forests, and wetlands. The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, and antelopes. These are spotted during the game drives. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park take place in different sectors such the Kasenyi Plains.
These plains are also known as the Mweya sector. It is known for their abundant wildlife, including lions, leopards, and antelopes. In the west of the plains lies a beautiful escarpment which brings clear view of lake George, and the savannas while on a game drives in Queen Elizabeth Park. Animals like the Lions, leopards, bush elephants, antelopes can be spotted in these plains.
Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth Park
The Ishasha Sector is located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, southwestern Uganda.
The Ishasha Sector is a remote and scenic area of the park, known for its unique landscape and wildlife. The sector is characterized by open grasslands, wooded hills, and fig trees, these trees are famous for being climbed by the sector’s iconic tree-climbing lions.
Birding
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a renowned birding destination,one that offers remarkable bird watching safaris. The park is home to over 600 bird species out of the 1096 species recorded within the country. Birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park inhabit within the park’s savannas, forests, and wetlands. They can be spotted during game drives, nature walks, boat cruise among others.
Common bird species noted in Queen Elizabeth National park include; the iconic Shoebill Stork, African Fish Eagle, Papyrus Gonolek, White-Winged Warbler, Lappet-Faced Vulture, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Reef Heron, Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, Wattled Plover, Lappet-Faced Vulture, African White-Backed Vulture,Palm-Nut vulture, Gabar Goshawk, African Harrier-Hawk among others.
Boat Rides
Boat cruise is one of the most popular safari activities to do while on an adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is famously done along the Kazinga channel. Imagine taking a leisurely journey along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George, and discover the park’s stunning scenery and incredible wildlife. The boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a unique and classic perspective on the park’s diverse habitats and provides opportunities to spot a wide range of animals, including hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and antelopes,, leopard, hyena along with other bird species like Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, Wattled Plover, African Fish Eagle, Papyrus Gonolek, White-Winged Warbler, Lappet-Faced Vulture, Grey Heron.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge.
Also referred to as the “valley of Apes” Kyambura Gorge is a scenic and diverse area within Queen Elizabeth National Park, known for its chimpanzee population. The gorge is a steep-sided valley carved by the Kyambura River, and its unique landscape supports a wide range of wildlife. It is home to the famous Kyambura gorge chimpanzee family which is also known as the ‘lost chimpanzees’ The gorge has sixteen habituated chimpanzees remaining in the valley. Although you can do chimpanzee tracking in other places like Kalinzu Game reserve, Kibale Forest National Park, and Budongo Game Reserve, the gorge remains a must-visit destination because it offers more than just a chimpanzee experience.
Nature walks in Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers several natures walk trails that allow visitors to explore the park’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems on foot. Nature walks in Queen Elizabeth National park take place in the Mweya Peninsula, Kasenyi Crater Lakes, Ishasha River and in Kyambura Gorge
Visitors doing nature walks in the park get opportunities to spot a wide range of wildlife, including birds, monkeys,antelopes, chimpanzees and enjoy the park’s diverse landscapes which offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The best time to go nature walks in Queen Elizabeth National park is during the dry season, from June to August and December to February.