Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park is replete with intriguing attractions and activities. Guided walks are available to explore the secluded areas of the Mweya Peninsula, and one can visit the Kazinga Channel, a 40-kilometer waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. A plethora of wildlife is observable along the channel’s shoreline. Notable features within the park encompass the Katwe explosion craters, the Queen’s pavilion, and the equator. In Ishasha, one can observe the tree-climbing lions. Boat rides on the Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee trekking in the Kyambura Gorge, and appreciating the picturesque scenery are also available activities.

Queen Elizabeth National Park may be accessed from Kampala by plane or by car. The park can be accessed from Kampala via the south through Mbarara, a distance of 420 kilometers, or from the north via Fort Portal, a distance of 410 kilometers. The park is served by three airstrips: Kasese, Ishasha and Mweya airport.

This 2,056 square kilometer park was established in 1952 when the two wildlife reserves of Lakes George and Edward were amalgamated to become Kazinga National Park. Two years later, it was renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Uganda. It is one of Uganda’s oldest national parks and has been designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity. This park, together with Kyambura and Kigezi game reserves, ranks among the most diverse ecosystems on the African continent.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is undeniably captivating and merits a visit with family or a significant other; nevertheless, prepare to appreciate everything anew, as the park boasts stunning landscapes and attractions that provide an action-packed trip.

The park receives approximately 1250mm of precipitation, primarily from March to May and again from September to November. The thawing glacial waters of Mountain Rwenzori create an extensive wetland system with two principal lakes: Lake George and Lake Edward. Lake Edward was named by the early explorer Henry Morton Stanley in honor of the Prince of Wales, King Edward VII. The two lakes are connected by a 40-kilometer waterway, bordered by thousands of hippos and many bird species year-round.

The park serves as a sanctuary for both dedicated ornithologists and novice bird watchers. The compilation of avian species encompasses 612 varieties, including the rare Shoe Bill, Martial Eagle, Eagle Owl, Papyrus Gonolek, Lesser and Greater Flamingoes, White-tailed Lark, and Verraux’s Eagle Owl. There are around 95 species of mammals, in addition to countless kinds of butterflies.

Activities to enjoy include a launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel, providing an opportunity to observe animals. You will navigate past substantial groups of hippos and observe diverse wildlife, including colossal elephants near the shoreline. The launch cruise is regarded as the premier tourist activity in the park, conducted in the morning and afternoon. In the open savannah, interspersed with Acacia and Euphorbia trees, one can encounter lions, Uganda kobs, leopards, buffaloes, as well as topi, large forest hogs, and waterbucks.

Visitors gain access to the park via over 200 km of well-maintained tracks, including routes that traverse the famous mating grounds of the Uganda kob. The Kasenyi region, located on the eastern side of the Kasese road, is famous for lions that prey on numerous Uganda kobs, while the iconic tree-climbing lions can be observed lounging in the expansive fig trees of the Ishasha area, approximately 100 km south of the upscale Mweya Safari Lodge.

A significant feature is the Kyambura Gorge, a steep ravine formed by the tumultuous waters of the Kyambura River. It offers a green riverine forest home to the amazing chimpanzees, black & white Columbus monkeys, red tailed monkeys as well as olive baboons.

The park also has one of the largest expanses of tropical forest in Uganda, known as the Maramagambo forest, which translates to “the forest beyond description.” Bat caves provide as habitats for pythons that feast on the bats, and these pythons are readily observable. The park features remarkable crater lakes, with the Katwe Explosion Crater being the most prominent. This cluster of extinct volcanoes located north of the Mweya peninsula can be traversed by the 27 km serpentine crater route, providing spectacular vistas of the craters.