Set against a locale of the Ruwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth national park is surely an understated gem and a staple of Uganda’s wildlife safaris. Queen Elizabeth national park is Uganda’s premier national park sheltering the highest population of wild and birdlife in the country. The park boosts in spectacular array of habitats and landscapes with wildlife lovers and birders alike. The landscapes are showered with crater lakes, open savannah grasslands, swamps and forests all, which favor the habitation of various animals and bird in terms of food and habitation. Queen Elizabeth national park is Uganda’s second largest savannah national park covering a total land area of 1,978 kilometers sheltering the highest population of wildlife in Uganda. Popular attractions and activities in Queen Elizabeth national park include among others:
Kazinga channel and boat cruise
This is a 40 kilometers long and 8 meters deep-water channel that connects lake Edward in the west and lake George East of Queen Elizabeth national park. A boat cruise provide travelers with spectacular views of the entire national park, wildlife and neighboring fishing villages. Interestingly, the shores of kazinga channel attract high concentration of wild animals such as large herds of elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of bird species all seen along the channel. The boat cruise lasts for two hours but the experience is surely unforgettable.
Game drives/ game viewing
Here travelers drive in the open savannah grasslands of the national park, which expose them to a variety of animals like buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, warthogs, bushbucks, impalas, lions. Leopards, topis, sitatungas, and leopards among others. Game drives are done in the early morning and evening hours when animals are grazing as predators hunt down their prey. Experienced guides help you in spotting and explaining in details the unique characters of each spotted animal. Photography is well done in game drives.
Tree climbing lions
A look at tree climbing lions comes along with driving to ishasha sector southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lions here are seen hanging in euphoria tree branches chilling or even enjoying their prey. Tree climbing lions are among the rare animal in Africa, which make a look at them surely amazing. These lions spend most of their time in the tree branches and only move down as they go for hunting.
Crater lakes
While in Queen Elizabeth national park, you should not miss visiting crater lakes. These lakes include lake katwe known for salt mining situated north of Mweya peninsula. On reaching the lake, you will meet salt miners who own independent mining areas. Both men and women take part in mining. Lake Munyanyange is a home to thousands of migratory flamingos and other bird species just a few kilometers from lake katwe in katwe Kabatoro town council. Lake Munyanyange is a seasonal lake, which attracts a large concentration of bird species from all parts of the world in the wet season. The most seen birds here are the lesser and greater flamingos along with other birds such as white browed robbin chats, long tailed sterling’s, black-headed gonloks, desert cisticolas and African hoopoes among others. Lake Munyampaka in the kasenyi plains is also a must visit. Of recent, salt mining was started at the lake, which is now at a high rate supporting and improving local livelihoods.
Chimpanzee trekking/tracking
Chimpanzees are seen in the lost valley of Kyambura gorge whose beauty provide travelers with a great feeling of being in a new world of mystery and scenic wonders. A gorge is a home to chimpanzees, which have been habituated for trekking. A simple briefing is a first do and all travelers are required to have their up to date trekking permits. Dressing right in long pants, sleeved shirts, hand gloves, hut and rain gears is very helpful. To ensure safety of both travelers and endangered chimpanzees, a seven-meter distance is required. The gorge is 16 kilometers long and is one of the natural wonders in Uganda in the western rift valley.
In conclusion therefore, visit Queen Elizabeth national park and enjoy the beautifully sceneries, wildlife viewing, bird watching and boat cruise at kazinga channel. Africa Adventure Safaris is at your service for customized Uganda wildlife safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park
