Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park has got great concentrations of biodiversity. It has 95 mammal species making it to have the highest standards compared to other parks in Uganda, 10 species of primate which include; common chimpanzee, blue monkey, vervet monkey, red tailed monkey and L’Hoest’s Monkey, olive baboon and black and white colobus.

Holding that aside, Queen Elizabeth National Park contain 20 predator species which include; side-stripped jackal, leopard, lion and spotted hyena.

Species of Antelope exist in the park including; the Uganda Kob, topi, bushbuck, defassa waterbuck , elusive sitatunga in the papyrus swamps around Lake George while 4 species of duiker thrive in Maramagambo forest.

Elephants and Buffaloes are common in the park. Queen Elizabeth National Park also contain the unique tree climbing lions which thrive in the savannah landscapes of Ishasha marked by spaced short trees. Great concentrations of Hippos and Nile crocodiles thrive along the Kazinga channel.

Birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a habitat to 600 bird species making it the first in Uganda, second on the continent of Africa and 6th on a world scale.

The varying eco-system setting that mark the park poses a rich ground or existence of a range of birds.

The park has savannah, forested and water landscapes that ensures the thriving of many birds that can be encountered on Uganda safari.

The following park areas have got range of birds;
Kasenyi Area. The Kasenyi plains are not only famous for wild game viewing but also great birding opportunities.

The open savannah landscape offer opportunities for encountering a range of birds including; Hooded Vulture, Palm-nut Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Long-created Eagle, Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, Crowned Plover, Temminck’s Courser, Senegal Plover, Rufous napped Lark, African Wattled Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Flappet Lark, White-tailed Lark, Zitting Cisticola, Brown-backed Srub-Robin, Croaking Cisticola, Black-lored Babbler, Grey-capped Warbler, Grey backed Fiscal, Black-crowned Tchagra,Black-headed Gonolek, Pin-tailed Whydah and Fork-tailed Drongo.
The Mweya Peninsula.

This is situated between Lake Edward and Kazinga Channel an offer opportunities of encountering birds like; Diederik Cuckoo, African Mourning Dove, Raptors, Swamp Flycatcher, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Squire-tailed Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar, Red-chested Sunbird, Grey-Headed Kingfisher, Blue-naped Mousebird, Pygmy Kingfisher, Nubian Woodpecker, Little Bee-eater, Martins, Red-capped Lark, Swallows, Swifts, Grey-capped Warbler, Lesser Masked Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Pin-tailed Whydah, Yellow-backed Weaver and Slender-billed Weaver.

Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park

This is a forested area and offers opportunities of encountering the following bird species; Little Grebe, African Finfoot, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Coucal, Yellow bill, Blue-throated Roller, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Black Bee-eater, Barbets, Red-throated Wryneck, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Honey guide Greenbul, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Green Crombec, Dark-capped Warbler, Croaking Cisticola, Broad-tailed Warbler, African Moustached Warbler, Black-headed Batis, Black-and-white Shrike Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, African Paradise Flycatcher, Brubru, Marsh Tchagra, Brown Illadopsis, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Western Black-headed Oriole, Black Bishop and White-breasted Negrofinch.
Katwe Area.

Katwe has concentrations of explosion craters and hollows which make a range of birds to thrive in the water and rocky environments including; Lake Munyanyange has populations of greater and lesser flamingoes.

Other bird species in the area include; Pallid Harrier, Eurasian Mash Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Avocet, Common Greenshank, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Red-capped Lark, Broad-tailed Warbler, African Moustached Warbler, Croaking Cisticola and Southern Red Bishop.

Ishasha Sector. The southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is famous for tree climbing lions also offers good birding opportunities.

Bird species include; Shoebill, Palm-nut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, Long-created Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Grey Kestrel, Helmeted Guineafowl, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Plover, Senegal Plover, African Green Pigeon, Ross’s Turaco, Striped Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Double-toothed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Grey Woodpecker, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Greater Honeyguide, White-browed Robin-Chat, Green Crombec, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Grey-backed Fiscal and Cisticolas.

Lake Kikorongo in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Lake Kikorongo is adjacent to Lake George and contain a range of birds like; Common Squacco Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Shoebill, Sacred Ibis, Knob-billed Duck, Black Crake, African Jacana, Yellow Wagtail, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek White-winged Warbler and Carruther’s Cisticola.

Katunguru Bridge Area. The Katunguru Bridge area connects Kasese and Rubirizi districts and the papyrus swamp that inhabits the area has counts of birds including; Pink-backed Pelican, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Carruther’s Cisticola, Greater Swamp Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek and White-winged Warbler.

Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kazinga Channel is 45km in length and is one of the naural features in Uganda that leaves Uganda safari undertakers in a state of wonder.

The Channel adjoins Lake George in the east and Lake Edward in the west.

Lake George is 258km2 wide and 2.4m deep watered by glaciers that flow from the Rwenzori Mountains. Lake Edward covers 2000km2 and is among the major fresh water lakes of Uganda.

Kazinga channel contain enormous numbers of Hippopotamus and a range of Nile crocodiles which is the second of all world reptiles in terms of size.

The shores of Kazinga channel attract a range of wild life to quench their thirst in the soothing waters that hail fromn the glacial peaks of Ruwenzori Mountains.

Equator in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Holding the birdlife, wild game and water environments aside, Queen Elizabeth National Park is crossed by the world’s main latitude – the Equator that divide the world into the north and south hemispheres which presents photography opportunities and geographical encounters.

Kyambura Gorge Queen Elizabeth National Park

Also referred to as the valley of Apes, Kyambura gorge is located on the eastern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park with counts of Chimpanzees some of which have been habituated for chimpanzee trekking experience.

The gorge has an impressive forest cover that thrives below sea level.

It is 1 km in width and 100m deep with its floor watered by River Kyambura. Regardless of the savannah landscapes that thrive above the gorge, Kyambura gorge has a luxurious mature tropical forest with canopy and chimpanzees thrive in this environment.

Tourist Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park contains the highest number of bird species in Uganda and it is also the second on the continent of Africa and the 6th on the global scale.

The Park offers great opportunities for birding in its areas of Katwe, Mweya peninsula, Maramagambo forest, Ishasha sector, Lake Kikorongo, Katunguru bridge area and Kasenyi area.

Some of the bird species that may be encountered include; Martial Eagle, Papyrus canary, African broad bill, Pink-backed pelican, Black- rumped Buttonquail, lesser and greater flamingoes, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Carruther’s Cisticola, Greater Swamp Warbler, White-winged Warbler, White-browed Robin-Chat, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Green Crombec, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Grey-backed Fiscal and Cisticolas among others. The ideal birding period is 2 – 3 days and birding is best done between December and February.

Chimp Tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura gorge has counts of habituated chimpanzees that form the ground for Chimpanzee trekking experience.

Trekking chimpanzees in Kyambura is a bit strenuous as it includes hiking the steep gorge slopes ascending and descending in search of chimps.

This challenging trek derives an experience of its own making the safari memories to stretch beyond the mere chimps.

The chimp trekking in Kyambura tends to take 1 – 3 hours commencing at 8am and 2pm every day. However, the percentage of encountering chimps in Kyambura is relatively low compared to similar destinations like Kibale National Park.

Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park contains numerous counts of wildlife thus it is an ideal ground for wild game viewing.

The park has four of the big five i.e. lions, leopard, elephant and buffalo. The drive through the channel tracks and Kasenyi tracks offers you chances to encounter the above wildlife species along with antelopes such as Uganda Kob, defassa waterbuck, bushbuck and topi.

Other wildlife species that may be encountered include; side stripped jackals, spotted hyena including primates like olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkey L’Hoest’s Monkey among others.

The Ishasha game drive takes you through the tree climbing lions. The game viewing activity is ideally done in the morning at 6am and 4:30pm in the evening and it tends to take 3 – 4 hours.

Launch Trips in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The 45km long Kazinga Channel offers an ideal ground for launch cruise.

The channel shore line offers good opportunities to view wild game drinking water including elephants, buffaloes and antelopes.

The Hippos and Nile crocodiles thrive in the channel waters and offer impressive encounters throughout the whole launch experience.

About 60 species of birds thrive on the channel shores thus providing good birding encounter. Kazinga channel connects Lakes Edward and George and the launch cruise enables you to explore its whole setting.

The UWA launch departs at 3pm and 5pm every day while the private launch departs 2pm and 4pm daily lasting 2 hours.

Experiential Tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park also offers experiential activities that can be encountered by travellers on Uganda safari.

These range from Hippo census to Mongoose tracking and Predator tracking such as lions. These activities tend to take 1 – 3 hours and normally done early in the morning, evening and occasionally at night.

The travelers have opportunity of getting closer to wildlife than other ordinary game drives and are also allowed to participate in monitoring the movements of migrant species such as mammals and birds that enter Queen Elizabeth National Park with the use of locator devices.

These experiential activities are still new and thus can thrill the travellers that prefer new encounters.

Cultural Encounters in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Different tribal communities surround Queen Elizabeth National Park providing a fertile ground for arrange of cultural encounters. Some of these include;
Leopard Village.

This is close to Muhokya village covering a land surface of 3 acres at the margin of northern Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The village features traditional huts of Basongora, Bakonzo and Banyabingi. They have interesting performances and crafts.
Kikorongo Women Community.

This allows you to explore the life in Kikorongo village. The encounter opens you to music dance and drama and traditional fire making practice.

The events are followed by themed interpretation from the knowledgeable local guide. The visitors can participate in recycling and craft making by the local women.

You can take for yourself a craft souvenir.
Katwe Tourism Information Centre (KATIC). This is an encounter to the salt lake. The activity talks you through the process of salt formation to extraction, processing, packaging and distribution.

You will explore how the local people have developed their livelihood around this natural resource. Cultural demonstrations and performances can also be explored.

Nyanz’ibiri Cave Community. This offers the scenic views of explosion craters surrounded by chanting sounds of cranes and eagles.

The visitors can explore this Lake with clear waters on a canoe ride amidst sights of primates like monkeys and amazing flora.

The cultural museum where traditional tools are stored in a traditional hut and a historic cave combine to give you a taste of the local tradition.

Agro-Tour Walk. This is found in the Katara village in the Kichwamba escarpment that marks the eastern wall of the western rift valley.

The activity takes 2 – 3 hours hiking through the farms exploring the local setting and honey harvesting. The activity is ideal in cool morning or in the evening.

Nature Walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Maramagambo forest offers impressive nature walks. The 1km road stretch between Jacana lodge and the visitor center has primary forest which is ideal for unguided walks at free cost except the standard visitation fees.

Monkeys like red ailed monkey, white and black colobus, vervet monkey and rarely the L’Hoest’s Monkey, Chimpanzees and even leopard.

Bird sights may not be missed including; greenbuls, sunbirds, woodpeckers and other rare species.
Three guided walks are conducted in Maramagambo forest commencing from the visitor center which include;

The straight walk takes you around Lake Kyasanduka forest shore and tends to last for less than one hour depending of the traveller’s interest in birds.

A famous walk taking about 90 minutes leads to a cave where enormous numbers of bats thrive alongside a rock python.

The walk to Lake Nyamasingiri is ideal for birders. It takes about half day and offers sights of birds like snowy headed robin chat, chestnut wattle eye and scaly-breasted illadopsis.

Other nature walks are done in Mweya peninsular offering scenic views of Kazinga channel, Lake Edward and the impressive savannah landscapes.

How to Get to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park can be connected to from the following points
Queen Elizabeth National Park can also be accessed on public means.

Buses connect daily from Kampala to Kasese. There are other public means to Katwe and Katunguru trading centers which are very close to the park. From these centers, you can get a private vehicle to connect to your lodge.

Queen Elizabeth National Park can also be connected to by Air travel. Aero link operates scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese and Mweya Airstrips.

Other charter carriers offer the same service from either Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kasese or Mweya Airstrips.