Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park : Queen Elizabeth is one of Uganda’s understandably national parks and the most popular tourist destination. The park is the second largest country’s national parks and was gazetted in 1952. The park was named after Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate her visit to Uganda in 1954. It was originally known as Kazinga National Park, but was later renamed in her Honor. The park is also one of the largest protected areas in Uganda; it covers an area of approximately 1,978 square kilometres. The park extends from Lake George in the northeast to Lake Edward in the southwest and includes the Kazinga Channel connecting the two lakes. Queen Elizabeth Park is known for its wildlife viewing, including African buffalo, Ugandan Kob, hippopotamus, giant forest hog, warthog, Nile crocodile, African bush elephant, African leopard, lion, and chimpanzee. It is home to 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. The area around Ishasha in Rukungiri District is famous for its tree-climbing lions. The park gives you spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, Kazinga Channel, the large area of the swamp, the beauty of open savannah around Lake George, the beautiful crater lakes, and a lot more.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is surrounded by several ethnic groups, including the Bakonzo and Basongora people. Cultural experiences such as visits to local communities and cultural performances provide insights into the traditional way of life in the region. Like many other national parks in Africa. Queen Elizabeth National Park faces conservation challenges, including poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflicts. This article provides a guide to some of the amazing safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Game drives experience
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park offer unforgettable experiences of wild-life encounters. 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 exciting drives, which are best done during the morning hours, feature up-close viewing of the wildlife that inhabits the park in the comfort of a vehicle. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a diverse array of wildlife. During the game drives, you could spot an elephant, the largest land mammal, skilfully using its trunk to feed, a lion preying on an antelope, or a hyena patiently waiting to devour the lion’s leftovers from a distance. Different groups of animals, like buffalo herds and Uganda Kobs, traverse the game park all day long. Warthogs, leopards, and the giant forest hog are among the others you are very likely to meet on your game drive.
Additionally, one of the highlights of game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the chance to see the famous tee-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. These unique lions are known for their habitat of resting and lounging in the branches of fig trees, offering rare and remarkable sights for visitors.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge is the main highlight of any trip to the reserve. Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge is a captivating adventure that allows visitors to observe these fascinating primates in their natural habitat. The chimpanzee tracking adventure begins in the morning with guidance on how to track these fascinating primates, expectations, as well as carry-on items and safe precautions. After the briefing, you will be guided to trek through the Kyambura Gorge lush forest in search of these captivating habituated chimpanzee’ groups. Upon encountering a habituated chimpanzee group, you’ll have the opportunity to observe these intelligent primates up close as they go about their daily activities, such as playing, grooming, foraging for food, and carrying their young ones. You will also have the opportunity to take photographs and observe their behaviour.
Bird watching
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s top birding spots. It is a haven for over 600 bird species, making it one of the premier birding destinations in East Africa. The park’s diverse habitats, including the savannah grasslands, wetlands, forests, and waterways, support a wide range of bird life, from colorful resident species to migratory birds. During your bird-watching safari in the park, bird-watchers have the opportunity to spot several endemic and rare bird species, such as sedge warblers, Papyrus canary, the martial eagle, pink-backed pelicans, yellow-throated cuckoos, the Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, shoebill storks, kingfishers, and African fish eagles, among others, allocated to different birding spots within the park.
Boat cruises along the Kazinga channel
Boat cruises along the Kazinga Channel are one of the most popular and memorable activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A Boat cruise safari offers visitors a unique perspective on the park’s wildlife and landscapes. During a boat cruise safari, you’ll have excellent opportunities to observe hippos basking in the sun and wallowing in the water. Crocodiles can also be spotted along the banks of the channel, as well as a chance to spot a diverse array of water birds like kingfishers, African fish eagles, herons, egrets, cormorants, and animals like buffaloes and elephants, among others.
Exploring Lake Katwe
Lake Katwe is located outside the park and is renowned for its salty water and salt mining. Lake Katwe offers a unique and fascinating experience, allowing visitors to delve into the cultural heritage of one of Uganda’s most renowned salt lakes. The lake is home to several historic sites associated with the salt mining industry, including ancient salt wells, tools, and artifacts used by early salt miners. During your visit to this fascinating lake, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in different activities such as salt mining, birding along the shores of the lake, cultural encounters, and baying and selling of salt products, among others.
Cultural encounters
Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda offers a rich tapestry of cultural environments alongside its stunning natural beauty. The park is surrounded by hospitalized communities and offers guided tours that provide deep insight into local cultures, traditions, and ways of life. During your cultural encounter here, you’ll have the opportunity to visit nearby schools, markets, craft centres, villages, and many more. You will also have the chance to witness traditional music, dance, and storytelling performances by local communities, among others.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information and inquiries about the top reasons why tourists should visit Uganda and book with our tours and travel companies, such as Achieve Global Safaris, who offer the best tour packages while on your safari in Uganda.
