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Queen Elizabeth National Park

Why Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park?

Located in the western part of Uganda, spanning the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Bushenyi, over an area of 2000 square kilometers; Queen Elizabeth National Park is a savanna heaven filled with many wonders, and is indeed one of Uganda’s most popular destinations.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a medley of wonders providing opportunities to come up-close and tight with wildlife both on land and during a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The park boasts the the biggest diversity of birds in Uganda; 600 different bird species which makes it the second biggest bird count on the continent and the sixth in the word.

This park was established in 1952 at a time when it was called Kazinga National Park; a name it later dropped in 1964 when the reigning Queen of England visited Uganda.

The park today teems with African wildlife in rich diversity in its varied Eco systems, including a concoction of sprawling savanna, dotted with lakes, fertile wetlands, and shady humid forests which make it an ideal wildlife habitat.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to some of the largest herds of elephants, Big Cats like leopards and lions, over 10000 cape buffaloes, a healthy population of hippos; among other animals like warthogs, the Uganda kob, topi, the rare semi aquatic sitatunga antelope and 10 different species of primates, including man’s closest relative, the chimpanzee. Vervets, the notorious olive baboons, L’hoest’s monkey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and the black and white colobus monkeys also enjoy the park’s habitats.

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Must do Experiences at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wildlife and Game drive

Kasenyi Plains Game Drives: The most popular area for game viewing, known for vast savannahs where you can spot African elephants, Cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs, and leopards.
Tree-Climbing Lions (Ishasha Sector): Located in the southern part of the park, this is one of the only places in the world where lions are known to spend their days lounging in the branches of ancient fig trees.
Experiential Lion Tracking: A unique research-led activity where you accompany researchers to track radio-collared lions. This offers a higher chance of sightings and a deeper understanding of lion behavior.
Night Game Drives: Conducted in the Mweya Peninsula with spotlights, these drives allow you to see nocturnal animals like hyenas, civets, genets, and bush babies.

Water-Based Activities

Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise: A 2-hour boat trip along the 40km channel linking Lake Edward and Lake George. It provides up-close views of one of Africa’s densest hippo populations, as well as Nile crocodiles, elephants, and hundreds of water bird species.
Visit to Lake Katwe Salt Works: Tour the traditional salt mining pans where local communities have extracted salt for centuries. It is particularly interesting for its unique lunar-like landscape and cultural history.

Primate and Forest Adventures

Visit to Lake Katwe Salt Works: Tour the traditional salt mining pans where local communities have extracted salt for centuries. It is particularly interesting for its unique lunar-like landscape and cultural history.
Maramagambo Forest Nature Walks: Known for its “Bat Cave,” where you can view thousands of Egyptian fruit bats and the pythons that prey on them from a safe viewing room. The forest also offers trails for birding and viewing primates like black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Mongoose Tracking: Conducted on the Mweya Peninsula, this activity involves tracking banded mongooses on foot with researchers to learn about their social structures.

Scenery and Birding

Explosion Crater Drive: A 27km scenic drive through the park’s volcanic field, featuring dozens of dramatic craters, some filled with sulfurous water or lush vegetation, offering panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Bird Watching: With over 600 recorded species, it is a premier birding destination. Key spots include the Kazinga Channel for water birds and the Kasenyi Plains for savannah species like the Martial Eagle.
Equator Photo Op: The equator crosses the park’s northern sector, marked by circular monuments that are a popular stop for photos.

Cultural and Community Tours

Kikorongo Women Community: Engage with local women to learn about traditional weaving, dance, and drama performances.
Agro-Tour Walk: Explore the local farms near the park to see how communities coexist with wildlife and learn about coffee and tea processing.

Chimpanzee Trekking

On the eastern side of the park, commonly referred to as the “valley of the apes” is the forested Kyambura gorge; filled with life but most popular for its chimpanzee population. This enchanting canyon is steep sloped making the activity of chimpanzee trekking Uganda a bit more challenging, though the reward in the end is worth it. It’s always done in two sessions, one at 8:00am and another at 2:00pm lasting about 2 to 3 hours.