Exclusive 4-day Queen Elizabeth National Park safari
This 4-day Queen Elizabeth National Park safari lets you enjoy an exploration of Uganda’s wildlife. This 4-day Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari is an exceptional safari region that is home to nearly 100 mammal species and an impressive 606 bird species, including elephants, numerous hippos, the elusive giant forest hog, and the striking Uganda Kobs, all frequently observed near the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula, which features a stunning waterfront location beneath the Rwenzori Mountains. Tree-climbing lions inhabit the distant Ishasha Sector; habituated chimpanzees inhabit the Kyambura Gorge; a captivating variety of forest monkeys and birds inhabit the Maramagambo Forest; and flocks of flamingos reside on the crater lakes.
Day 1: Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 1 of 4-day Queen Elizabeth National Park safari, your guide/driver will collect you at 7:30 am from your hotel or apartment and transport you to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Fort Portal. The Rwenzori Mountains sit beneath Fort Portal. Pause at the Equator crossing in Kasese for photos, accompanied by lunch throughout the journey. Next, proceed towards Queen, taking in the picturesque landscape—herds of long-horned Ankole cattle, tea plantations, the Rift Valley escarpment, open grasslands and wooded savanna. Spend your evening meal and night at either the luxurious Mweya Safari Lodge or the more affordable Ihamba Safari Lodge. Lunch and Dinner Meal Plan.
Day 2: Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Commence your day with a cup of coffee. An early morning wildlife drive along Kasenyi and Queens Mile allows tourists to observe elephants, buffalo, waterbucks, warthogs, lions, Uganda Kobs, lakes, and a diverse array of birds. Return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch. Following lunch, a two-hour boat excursion down the renowned Kazinga Channel presents an opportunity to observe hippos, buffalo, kob, elephants, warthogs, and other wildlife. This journey also provides visitors the opportunity to observe magnificent birds. Enjoy an evening meal and spend the night at either the luxurious Mweya Safari Lodge or the more affordable Ihamba Safari Lodge. A comprehensive meal plan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 3: Safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park-Ishasha
Reflect on yesterday’s memories while savoring your breakfast, preparing for a guided primate trek in Kyambura Gorge in search of habituated chimpanzees. Follow the primate’s path, traversing the expansive and profound desiccated craters populated by savannah grasses and acacia trees. The journey traverses the distinctive western rift valley escarpment and the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you will go on an additional wildlife drive in pursuit of tree-climbing lions during the afternoon and evening. You will spend the night and have dinner at either the luxurious Ishasha Wilderness Camp or the mid-range Ishasha Jungle Lodge. Dietary schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 4: Ishasha - Kampala/Entebbe
We will embark on guided bush walks early in the morning to foster a close connection with nature. In the late morning, we will embark on a game drive to observe the tree-climbing lions, and then return to Kampala, stopping for lunch en route. We will pause at the Igongo Cultural Centre to explore the lifestyles of the Ankole and Bahima and then proceed to the Equator in Uganda. We’ll drop you off at your hotel or residence in Kampala or Entebbe. Dietary schedule: breakfast, lunch.
The 4-Day Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari package includes:
- Transport utilizing a four-wheel-drive station wagon
- The itinerary includes comprehensive lodging and meals.
- We took a two-hour boat excursion along the Kazinga Channel.
- I was accompanied by a primate trek through Kyambura Gorge.
- Entrance fees for the park
- Subsistence allowance for driver/guide.
- Lunches during transit
- Fees for ranger guides
- Three game drives
- Visit the Igongo Cultural Center.
- Hired Ishasha AMREF Medical Emergency Evacuation Insurance.
Nevertheless, the bundle omits personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, gratuities, telephone charges, cigars, and similar items.
When is the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park: Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda is the second largest national park in the nation. Located near the equator in western Uganda, it encompasses the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. It is among the most frequented national parks in Uganda, boasting rich biodiversity that includes 95 mammal species, such as elephants, bushbucks, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs, leopards, lions, buffaloes, hippos, and mongooses, as well as primate species like chimpanzees, baboons, and red-tailed monkeys, in addition to over 645 bird species.
When is the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda is predominantly characterized by savannah vegetation, comprising savannah grassland and savannah woodland. The optimal period for travelers to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda is during the dry season. The park experiences two rainy seasons from March to May and October to November, as well as two dry seasons from June to September and January to February.
Arid Period
The arid season is the optimal period for visiting the park. The temperatures in the park typically fluctuate between 28 degrees Celsius during the day and decrease to 15 degrees Celsius at night. During this period, the park’s roads will exhibit reduced mud, facilitating navigation. In the dry season, animals are easily observable due to the short grass in the park, as they congregate around water bodies to drink, providing clear photographic opportunities. Additionally, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge will be successful, as the trekking trails will be accessible.
However, the dry season brings significant crowds to the park, coinciding with peak season, leading to a surge in visitors. Consequently, this leads to overcrowding and elevated accommodation costs, with facilities becoming fully booked rapidly. Activities with limited visitor capacity, such as lion research tracking on the Kasenyi plains, will be competitive; therefore, advance booking is essential to avoid disappointment.
Although it is the dry season, rain may occur at any time of day, so tourists should prepare a variety of goods for the safari, including a hat and sunglasses, warm clothing for the typically cool mornings and nights, a waterproof rain jacket, and hiking shoes, among others.
Rainfall Period
The wet season in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, occurs from March to May and October to November. The rainy season, often referred to as the low season, is characterized by substantial rainfall, with occasional all-day drizzles. In the wet season, the roads within the national park become muddy, slippery, and difficult to traverse. Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park and nature excursions in Maramagambo Forest are challenging due to muddy and slippery trails.
Visitors can also visit the park in the wet season when the vegetation is lush. The grazing animals will disperse throughout the park, and the reduced crowds will offer an opportunity for extensive exploration. Lodges will offer discounts, making this an optimal time for birdwatching, as the abundance of food and fruit attracts migratory birds from Europe and North Africa.
During the wet season, travelers are encouraged to take various items for the safari, including long-sleeved shirts and trousers, hiking shoes, garden gloves, a waterproof rain jacket or poncho, a warm sweater, a camera, and binoculars, among others, to ensure a successful safari in Uganda.
Points of interest in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park presents an array of distinctive and captivating features for travelers on a safari in Uganda, including Mweya Peninsula, Kazinga Channel, Ishasha Sector, Kasenyi Plains, Kyambura Gorge, and Maramagambo Forest.