Queen Elizabeth National Park

Ishasha Sector | Game Drives | Launch Cruise | Kazinga Channel | Kyambura Gorge

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest national park in Uganda and the park is referred to as ‘A Medley of Wonders’. The park is one of the country’s most famous tourist destination. Queen Elizabeth national park is situated in the far western side of the country, sited firmly in the low rift valley plains set against the jagged mountains of the moon back dropping the extensive savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands.

This extensive and diverse ecosystem land lies suitably along the equator line, waving it to a truly tropical verge besides the in-depth obeisant East African rift valley. The park is the second largest conservation area in Uganda on a vast land of about 1978 km² which was gazette way back in 1952 as Kazinga national park, and renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth national park is evident of the ancient volcanic eruptive processes considering as many dozens of extraordinary craters curved dramatically into the rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga channel that connects the Lakes Edward and George that form the papyrus swamps of the Ramsar wetland site which are home to a number of beautiful fauna and flora.

The park is mother to the Kyambura gorge that births Kyambura River which flows through this thick “underground forest”, 100 meters below the Kichwamba escarpment which is a hiding of Chimpanzees and a number of greater and lesser flamingoes. The park is as well grounded by the Maramagambo forest laying buzzing primates, including chimpanzees, baboons and several monkey species aligned with numerous bird species including the rare forest flycatchers, while- napped pigeons and the striking Rwenzori Turacco.

Queen Elizabeth national park habits the enormous big Game, 10 primate species and close to 600 species of birds driving you all south, north, east and west to come close to such astonishing nature. Having had all the big game, special left are the rare Tree climbing Lions in the Ishasha plains up the fig trees ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob.

How to get there

Queen Elizabeth national park can be accessed by road from Kampala to its south via Kampala- Mbarara-Bushenyi high way leading to the center of the park, just 22km from Mweya peninsular, and the main tourism hub. It is 420km all the way. One can also use the shorter route via Fort Portal town to the north of the park which covers 410km.

The park can as well be accessed by air transport using a charter flight from Entebbe international Airport or Kajansi airstrip near Kampala to existing airstrips of Kasese, Mweya and Ishasha.

Activities

Birding is the number one activity, classified as Important Birding Area (IBA) by Birding International, Queen Elizabeth national park is a homes to over 600 bird species which mark’s the park as the greatest birding park in the all East African national parks.

Game drives gives the tourist the great African safari experience on the several tracks that are evident of the African elephants, buffalos, lions, kob and many others.

Chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura Gorge and its atmospheric “underground” rainforest is another lovely venture in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Launch trips on the amazing Kazinga channel which is an oasis for many of the fascinating species that inhabit the park and hence the tourist will have a chance to cruise just meters from hundreds of Hippos and buffalos while elephants linger on the shore line.

Hiking/nature walks, bring you close to explore the landscapes and wildlife of Queen Elizabeth all on foot.

Cultural heritage and nature trail, wildlife research tours and caves are the other many activities that can entirely be engaged in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Accommodation

A number of Luxury, Midrange and Budget accommodation facilities align all around the park by names of Ishasha jungle lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Mweya hostels, Hotel margarita, Ihamba safari lodge, king fisher lodge K Kichwamba, Bush camp, Katara lodge, Queen Elizabeth safari camp, Lake Chibwera camp, Kyambura tented camp and many others.

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