It is really very hard and rare to speak of top national parks in Uganda and East Africa minus mentioning the ‘Medley of Wonders’ – Queen Elizabeth National Park, found in the western region of Uganda. The Park is an ideal traveler’s destination due to its abundance of wildlife and bird life not forgetting its natural beauty. The beautiful Kazinga channel, situated in the heart of the Park, is one of the major bionetworks in the Park that reside/host a large number of animal species, others being; fertile swamps, extensive savanna, natural forests, and various lakes. Look for a reliable local tour company, such as Eco Tours Uganda to book for you an exciting wildlife safari in the Park, but you are always advised to consider advance booking, more especially in the peak season!!
In the Park, you will be able to view four of the famous Africa’s ‘big five’ – lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards, as rhinos in Uganda can only be sighted at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Other notable wildlife species in the Park include; hippos, crocodiles, topis, Uganda Kob and various antelopes, and ten primate species, of course including the common chimpanzees. The Park resides the highest number of bird species (604 bird species) more than any other destination in Uganda. In the Ishasha sector of Queen, lives another surprise – the tree climbing lions which are always seen spending their days resting up in the branches of shady fig trees. Putting aside the remarkable wildlife attraction, Queen Elizabeth National Park has an attractive heritage/ culture history – travelers will have a huge opportunity to visit the local population who are entertaining in terms of local music and cultural dances, all which will leave you yearning for more.
Famous activities in the Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s wildlife safari is an amalgam of professionally crafted safaris comprising of itineraries tailored to suit various activities carried out in the Park. The most popular and enjoyable activities carried out in the park include; game drives in the park to watch multiple wildlife species, chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu forest reserve, bird watching, launch cruise at Kazinga channel, forest walks, views of the craters, river tails and many more. The launch trips on the Kazinga channel offers the most relaxing and fascinating way to view game in the Park.
The 2-hours’ return voyage between Mweya and the channel’s entrance into Lake Edward cruises beside shores lined with resident crocodiles, hippopotamuses and water birds plus the visiting buffaloes, antelopes, and elephants. Being in Queen, it will mean that you are within a close proximity to Bwindi Forest National Park, and it can easily be accessed via the Ishasha sector of Queen to the Buhoma sector of Bwindi. Bwindi offers the best mountain gorilla safari expeditions in the world, as it keeps about half of the total population of the mountain gorillas in the world.
Accommodations
The most ideal lodges and camps to stay at while in Queen, include; Kyambura game lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Hippo safari lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp, Jacana safari lodge, and Kyambura Gorge lodge.