Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in Western Uganda and is shared by districts that is Kasese, Rubirizi, Kamwenge and Rukungiri. It is also known as Uganda’s top tourist destination with a high number of tourists all year round. Was formerly Kazinga national park was founded in 1952 combining Lakes Edward and George. With a diverse number of tourist attractions and its extension from the Kasenyi plains to Kyambura gorge, Maramagambo forest and Ishasha in the Southern sector, this is a true gem in terms of wildlife and is one of the best destinations one should not miss on their trip into the Pearl of Africa.

It was named after the Queen of England after her visit into the country. The national park is approximately 1,978 square kilometers that is 764square miles and approximately 400 kilometers from Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The wildlife of the park ranges from the big five to other animals for example African buffalo, African Elephant, waterbucks, warthogs, topi, Uganda kob, hippopotamus, crocodiles, and lions, chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge, leopard and spotted hyena among others.

Different activities can take place in the park for example game drives, bird watching, Kazinga boat cruise, tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector and chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge.

Game drives in the park

Both day and night game drives can be done in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Expect to see different animals like elephants, lions, leopards, topi, waterbucks, Uganda kob and spotted hyena. Tourists can decide to engage in both day and evening game drives such that they get to see other animals which they may have missed out on the morning game drive. These game drives can be in both the Kasenyi plains or Ishasha southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park.

Chimpanzee Tracking

This is mainly done in Kyambura gorge. It starts with a briefing as early as 7:00am then later enter into the park assisted with a ranger from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Other primates can also be seen during this activity.

Boat Cruise

Boat cruises are mainly done on the Kazinga channel that connects lakes Edward and Gorge. This should be considered as a must does not miss as you are also rewarded with opportunities of seeing so many water animals like hippos and crocodiles as and the pelicans. It is also another chance of taking clear photographs with beautiful views of the surroundings.

Bird Watching

Queen Elizabeth is known as a bird watchers haven therefore suitable for tourists that travel into the Pearl of Africa interested in this activity. Birds include the lesser flamingo, Little Stint, Montagus Harrier, Gull Billed tern, Red capped lark, Northern Double collared sunbird, Crested Malimbe, African Skimmer, Marshal eagle and the shoebill among others.

Accessibility to Queen Elizabeth national park can be reached by both road and air.

Road

Tourists can access Queen Elizabeth national park using two alternative routes by road from Uganda’s capital city Kampala. They can use Mityana, Mubende, Kyenjojo, Fort Portal and Kasese route or you can access the park via Masaka, Mbarara and Rubirizi districts.

Air

Both scheduled and chartered flights can be arranged in Kajjansi or Entebbe International airport. Clients can fly to either Kasese airstrip and or Mweya airstrip depending on what is flexible for them.