Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular and second largest national park in Uganda, occupying 1978 km². It lies in Kasese District, within the western arm of the great rift valley and can be accessed via Kampala-Masaka and Kampala-Mityana highways. “Uganda’s Medley of Wonders” has a unique biodiversity which has captivated the imagination of explorers. It is a premier destination with a mesmerizing array of landscapes, the abundant savannah vegetation, wildlife and tranquil waterways. It is home to over 95 mammal species with four of the big five namely; lions, elephants, buffaloes and leopards. Over 612 bird species roam freely around the premises for example the pied kingfisher, African jacana and so much more. Primates like the baboons, Chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys also call Queen Elizabeth National Park home.
It was named Kazinga National Park in 1952 since it harbors the great Kazinga channel, a 32 km long channel that connects Lake Edward to George. Two years later, it was named ‘Queen Elizabeth’ to recognize and honor Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Uganda. The Bakonjo are the inhabitants of the surroundings of Queen Elizabeth National Park. They earn a living from practicing agriculture and salt mining from Lake Katwe. Lake Katwe is the only salt mining lake in Uganda supplying salt to Uganda and some of her neighbors. At this Lake you will learn how salt is formed and extracted. Here you also come across communities that you engage with on a social one-on-one basis. You get to understand the history and culture of these hospitable people.
Queen Elizabeth has various sectors , each with a unique touch. The Ishasha sector in the southwestern part of the park, is the only home for tree climbing lions in Uganda. These lions climb up acacia and fig trees in order to have a good view of their prey and to avoid the strong heat on the ground. Spend your time capturing the moment and learning more about the species. Next is the Kasenyi sector which lies in the northeastern part of the park. It consists of open savannah, making it the ideal sector for game drives.
Game Drives can happen in the early morning or late afternoon. You can do both to get a fulfilling experience. The lion tracking activity is only done in Queen Elizabeth. Here you have a 95% chance of viewing the king of the jungle. You can drive off track to wherever they are. Here, you study a lot about this majestic creature.
Mweya peninsula, another sector juts into the Kazinga channel, where the fascinating boat cruise takes place. It presents to you many aquatic wild animals namely; hippos, nile crocodiles, waterbucks among others. Various bird species also await your gaze for example African spoonbill, Black bee eater, Grey crowned crane, the list continues. Also, night game drives only take place in this sector. This is because the Kasenyi sector tends to be so busy during the day. So they let the animals rest at night.
The Kyambura Gorge also known as ‘Valley of apes’ is a home to about 80 chimpanzees. It has a thick underground rainforest which is ideal for the chimpanzees, bearing fruits seasonally. These majestic creatures have about 92% of human DNA. You can see them in their families and get a chance to spend about 2 hours around them. Guided nature walks and bird watching also take place in the Kyambura gorge sector.
The Maramagambo forest is also another sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is a natural forest reserve located in Bushenyi district, well known for having so many bats. Primates like the blue monkeys, baboons also live in here, warthogs, pythons, birds among others. Nature walks through these woods are indeed satisfying. On this quest, you’ll also come across crater lakes, Kyasanduka and Nyamasingiri. There are many other craters in the park, the Bunyaruguru crater fields. Here sits over 20 crater lakes in the Kichwamba escarpment of the western rift valley. Crater lakes are pristine features of the various volcanic activities that have happened over the years. Visiting these lakes rewards you with amazing sceneries and important information about their formation and history.
During your visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can stop by the newly renovated Kikorongo equator monument. It is one of a kind, glittering with a very clean environment and relaxing photogenic surroundings. Here is where the world separates into two equal hemispheres, North and South. You might as well travel to Fortportal city which is just an hour away. The tourism city of Uganda grants you a platform to explore more of Uganda’s hidden gems. Queen Elizabeth National Park has very many accommodation facilities to fit in any budget out there, making it an ideal destination for just anyone. The park is accessible at any time of the year, ready to embark you on the best adventure of your life.
