Queen Elizabeth National Park together with Kyambura and Kigezi Wildlife Reserves form one of the most diverse ecosystems in Africa. The melting glacier waters of the Rwenzori Mountains create a vast wetland system comprising of two main lakes, George and Edward, as well as the connecting Kazinga Channel. Thousands of hippos populate these lake shorelines. Open savannah dotted with Acacia and Euphorbia trees provide habitat for elephants, lions, leopards, Uganda kobs and big herds of buffaloes. Ten primate species including chimpanzees are present. Among the many animals frequently seen are giant forest hog, waterbucks, topi, hyenas and crocodiles. The park boasts of more bird species than any other park in Africa.
Queen Elizabeth National Park was designated as a Biosphere Reserve with the ultimate goal of integrating human activities with the conservation and protection of wildlife, wetlands and natural resources. There are eleven fishing village enclaves within the Protected Area.
Queen Elizabeth National Park can be accessed from Kampala either via Masaka and Mbarara or via Fort Portal. The distance to the park is approximately 467 km. The Ishasha sector of the park may also be reached from Kabale. There are three airfields serving the park: at Kasese, Ishasha and Mweya Peninsula.
Queen Elizabeth national park has several attractions that lead to several activities to be conducted here and they include;
Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
This entails driving through the park for the purpose of viewing animals. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are best done in the early morning and late afternoon hours. The park has over 200 km of well-maintained game driving tracks that give visitors access to the park’s game. Some of the tracks pass through areas with large herds of Uganda kob. Lions can often be seen searching for prey and the legendary giant forest hog is often spotted roaming the bush. When it is hot, large herds of elephant make their way down to the water. Buffalos and bushbucks can be found on the Channel track and adjacent circuits. The drive is a spectacular experience!
Launch Trips to the Kazinga Channel
This involves a boat trip along the hippo crowded banks of Kazinga Channel that gives visitors an exclusive wildlife experience. Visitors get real experience of yawning hippos surrounded by a huge numbers of migrant and resident water birds; the boat puts one right in the heart of nature. Many buffaloes rest in the water while the big herds of elephant enjoy themselves drinking and playing along the Channel banks. Crocodiles have become a common sight and occasionally leopards may be seen.
Bird Watching
Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts of 606 bird species. The park offers visitors a good chance of spotting Uganda’s most sought after bird, the prehistoric looking Shoebill stork. Other key species they can be spotted include: the African fish eagle, martial eagle, papyrus gonolek, African skimmer and many more.
Maramagambo Forest
Many surprises await you in the extensive Maramagambo rain forest. A variety of short, medium and long guided nature walks are offered. Pythons are often observed in the crevices of the Bats Cave floor using the bats as a source of food. The cave is near the picturesque Blue Lake and Hunters Cave. Other trails lead into the heart of the forest surrounding tranquil crater lakes and are home to wild chimps, other primates and many forest birds.
Ishasha Sector
Ishasha is a true pearl in the southern part of the park. Idyllic campsites frequently visited by colobus and other monkeys are situated along the winding Ishasha River. The famous tree-climbing lions can be spotted on large fig trees in this part of the park. Topi, Uganda kobs and buffalos graze in the acacia studded savannah.
Traditional Salt Works
Visit one of the oldest industries in Uganda at the enclave of Lake Katwe town. Since the 14th century, salt has been mined by traditional methods and still in use today. Salt production peaks during the dry season.
Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
This is found in the eastern part of the Protected Area and supports similar mammals to the rest of the park. It has three saline crater lakes, which attract large numbers of flamingos – not found anywhere else in Uganda. The steep Kyambura Gorge, formed by the turbulent waters of the roaring Kyambura River, provides a lush riverine forest, home to chimpanzees, black and white colobus and red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons and other primates as well as plenty of forest birds. A guided nature walk takes visitors into the gorge and offers a great chance to track habituated chimps in their natural habitat.
