Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park one of the most visited and popular parks located in the western part of Uganda. This is just a few kilometers south of the famous Rwenzori mountains. Queen Elizabeth National Park is an amazing national park that derived its name from the former Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Before that, it was called Kazinga National Park.
Reasons to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park to have an opportunity of doing a wildlife game drive. Game driving normally takes place in Kasenyi plains where you will see wild cats feeding on the large numbers of Uganda kobs and other antelopes.
Some lions have learned to hunt buffaloes, especially in the Ishasha area where visitors can spot the tree-climbing lions. This is one of the highlights and globally famous activities within Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Night game drives offer a unique opportunity to spot nocturnal animals which are more active at night than during the day. So, don’t miss the shy leopards, and primates like pottos or a variety of nocturnal bird species.
A boat cruise along the Kazinga channel is another prime activity that can be done in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The channel stretches to a 40-meter length, joining Lake Edward on the western side and Lake George on the eastern.
The boat trip usually lasts about 2 hours while floating on the water. So, many tourists are pulled to go and experience this while on a Ugandan safari.
A boat trip on the Kazinga channel hosts numerous flora and fauna which you can enjoy seeing while on a cruise. The shores of this channel attract a great number of wild animals like hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and antelopes among others. This makes the channel a superb place that draws many visitors on a wildlife safari in Uganda.
In Rwanda, Akagera National Park represents a true home of wildlife, with an opportunity to enjoy a similar boat safari along Lake Ihema and Lake Rwanyakizinga.
More Reasons to Visit the Park
Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park makes it the best park among the 10 National Parks in Uganda. With more than 600 bird species the park has the second-highest concentration of birds in Africa and the 6th in the whole world.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has the best spotting area for bird lovers. These include a launch cruise on the Kazinga channel which exposes you to such birds as the Great-white and Pink-backed Pelicans. Kyambura George, Lake Katwe area, Mweya peninsular, and Maramagambo forest among others also offer unique birding experiences.
Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park takes place in Kyambura Gorge. The gorge is best known for its primate populace and the main place with habituated chimpanzees in the park. Chimpanzee trekking has attracted many visitors from different destinations, which has made it one of the popular activities within this area.
You can also visit the park to enjoy a hot air balloon safari. This is the best way of experiencing the park at 360 degrees, in an aerial way. The hot air balloon safari usually begins very early in the morning so that you can get an opportunity to see wildlife in big numbers as well as nocturnal animals getting back to their shelters.