Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park features as one of Uganda’s and East Africa’s most famous safari destinations. This park is situated on the western side of Uganda, approximately 376 kilometers from Kampala city centre. It covers about 1978 square kilometers, making it the second-largest savanna grassland national park in Uganda, just after Murchison Falls National Park.

This conservation area is both a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and a RAMSAR Wetland site, and it is best described as the Pearl of Africa. Queen Elizabeth National Park is located astride the Equator at the base of the mighty Rift Valley, between Lake George and Lake Edward, and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west. It was established around 1952 with the aim of providing refuge for a number of its distinct wildlife species and other attractions.

Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area comprises the Kyambura and Kigezi Wildlife Reserves and covers an area of about 2475 square kilometers. This spectacular savanna grassland protected area is popular for its rare tree climbing lions that thrive mainly around the Ishasha area, as well as other wildlife species that also thrive at the park, especially the African elephants, buffaloes, leopards, African lions, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, hyenas, warthogs, topis, and others.

The park also refuges over 620 avian species, most of which include the African skimmers, pink-backed pelicans, white-winged warblers, papyrus canary, papyrus gonolek, Chapin’s flycatcher, martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, and many more, as well as many primates that thrive around the Maramangambo forest reserve and the Kyambura gorge.

Queen Elizabeth National Park experiences temperatures between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius. Its wettest seasons fall between March and May and between September and November, with rainfall amounts ranging from 750 to 1250 mm. The park lies at an altitude of about 910 meters at Lake Edward to 1390 meters in the Crater Area.

Queen Elizabeth National Park can be reached from the south of Kampala city center via Mbarara to Bushenyi, then through Katunguru, covering a distance of about 420 kilometers, or from the north via Fort Portal-Kasese through Katunguru, covering a distance of about 410 kilometers. For visitors in southern Uganda, you can also reach the park from Kabale or Bwindi National Park through Kihihi to Ishasha gate. Alternatively, you can fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip, then land at airstrips in Kasese, Mweya, and Ishasha.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is best known for its rewarding game-viewing experiences, which are most accessible during the dry season from June to September and from December to February. However, game drives can still be conducted during the wet season, which falls in March to May and October to November. But the challenge with this season is that the tracks tend to be slippery, making it a bit challenging to navigate the park, and wildlife experiences can easily be interrupted by heavy rains.

Notable areas for wildlife viewing at the park include the Kasenyi track, the Ishasha area, and the northern Crater area. While on a game drive, you can expect to catch a glimpse of wildlife such as elephants, buffalo, lions, Uganda Kobs, topis, and bushbucks, as well as a variety of bird species.

A boat cruise is another dramatic safari activity that you shouldn’t miss out while on safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park. A launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park takes you through the Kazinga channel, where you will spot most of the hippos, crocodiles, water birds (pelicans, flamingoes, fish eagles), and many other aquatic species. The Kazinga channel also links Lake George to Lake Edward, where most of the incredible wildlife species can be spotted. The launch cruise is conducted twice a day at the park, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

With over 620 bird species, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s birders’ paradises. The park is designated as an Important Birding Area. It features several habitats, each with distinct bird species worth spotting on birding safaris in Uganda. The best birding areas at this park include the swamps, lakes, and many other stunning habitats.

For nature lovers, a nature walk through Queen Elizabeth National Park allows you to explore its remarkable savanna grasslands and forest wildlife on foot. You will be rewarded with spectacular views of the park’s birds, primates, and many more while on well-maintained trails. These trails also take you through the forests adjacent to Lake Nyamusingire. Whereas wildlife views aren’t predictable in the course of the day, visitors can easily be amazed by the park’s bat cave that features the bat hungry python and copper-rich blue lake.

For primate lovers, Queen Elizabeth National Park also ranks among the very best primate destinations, offering trekkers the opportunity to track the chimpanzees for which Uganda is known. There are habituated chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge, and the chimpanzee adventure there is conducted in the morning and in the afternoon.

There are many accommodation facilities that you can choose to spend a night while enjoying your safaris in the park. The Mweya Peninsula and northern circuit comprises Mweya Safari Lodge, Hippo Hill Camp, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Camp, Simba Safari Camp, Mweya Hostel, Katara Lodge, Twin Lake Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge, Enganzi Lodge, and others.

In the Ishasha area, notable lodges include Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp, Savanna Resort Hotel, Enjojo Lodge, Ishasha Campsite, and Enjojo Game Lodge. Maramangambo Forest and Kyambura Gorge have lodges such as Katara Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Mazike Lodge, Abbey Guesthouse, Maramangambo Campsite, King Fisher Kicwamba Lodge, and many others.

In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth National Park isn’t only known for its game drives and launch cruises, but also for its numerous safari activities and attractions that offer unforgettable experiences.