Queen Elizabeth National Park

Overview

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular and accessible savanna reserve. It is primarily associated with open savanna, studded in some areas with a dense cover of acacia and euphorbia trees, but it also embraces large areas of swamp around Lake George.

The park also embraces carter lakes where by at least ten crater lakes lie within the park, including a highly accessible cluster immediately north of the main road to Mweya Lodge.

Tree Climbing Lion in Queen Elizabeth Park

Over 95 mammal species have been recorded in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National park boasts of a variety of big game like; lions, elephants, buffaloes, Hyenas, Hippos, bushbucks, the comical warthogs and rare leopards.

The park harbors over 10 primates including chimpanzees, velvets, blue, red tailed and L’Host Monkeys and others. Around 20 predators are found in the park, including lions, side stripped jackals, hyenas, leopards and others. Antelopes common to the park include Uganda Kob, Defassa water bucks, Topi and many more.

Birds

Over 610 species of birds have been recorded in QENP, possibly the highest total for any national park in Africa, if not in the world. This multitude of bird species make the park a superb safari territory This total includes 54 raptors and water birds species resident in Uganda and a variety of woodland and forest birds, the latter largely confined to the Maramagambo forest. Birding any where in the park is good , but the Mweya region stands out for the myriad water birds on the Kazinga channel, whereas the riparian forest at Ishasha is a good place to see more unusual species.

Drive to Queen Elizabeth National park. You will drive along the Rwenzori ranges and Savanna grasslands.

Getting There

There are two main routes from Kampala, both of which work well for visiting queen Elizabeth either as part of longer itinerary or as a stand lone destination. You can use the fort portal road that goes Via Mityana and Mubende. The other road is via Masaka and Mbarara. The park lies 5-6 hours from Kampala on a surfaced road via Mbarara, and can be reached on a dirt road from Bwindi.

Queen Elizabeth Safaris

In the Queen Elizabeth National Park is potential to view lions relaxing and elephants ambling and giant forest hog snuffing. Any visitor to this park cannot fail to be amazed by the enormous diversity in each kingdom of creation. It is simply a visual feast. Take a boat trip, a game drive, a woodland walk or simply enjoy any of the myriad stunning views. You will also see crater lakes filled with huge flocks of flamingo. The National Park provides an unforgettable and unique experience on a single Uganda Safari. Common safaris in Queen Elizabeth are;

• Chimpanzee tracking tours

• Birding tours

• Primate watching safaris

• Wildlife safaris

• Game drives

• Kazinga channel launch cruises

Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth

At Mweya safari campsite is a superb up market lodge in a serene environment the offers good relaxations to the park visitors. There is also plenty more safari accommodation in neighbouring Kasese.