The Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited national park. This park is known for its abundance of wildlife of about 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species but it’s famous for its tree-climbing lions, whose males sport black manes in an area called Ishasha in Rukungiri.
This park lies on 2.056 sq. km of land situated south of the Rwenzori Mountains, bordering Congo and including two lakes, George and Edward, which are connected through the natural Kazinga Channel. It is an ecosystem made of wetland and open savannah areas, at an altitude of 910m at Lake Edward.
Most tourists who come to Uganda visit more than one destination. You can combine your Queen Elizabeth Tours safari with gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi, or tour Murchison Falls National Park.
For relaxation after your wildlife safari, you can visit Ssese Islands but if you are more interested in adventure, take on rafting on the Nile, chimpanzee trekking in Kibale, Rwenzori Mountains hiking and Mount Elgon hike.
Welcome to Queen Elizabeth National Park information portal. Find all the relevant information about Queen Elizabeth park, getting there, attractions, where to stay, map, tour operators and Uganda safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. safari tours through Murchison Falls Uganda safari company and tours. You will find Queen Elizabeth National Park featured in Forbes Magazine, Huffington Post, African Safari Geographic, CNN, and other prominent magazines.
Species to Encounter in Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Queen Elizabeth records a large number of animals, including 95 mammal species (among them elephants, lions, leopards, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, jackals, spotted hyenas) and 10 primate species, like chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons. The list of birds is of 606 species recorded, possibly the highest in any African National Park and in the world.
Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Launch trip from Mweya along Kazinga Channel for a wonderful wildlife experience: Game drives in Kasenyi Plains (Northern Sector) and in Ishasha (Southern sector, searching for the typical lions climbing the fig’s trees). “Chimpanzee trekking” in Kyambura Gorge and bird watching in Maramagambo Forest.
The Queen Elizabeth national park is the most reliable park in Uganda for lions, which are commonly found on the Kasenyi plains but its most famous for its tree-climbing traits in the Inshasha sector. Huge buffalo and elephant herds are also found in the savannah areas of the park and a significant number of hippos inhabit the Kazinga channels but there is a high chance that they can also be seen outside lodges during the night time.
There are also many interesting antelope species such as Uganda Kob, Topi and Bushbuck. A troop of chimpanzees has been habituated for tracking in the steamy tropical forest of Kyambura gorge and few other primate species such as the black and white colobus monkey. The park also has crocodiles but the chances of catching a leopard are low.
Additionally, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the home of a large number of bird species such as the Collared Pratincole, palm-nut vulture, Pels fishing owl, Shoebill swamp flycatcher, and over 400 other species.
The park’s diverse ecosystem includes Sprawling savanna, Shady, Humid forests, Bushlands, lush forests, and sparkling lakes which make it ideal for classic big game, ten primate species, and over 600 species of birds
The park has a variety of entertaining and mind-blowing activities to seal the whole experience. These include the launch trips on the Kazinga channel that gives visitors the chance to cruise just meters from hundreds of enormous hippos and buffalos while elephants linger on the shorelines. In addition, there is a satisfactory game drive experience.
The tracks through Kasenyi, the north of Kazinga Plains and the Inshasha sector offer guaranteed buffalo antelope and elephant sightings as well as warthogs and baboons. These take place early morning and at dusk incase one is interested in tracking down a pride of lions.
The park offers other activities such as chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge, hiking and nature walks through the Maramagambo forest where visitors can spot a variety of tree species. There are also caves tucked beneath the shady canopy of the Maramagambo forest where visitors can observe resident bats as well as pythons from a gazette room.
Visitors also have the chance to meet the cultural community where they get the opportunity to experience the energetic dances of the Kikorongo equator cultural performers, watch workers harvesting salt on Lake Katwe as well as visit traditional huts and agricultural villages
While visiting Queen Elizabeth national park, you rest assured that your accommodation will be taken care of at various lodges which include, Queen Elizabeth Mweya safari lodge, bush lodge, Enganzi game lodge, Kasenyi safari camp, Pumba safari cottages, Wild tracks overland camp, Engiri game lodge, Parkview safari lodge, Buffalo safari lodge, Topi lodge, Irungu forest safari lodge, Ihamba lakeside safari lodge, Tembo safari lodge, The Baboon safari resort and a few other lodges.
In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a must-visit while in Uganda because there are few reserves in the world that can boast such a high biodiversity rating and with landscapes including savannah and lush forest.