Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the Western part of Uganda stretching across various Districts i.e Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri covering an area of 1,978 square kilometres (764 sq mi) extending from Lake George in the North East to Lake Edward in the South West with the Kazinga Channel that joins the two lakes. The Park is situated at the base of the majestic Mountains of the Moon -Mountain Rwenzori inhabiting various Wildlife animals that are seen by numerous travelers from all over the world and these include; lion, leopard, elephant, small antelope, Ugandan Kob, Warthogs, Hippos, Crocodiles, bush buck, duiker, Tree Climbing Lions etc. Various National Parks are situated around the Park and these include; Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest National Park and Bwindi Forest National Park. It comprises of the Ishasha Sector which is prominently known to inhabit the amazing Tree Climbing Lions that are fond of resting and relaxing within the Fig Tree Branches and are good for photos making the whole adventure worth experiencing while on wildlife tor in Uganda.
Flora and Fauna
The park is home to 95 mammal species while the birdlist is 612 species long. This diversity is the result of an impressive range of habitats. Fifty-seven vegetation types have been identified though these can be summarised as just five: forest; grassland; bushy grassland; Acacia woodland and lakeshore/ swamp vegetation. Residents of the park’s grasslands include elephant, Cape buffalo, Uganda kob, water buck, warthogs, giant forest hog, lion, leopard and hyaena. Topi are found in Ishasha, while forest primates are found in Kyambura Gorge and Maramagambo Forest.
Various Bird species inhabit the forest vegetation of the Park and these include; the martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, pink-backed pelicans, white-winged warbler, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, corncrake, lesser and greater flamingo, and shoebill stork.
How to Get to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the Western Part of Uganda in Kasese District and can be accessed by use of both Road and Air transport depending on the preferences of the travelers.
By Road:
Queen Elizabeth National Park can be accessed by driving form Kampala a journey that takes 6 hours through Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi then Kasese.
You can also opt to use the Kampala to Mityana Route through Mubende then Fort Portal Town to Kasese a journey of 360 kilometers.
By Air:
Queen Elizabeth National Park can also be accessed by use of Air Transport as you board a domestic flight from Entebbe International Airport or the Kajjansi Airstrip to any of the Airstrips i.e Mweya, Ishasha or Kasese. On reaching the Airstrips, you are picked up ad transferred to the Park.
Safari Activities to do in the Park
Game Drives
Game Drives are the most prominent safari activity carried out in the Park and requires you to transfer with a 4×4 Car with a skilled park ranger to the Parks numerous tracks where you watch various wildlife animals wandering around their natural Savannah Vegetation habitat. The wildlife animals you watch include; warthogs, small antelope, Uganda kobs, Elephants, Topis, Bush buck, Water bucks, Duiker, lions, leopards, buffalo etc.
Bird Watching
Queen Elizabeth is a very ideal Birder’s paradise due to the bird watching experiences it offers to all kinds of travelers interested in watching the beautiful bird species of Uganda. Various species of birds can be seen around the Park and these include; White-faced Whistling, Spur-winged Plovers, Squacco Heron, Fish Eagle, Pink and white backed Pelicans, Long tailed Cormorants, African Jacana, Yellow backed Weavers, open-billed Stork, Water-Thick knee, Pied kingfishers, Wattled Plovers, the Black Crake and the Knob-billed Ducks, long-tailed cormorants, Martial Eagle, Black- rumped Buttonquail African Skimmer, White winged terns, White-winged Warbler, shoebill, African skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, Grey-headed kingfisher, papyrus gonolek, Papyrus Canary.
Boat Cruises
Boat Cruises are another prominent safari activity to carry out in the Park and these occur along the beautiful Kazinga Channel which joins the two Lakes i.e Edward and George. While cruising, yo watch various wildlife animals along the Shores taking water, schools of Hippo and crocodiles beneath the waters. The cruises are scheduled two times a day i.e the morning cruise and Afternoon cruise and these are chosen according to the preferences of the visitors interested.
Hiking and Nature Walks
Hiking and Nature walks are also very prominent in Queen Elizabeth National Park and these offer you views of the green vegetation, bird species, wildlife animals and primates. There are various Hiking Destinations in the Park and these include; Hikes to the Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, Kitomi Forest Reserve etc. All hikers around the world should visit the Park to enjoy remarkable Hiking Adventure Tours in Uganda.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers amazing Chimpanzee tracking Adventures in Kyambura Gorge as well as Kalinzu Forest. Track the Chimpanzees of Kyambura Gorge as you transfer from one place to another watching the Chimpanzees in their natural forest vegetation habitat for 2-4 hours. You can also opt to track those of Kalinzu Forest managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Japanese Researchers and along the way, you watch various other primates as well as Birds.
Tree Climbing Lion Experience
The Tree Climbing Lion Experience is done in the stunning prominent Ishasha Sector where you watch various lions resting within the Fig Tree Branches. These are good to photo so as to keep for memories and the Ishasha Sector is located within the Park.
Lion Tracking Experiential
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers amazing Lion Tracking Experiences where travelers follow the lions in their natural Savannah vegetation habitat for a period 3-5 hours depending on the location of the lions. You transfer with a team of researchers who inform you more about the lions as well as their preferred natural Savannah Vegetation habitat. These have trackers which you follow in the Park and these show you their current location making it easy to find them in their habitat.