Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the premier Uganda safaris park was established in 1952 and originally, it was known as Kazinga Channel National Park before its name changed to currently Queen Elizabeth National Park in 1954. Today, this safari park sits in an area of 1978sq.kms which makes it the second largest park after Murchison Falls National Park. It is composed of diverse habitats including woodland, savanna grassland, crater lakes, forests where its huge profusion of wildlife are inhabited.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is positioned in western Uganda and it is accessible between 5 and 6-hours’ drive from Kampala capital city. There are 4 districts that surround this safari park and they include Kamwenge, Kasese, Rubirizi and Rukungiri. This wildlife safari protected area is named after the Queen Elizabeth II of England and currently, it is part of the extensive Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (QECA) which also incorporates the Kigezi Wildlife Reserve, Maramagambo Forest and Kyambura Wildlife Reserve.
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
What distinguishes Queen Elizabeth National Park from the rest of the Uganda safaris destinations is its distinct wildlife species. They include olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, warthogs, elephants, lions plus the tree climbing lions, hippos, leopards, giant forest hogs, water bucks, bush bucks, banded mongoose, bush pigs, black and white colobus monkeys to mention but a few.
Birdlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park allow you to sight some of the 620 bird species. They include black rumped button quail, white tailed lark, Chaplin’s flycatchers, verreaux’s eagle, bar tailed godwit, pin tailed whydah, slender tailed nightjar, African mourning dove, swamp flycatcher, collared pratincole, grey headed kingfishers, flamingos, African skimmer, great blue turacos, grey winged robin chat, palm nut vultures, papyrus gonoleks, Pel’s fishing owl, pink backed pelicans, African broadbill, African finfoot, yellow bellied wattled eye, common sand martin, Heuglins gull, red chested sunbird, black bee-eaters, Caspian plovers, rufous bellied heron, white winged tern, yellow throated cuckoo and a lot more.
Aside from wildlife species, Queen Elizabeth National Park is also famous for other unique attractions including explosion craters, Lake George, Katwe Salt Lake, Mweya peninsula, Kyambura Gorge and many more.
Activities to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are a reason why most visitors on a Uganda tour visit this safari park. Tourists have opportunity to explore Kasenyi sector and Ishasha sectors with a chance to see variety of savanna dwellers including African bush elephants, buffaloes, lions (plus the tree climbing lions), leopards, waterbucks, banded mongoose, bush bucks, birds, Uganda Kobs to mention but a few. Visitors on Uganda safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park can embark on a day game drive or night game drive.
Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park involves birder to sight diverse bird species such as white tailed lark, Chaplin’s flycatchers, verreaux’s eagle, bar tailed godwit, pin tailed whydah, slender tailed nightjar, African mourning dove, swamp flycatcher, collared pratincole, grey headed kingfishers, flamingos, African skimmer, great blue turacos, grey winged robin chat, palm nut vultures, papyrus gonoleks, Pel’s fishing owl, common sand martin, Heuglins gull, red chested sunbird, pink backed pelicans, African broadbill, African finfoot, yellow bellied wattled eye, black bee-eaters, Caspian plovers, rufous bellied heron, white winged tern, yellow throated cuckoo and many more.
Boat cruise/launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park
A boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park is conducted via Kazinga channel and it rewards visitors on Uganda safaris with incredible sight over hippos, basking crocodiles, water birds plus elephants, water bucks and a lot more.
Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park is carried out in Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest. A trek to see chimpanzees rewards trekkers with magical encounter and presents a great opportunity for you to learn about their daily behavior and take photos. These apes share over 98% of their DNA with humans and on a chimpanzee trek, you certainly get a chance to witness how close we are to these magnificent creatures while in their natural habitat.
Guided nature walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park
A guided nature walk in Queen Elizabeth National Park takes you via varied in and around the Mweya peninsular, Maramagambo Forest, Ishasha River and other. It presents you a great chance to spot out different bird species, primates and a lot more.
Cultural experience
The nearby communities to visit for cultural tour around Queen Elizabeth National Park include Kikorongo Women’s Community, Nyanzi’Ibiri cave community. Other activities to engage in on Uganda safaris in this safari park include lion tracking experience, hippo census and many more.
When to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be done at time of this park. However, game viewing is perfectly conducted in June, July, August, September and December, January, February. These are the dry months of the year and if you are interested in bird watching then the rainy months are the best to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park that is March, April, May and October, November.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The key safari lodges to consider for a night stay on Uganda safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park include;
- Mweya Safari lodge
- Kyambura Gorge Lodge
- Kasenyi Safari Camp
- Katara Lodge
- Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge
- Ishasha Wilderness Camp
- Ishasha Jungle Lodge.
How to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park
By road, you can reach Queen Elizabeth National Park from Kampala/Entebbe through Masaka to Mbarara to Bushenyi route. You will spend about 6 hours and the other route takes you from Entebbe/Kampala through Mityana-Mubende-Fort Portal to Kasese then you connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park, about 5-6 hours’ drive.
By air, it is possible for you to take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Mweya airstrip or Kasese airstrip.
Safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park
3 days Queen Elizabeth and Ngamba Island tour
4 days gorillas and Queen Elizabeth safari
6 days Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari tour