It prides in a great diversity of habitats that include: lakes, savannah grasslands, forests and wetlands that serve as home to the biggest variety of large mammals in the country.
Located in the southwest about 400 km from Kampala, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s second-largest and most popular conservation area. Its 1,978 square kilometers were first gazetted in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, but its name was changed two years later in honor of a visit by the British monarch.
Two of the park’s unique wildlife experiences are chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge and sighting the unusual tree-climbing lions, which perch in the giant fig and acacia trees of the Ishasha sector. Other highlights are the two-hour boat ride along the Kazinga Channel; guided walks through the dark Maramagambo Forest; and cultural encounters with local communities, like the salt workers at the Lake Katwe evaporation pans.
The major highlight of a visit to the park are the scenic game drives that give you a chance to view even the most elusive of the park’s fauna. The thrilling drives which are best done during the morning hours feature up close viewing of the wildlife which inhabits the park in the comfort of a vehicle.
The park also has other wildlife species like the Uganda kobs, spotted hyenas, warthog, elands, bush babies and smaller primates that loiter in the expansive plains. In total, visitors to the park have an opportunity to spot 95 different species of mammals. Most of the game drives occur on the Mweya Peninsular, the Kasenyi plains, the Kazinga plains, the Katwe fields and the Ishasha plains.
The park is home to about 605 species of birds. This implies that half of the overall 1060 species found in Uganda can be sighted in the park. Queen Elizabeth National Park therefore has one of the highest Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Parkconcentration of bird species in the world. This is a dreamland for birders because birds are all over the place. What makes the park so attractive to birds is that it is home to several water bodies, swamps, forests, gorges, craters and other physical features.
Some of the birds likely to grace your photographic memories include the; Sedge warbles, Papyrus canary, the martial eagle, Pink backed Pelican, Yellow throated Cuckoo, and the Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, all which inhabit the park’s expansive grasslands, forests and wetlands
Not every day do you see a lion climbing a tree, in fact it was considered a safe bet to climb one if you ever found yourself being chased by one. Not while in Ishasha sector though, a region comprising a portion of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, lions perched up on acacia and fig trees are an enchanting sight to behold.
The tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park are one of the main attractions for international travelers to Uganda. Lions naturally spend most of their time on A safari in Queen Elizabeth National Parkthe ground but the ones in the Ishasha sector of the Queen Elizabeth national park deviate from the norm. They spend most of their day on top of trees. It is why they are called tree climbing lions. Science has not yet found out the reason as why these lions climb trees but some scholars think they do so to avoid being bitten by the insects/parasites which are normally on the ground. Tree climbing lions are very rare and the other notable places to see them is Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania and Kruger National Park in South Africa. Games drives to see tree climbing lions are carried out mid-morning or early in the afternoon after the lions have hunted.
The chimpanzees in Kyambura are habituated meaning they have been accustomed to human presence and this does not deter them from going on with their activities.
The Kyambura gorge is a large valley which is covered by an underground tropical rain-forest. The forest teams with wildlife but chimpanzees Top attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Parkare the key attraction. Chimps are one of the most intelligent animals in the world. They are the closest relatives to humans along with bonobos. The chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth national park hide deep inside the gorge and never come out into the savanna for fear of predators.
During the cruise, one gets to enjoy the various sights and sounds that the park’s rich aquatic life extravagantly offers. Besides the large hippopotamuses taking their dips in the waters, the fierce Nile crocodiles basking lazily on the channel banks for a feel of the warm sun are some of the lifetime experiences you will encounter on the cruise.
The launch cruise starts from Lake Edward and then through the Kazinga channel. It stops at Lake George and then back to the starting point. The launch cruise at the Kazinga Channel is one of the major highlights of a safari in the park because it offers a high concentration of both aquatic Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park Ugandaand savanna mammals coming to drink or take a bath in the water.
The Kazinga channel is 32 kilometers long and connects Lake Edward to Lake George. It takes between 2 to 3 hours to complete the activity
At offthebeathen, we like to make things easy for you. Browse our website for inspiration or pick up the phone. Whether you’re full of ideas or unsure of where to start, we’re here to help. Serial safari-goer or first-time visitor, we’re ready to create your ultimate tailormade itinerary.
Call us or enquire online. Share your wish list and we’ll start planning your adventure.
Your dedicated travel expert will be in touch within 24 hours to start designing your bespoke itinerary.
We won’t stop refining your plans until we get the perfect trip at the best price.
Receive your beathen travel documents, pack your bags and set off on your trip of a lifetime!
