Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park carries pride as the second largest national park in Uganda. It serves classic and raw wildlife safari experience that forever stays with most travelers. The Ugandan wildlife variety is outstanding, from chimpanzees to Uganda kobs, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, lions, leopards and many bird species.

Queen Elizabeth National is a vibrant tourism hub and the most visited National park in Uganda. Visitors can enjoy both morning and night game drives, in the massive Savannah of Queen Elizabeth. Game drives mixed with boat cruises at Kazinga Channel where visitors sight several aquatic animals like the crocodiles and hippos. Sighting wildlife in Queen Elizabeth is so consistent that travelers sight a variety of animals, minute after the other.  

BRIEF HISTORY. 

The area of Queen Elizabeth was never gazetted as Kazinga National Park until 1952. For there was a need first to protect it in the 1930s. Two years later after it was being gazetted, in 1954, Queen Elizabeth II of England visited the park. This is where deriving its name in her honor. 

LOCATION OF THE PARK.

Situated in western part of Uganda, just near Kasese town, Queen Elizabeth is just 400 km from Kampala City. Moreover, the park’s location paves way for travelers to encounter many other tourism hubs in western Uganda like Bwindi, Lake Mburo National Park and more.

WHAT MAKES THE PARK STAND OUT.

 The massive wildlife abundance makes the park stand out. Queen Elizabeth landscapes are extremely mind blowing, and this explains the rapid action of the Big 4 wildlife. The vast area of Queen Elizabeth covers about 1,978 square kilometers across the western Rift valley. All the big 4 animals, except rhinos come in a high variety with high sighting chances, herds of buffaloes and elephants can be seen roaming savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth, rhinos only find their home at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, but the lions especially the tree climbing lions can be spotted in the Southern Ishasha sector. Leopards, along with over 600 bird species also shelter in the park. 

Both Lake Edward and Lake George keep the park active, given that they act as a magnet for wildlife, especially during the dry season. 

POPULAR ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS.

Game drives.

Game drives at Queen Elizabeth NP take the lead. Travelers can spot Uganda kobs and lions in the plains of Kasenyi or Ishasha sector for its tree-climbing lions. Spotting elephants, buffaloes are effortless.

Boat cruise.

Kazinga Channel boat cruises hit a sweet spot for many visitors, crocodiles, elephants drinking at the water banks, and buffalo herds can be sighted. Birders often praise how outstanding the bird species like African fish eagles, pelicans, or kingfishers are easily spotted.

Birding.

There are over 600 bird species that find a home in Queen Elizabeth, making it perfect for birders. Visiting Queen Elizabeth is packed with a check in at lake Katwe, where travelers interact with local communities and learn how local salt is mined. 

HOW TO GET TO QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK?

From the country’s capital city, Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the far west the scenic road drive journey takes about 7 hours full of natural endowments. The scenic drive is a tourism experience itself, as it takes travelers through other tourism hubs like the equator, Lake Mburo National Park and Kalinzu forest.

Short domestic flights are also available where visitors can take flights to Mweya or Kasese Airstrip before taking just a short transfer to the wildlife paradise. 

The most exciting part is that the distance from Bwindi, home to over 400 gorillas, is as short as just 2 to 3-hour drive, offering visitors with a double full wildlife blend.

WHEN SHOULD ONE VISIT QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK?  

Since it is an active wildlife spot, Queen Elizabeth is an all year-round tourism destination. Weather is power since it can either smoothen or mess up your whole Uganda safari. The best time to visit the spot is the dry season. June to September is the long dry season and gives the most spectacular wildlife views.

Animals pull in and gather where water sources are, especially around the Kazinga Channel making sightings effortless. The period also offers firmer roads easing game drives. The short dry season in Uganda is from December to February and also offers better game viewings with fewer crowds compared to the long dry period. The dry period is the perfect window to spot the tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector, given that lions tend to hide in trees to escape heat. 

March to May and October to November bring wet rainy seasons, the periods can be tricky even though they offer lush green landscapes and good birding activities. Roads during this season can become slippery, hard to pass and wildlife challenging to spot. More rains come in April and May. Boat cruises can be carried out the whole year but during the dry season, waters are calm to offer the most exciting boat safari.