Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. There are lots of things to see in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From the popular tree climbing lions in the Ishasha to the fast moving chimpanzees of the Kyambura Gorge, there is a lot to see in the park.

Wildlife

Queen Elizabeth National Park has outstanding wildlife attractions and this is the magnet that pulls tourists to Uganda. The park is home to 95 mammal species while the bird list is 612 species long. This diversity is the result of an impressive range of habitats. Fifty-seven vegetation types have been identified though these can be summarized as just five: forest; grassland; bushy grassland; Acacia woodland and lake shore/ swamp vegetation.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Residents of the park’s grasslands include elephant, Cape buffalo, Uganda kob, waterbuck, warthog, giant forest hog, lion, leopard and hyena. Topi are found in Ishasha, while forest primates are found in Kyambura Gorge and Maramagambo Forest.

In African protected areas, the park’s impressive bird list is exceeded only by the neighboring (and far larger) Virunga National Park.
To name but a few key species: martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, pink-backed pelicans, white-winged warbler, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, corncrake, lesser and greater flamingo, and shoebill stork.

Big Game

With an astonishing 5000 hippos, 2500 elephants and over 10,000 buffalo thriving in its grasslands and shorelines, Queen Elizabeth National Park guarantees sightings of some of Africa’s most iconic species. The hippos spend their days escaping the burning equatorial sunshine in the cool waters of the park’s lakes and channels, before setting off across the savannah at dusk to munch their way through up to 50kg of vegetation before sunrise.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Elephants, too, congregate around the waterways, but these huge, hungry creatures, standing up to 3.5 metres tall and weighing up to 6000kg need to wander far and wide in search of vegetation to sustain them. Families of 10-15 individuals, and in some cases many more, wade across swamps and trample through forests, and their loud calls can be heard resonating across the crater filled valleys.

Other common herbivores include warthogs, waterbuck, Uganda kob and topi, as well as the shy sitatungas antelope.

Wildlife highlights in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park is filled with diverse flora and fauna including the famous Big Five game animals. Apart from these, you will get to enjoy immense bird watching, rock climbing, and indulging yourself in the local tradition and culture of the friendly local people. Below is a highlight of the famous Big Five of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

African Elephants

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Scientifically known as Loxodonta Africana, these majestic mammals are located in the Queen Elizabeth National Park wilderness. These large animals are mostly herbivores with thick and flexible long trunks with a long upper incisor tooth. Additionally, these African elephants have corn shaped ears looking like the map of Africa.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. These elephants camouflage in the tall savanna landscape of the park. The African elephants are unique in this part of the world making them a huge attraction for anyone looking forward to a true African safari. Luckily, Uganda hosts more than 5000 of the estimated 600,000 remaining elephants on the continent.

Ishasha Tree Climbing Lions

It is unusual for lions to climb trees and such lions are no more than two populations in the world during their daily life. Fortunately, you can get a chance to catch rare sights of these tree-climbing lions during a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari. These lions supposedly climb trees to protect themselves from tsetse flies or to enjoy the cool breeze away from the heat on the ground.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You can watch these lions lazily lying in the branches of huge fig trees ogling down at the multiple Uganda Kobs grazing in the Ishasha plains. In the afternoon, the tree-climbing lions sleep on branches high up in the tress to digest their lunch.

Cape Buffaloes

This tremendously big animal is another attraction on a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari. Cape buffaloes are communal animals living in large herds of about 2000. In addition, the sexes have a hierarchy with males having dominance over the females. Keep in mind that Cape buffaloes can be dangerous especially when wounded.

Nocturnal Leopards

Scientifically known as Panthera Pardus, the leopards are carnivorous animals belonging to the cat family. African leopards in Queen Elizabeth National Park are nocturnal and fierce. The best sights of these leopards are during a nocturnal game safari. Keep in mind that the number of surviving leopards in Africa is less than 700,000.

Birds

many people visit Queen Elizabeth National Park specifically for the birds.  Not a lot of places can boast a species list this long.  At over 600 species, it offers the widest variety of species of any protected area in East Africa.  As infrastructure in the country has improved, Uganda has earned a well-deserved reputation as a birding hotspot, with plenty of qualified and knowledgeable guides being available.

Enthusiastic birders come from all over the world for their chance to see the elusive Shoebill stork, as well as the prolific variety of other water birds that live along the Kazinga Channel between Lakes Edward and George.  On one of my trips to the park, I spent the better part of the day with a serious birder from England.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. He spent most of the morning at Mweya Lodge, glued to the end of his spotting scope and actually squealed with joy when he saw African Skimmers dipping in the water on the channel. It was a new tick in the box for him and he was overjoyed.  On the afternoon boat trip up the Kazinga Channel, once again, he was overwhelmed with the number of species to be seen.  By evening he was smiling from ear to ear and said it had been an extremely successful trip to Queen Elizabeth, I am certain that his experience is not unusual.

Primates

A number of primate species live in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the most popular of them being the chimpanzee, which can be tracked in the Kyambura Gorge. Diurnal species that live in the park are black and white colobus monkey, red tailed monkey, blue monkey, chimpanzee, L’hoest’s monkey and vervet monkey.  Thick tailed Gallagos more commonly known as Bush Babies and Potto are the park’s nocturnal species.

Listings of Uganda’s Wildlife

Here you can learn about all your favorite animals, and even some you may have never heard of! Follow the links below to learn about some of the wildlife found in Uganda. I have tried to include interesting facts and behavioral information with the hopes that people planning safaris will realize that the cats are not the ONLY interesting animals out there!

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will be richly rewarded if you spend some time watching herds of antelopes to try to determine dominance hierarchies, watching mixed groupings of animals to see the ways that they interact cross-species, and even watching a grouping (called a “tower”) of giraffes to see if you can determine genders just by observing where they are feeding in the acacia trees.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. In many of the animal accounts, the basic information is at the beginning presented in an informal way.  For those wanting to go a bit deeper into the behaviors, read down in the “Detailed Information” section, which has a lot of information from The Behavior Guide to African Mammals and a few other sources, all referenced in the text.

• African Elephant
• Banded Mongoose
• Black-and-White Colobus Monkey
• Cape Buffalo
• Hartebeest
• Hippopotamus
• Leopard
• Lion
• Oribi
• Rothschild’s Giraffe
• Spotted Hyaena
• Uganda Kob
• Vervet Monkey
• Warthog
• Waterbuck
• Warthogs
• Baboons
• Hippos
• Crocodiles
• Antelope

Much of the technical information about the animals came from an incredible resource written by Richard Estes.  This book is a must if you want to dive more deeply into the behaviors of African wildlife:

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The rest of the information is from my own observations, information shared with me by guides at various national parks, and the occasional website.  Many of the photos are mine, such as the ones on this page.  If you notice one in the animal accounts that really catches your attention, it is probably from the amazing collection.

Birds

Classified as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by Birding International, Queen Elizabeth National Park’s great variety of habitats mean it is home to over 600 species. This is the greatest of any of Uganda’s national parks, and a phenomenal number for such a small area. The parks confluence of savanna and forest, linking to the expansive forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) allow visitors to spot East as well as Central African species, some of which are only otherwise seen in the DRC.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Present in the park are numerous water birds, woodland and forest dwellers in the Maramagambo Forest, 54 raptors and various migratory species. Key species include the Martial Eagle, Black-rumped Buttonquail, African Skimmer, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Pink backed Pelican, African Broadbill, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Black Bee-eater, White-tailed Lark, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Corncrake, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Shoebill and Bar-tailed Godwit.

Things to Do in Queen Elizabeth Park

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. There are endless things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park. We bring to you the most popular adventure activities that you can enjoy during your safari in Uganda’s world biosphere reserve.

Game Drives

Given its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history. There are many opportunities for visitors to meet the local communities and enjoy storytelling, dance, music and more. The abetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities. Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is truly a Medley of Wonders!

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. If you’re after a classic African safari experience, the trails through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains and the Ishasha Sector offer virtually guaranteed buffalo, antelope and elephant sightings, along with warthogs and baboons. Taking an experienced guide is the most sucessful way to track down a pride of lions, and maybe even the odd leopard.

This park offers the most satisfying wildlife viewing experiences. Besides the spectacular rift valley and volcanic scenery, highlights include the rare tree climbing lions found in Ishasha sector south of the park as well as lions that don’t climb trees, dense population of African elephants, buffalos, leopards, spotted hyenas, zebras, eland, topi, Uganda kob among several antelopes. All of these can be seen during day except for leopard is best spotted during night game drives.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A unique experience is exploring the Kazinga channel with a boat trip; see the hippo Nile crocodiles enjoy sunsets as well as see animals by the banks. A boat trip along the Kazinga channel between Lake George and Edward is a rewarding method of game viewing. New boat trips have come up, starting at Katunguru Bridge, where locals show case their high jump swimming skills and magic.

Be in the Know

Early morning and dusk are the best time for viewing animals, as they spend the daytime escaping from the heat under shady trees or in the park’s lakes and channels.

Guides are available from 6:30am on wards; morning game drives should be booked the night before.

Launch Trips

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A Boat cruise is one of the must-enjoy activities when you visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, and a safari to this destination without enjoying this exhilarating activity is incomplete and meaningless.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. If you engage in this activity, you will agree that it is one of the best cruises you can ever enjoy during your Uganda safaris. Kazinga Channel is the narrow waterway of about 45 kilometers connecting Lake Edward in the West and Lake George in the East, within Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Park covers an area of 1978 square kilometers, making it the second largest Park in the country after Murchison Falls National Park that covers around 3893 square kilometers.

This strip of water offers unmatched opportunities for enjoying breathtaking views of abundant animal and plant species as well as the spectacular scenery of this Savannah National Park for tourists on Uganda tours. The banks of this Channel are a haven to herds of Hippos and highest concentration of Nile Crocodiles Uganda ever offered during a safari holiday.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A Boat cruise here also offers views of the remarkable Mweya Peninsula with unbeaten opportunities of spotting more than 60 species of birds such as the shoebill storks, African skimmers, Pink-backed Pelicans, Jacana, Flamingos, Darters, great cormorants, Saddle billed storks, African fish eagles, African spoonbills, yellow billed storks, Black crakes, Kingfishers, great white pelicans, Open-billed storks, African skimmers as well as Grey crowned cranes relishing the aquatic environment of the Kazinga Channel, hence the reason it is always on the top of the list of must-visit destinations during Uganda wildlife and birding safaris.

What it feels like, cruising on the Kazinga channel boat

This trip is the unobstructed access to the local people and wildlife in their daily setting that depicts the local nature and culture, in Queen Elizabeth national park. From the time you board the boat, you will be in a different world, celebrating life in paradise. The views display different natural setting like you would see in the dream of a thick jungle. The rim of the channel is lined by the thicket, bushes and sometimes patches of wetland that is home to the colorful birds and the crawling gentle monitor lizards. Sometimes, the eye will shoot to one of the rare creatures such as the crocodile, the fish eagle or otter diving for a fish catch.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The freshwater of the Kazinga channel is such a precious natural gift to the wildlife of Queen Elizabeth national park, every day. The large trails that touch the edge of the channel open up the extended miles of the savannah plains on both sides of the channel. They are the daily trails for wildlife as they move from near and far seeking to cool off.

You won’t miss the shooting puffs like fountains, or floating snouts of the hippopotamus swimming in the waters of the channel. Kazinga channel is home to hundreds of schools of Hippopotamus. It has the hippo population estimated to be over 1000 in the 20 miles channel alone.

Every hour of the day, the different land animals such as elephants, buffalos, antelopes, waterbucks, and multitudes of birds take turns to deep for a fresh drink or a swim. The edges of the channel will commonly be spotted with wildlife. You will not miss the fun of seeing elephants charge to chase the small game from their water space.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The local communities have their space too. Despite the existence of hippos, crocodiles and other wildlife that could be dangerous, the local people are never deterred from swimming, fishing or collecting water for domestic use, off the shores of the channel. You will not miss the sceneries of the local wooden fishing boats, sometimes with energetic fishermen peddling their way to the fishing fields.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This qualifies Kazinga channel as a life-giver for both people and wildlife, leave alone the green vegetation that is able to survive the scorching climate of Queen Elizabeth national park and can still demonstrate the green belt along the edges of the channel.

From the time the boat cruise started on the Kazinga channel, decades of years ago, none of the travelers has ever regretted the decision to take the boat cruise. Making a decision to go on Kazinga channel boat cruise is your opportunity to explore wildlife closely in the most relaxed way, as you cruise east and west of the channel. Take a step today; contact us to arrange your turn of taking this experience during your next trip to Queen Elizabeth national park.

See Incredible Wildlife from the Comfort of Your Boat

All living creatures need water, and as a result the Kazinga Channel is an oasis for the many fascinating species that inhabit the park. A boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel provides tourists with the chance to get a closer encounter with the other wildlife species that visit the River banks without fear for their lives and Safety such the Cape Buffaloes, African elephants, Monitor lizards, Uganda Kobs, Defassa waterbucks, common elands and Topis among others.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Taking this boat tour from Mweya to the mouth of Lake George gives visitors the chance to stand just a few meters from the hundreds of enormous hippos and buffaloes that spend their days cooling off in the water, while elephant families drink and bathe on the shoreline.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The experience of viewing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth national park is like no other in Uganda. Wildlife animals are very close and so easy to find. From time to time you see the guides on the boat tour pointing out at all sorts of wildlife along the edge of the channel, Even without lenses and binoculars. These guides don’t skip even the tiniest bird of this jungle. To them, the edge of Kazinga channel is a long line of animals cooling off in the greenery vegetation. This boat cruise is an opportunity for you to see Queen Elizabeth wildlife through the eyes of the local expert guides

Wildlife: Kazinga channel is a wildlife hub. It is one of the key places where multitudes of wildlife meet for the same livelihood purpose; water. Throughout the day, all sorts of wildlife line up on the banks to celebrate nature on this fresh water channel. During this boat excursion, you will likely find the elephants, antelopes, crocodiles, monitor lizards, hippos, buffalo and many others. The bird population on the channel is very high.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The bird list includes both the endemics and the migratory species during certain seasons. You will have high chances of finding the Buttonquail, Papyrus Canary, martial eagle, African Skimmer, Black Bee-eater, White-winged Warbler, White-tailed Lark, Papyrus Gonolek, Corncrake, Pinkbacked Pelican and many others among the 600 species of this park

Landscape: The landscape is breathtaking. During the sunrise, the sunset or just taking the extended views of the channel with the backdrop of Rwenzori mountains or the rift valley escapement. You will definitely be witnessing a green paradise dotted with wildlife of all sorts on the channel!

Traditional fishing communities: It is a fishing hub; the channel supports a high fish population. This is partly due to the richness of the ecosystem with birds and other wildlife in and around the waters, that supports a large variety of aquatic life favorable for fish survival. The evergreen environment creates a good breeding ground for certain unique species of fish that is only found in this channel. A good number of communities live in the neighborhood of the channel and fishing is one of their key livelihoods. During the boat tour, you will meet the community members at work both on their canoes on the waters or on the shores getting their nets ready

The local guides are wonderful. They understand everything that crosses the eye, close and far. Being local experts, they will tell you how most of the features relate to the local life, demonstrating the relevance of wildlife and the native community.

Don’t miss an opportunity from exploring wildlife very closely. Let the locals show you their wildlife during the Kazinga channel boat excursion. You can contact us now to arrange your boat cruise for your next visit to queen Elizabeth national park.

Lots of Birds Await You

Visitors can hope to see an average of 60 bird species during the trip, from the saddle-billed storks with their colorful beaks to vivid malachite kingfishers and pairs of elegant fish eagles. Carrying a maximum of 40 passengers, the boats guarantee a seat with a view for everyone, while expert ranger guides narrate the creatures’ stories during the relaxing ride down the channel.

Practical Information

Launch trips leave at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm daily, and last two hours. The exhilarating boat cruise is scheduled and conducted in the morning and afternoon sessions with the former including at 9am and 11am while with the latter, it is conducted at 2pm and finally at 5pm lasting for 2-3 hours. The two operators of this adventurous and mind-blowing activity are Marasa Africa (also owns Mweya Safari Lodge) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Other places to enjoy a boat cruise during Uganda tours include Lake Victoria, Lake Mburo, along the Nile River in Murchison Falls National Park.

How to Arrange Kazinga channel boat activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Unlike in the past, the Kazinga channel boat cruise has become easier to arrange for all types of visitors. This has given everyone easy access an opportunity to explore the animal paradise of queen Elizabeth national park, on your trip to western Uganda.

From a long list of activity options, you will have the liberty to do a boat cruise with Mweya inside the park or with the community starting from Katunguru village. Both boat cruises are safe and well interpreted for you to get the background understanding of the park. The boats go on the same channel and show the same wildlife.

The community guides are very knowledgeable of the animals after their life long experience of living with wildlife. It is until recently that they have decided to get involved in tourism as a livelihood. This give you and other travelers, an opportunity to tour with the resident expert guides as they tell you the past and present background of wildlife in this park and how they relate with them.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Never the less the boat cruise at Mweya is massive compared to the community boat it is spacious with an option for climbing to stand on the rooftop, enabling you to take a sweeping view of the entire landscape. This boat takes a larger number of people and requires a minimum of ten occupants to do the scheduled cruise at 11:00am and 3:00pm every day.

If you want to take the Mweya boat, you should be prepared to pay for a private car to bring you in the park and park entrance fees. All these extra fees are not applicable if you choosing to do a community boat cruise.

Are you staying for one or more nights or just visiting for one day in queen Elizabeth national park? We will be happy to arrange this boat cruise or any other services for you. The other services we can arrange re such as transport/ car hire, private guides and accommodation, all at no extra charges.

Please note; it is also possible to do a boat cruise en-route queen Elizabeth national park as you head to Rwenzori, Bwindi or any other destinations north or south of the equator while in Uganda. Don’t worry about the timing. We only need a minimum of one day to be able to arrange everything to your interest. This is only possible with the community boat since it doesn’t have fixed time for the excursions. It will take off any time during the twelve hours of the day

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The payment for the boat cruise can either be done at the elephant home lodge; Kikorongo or at the dock (subject to prior booking). The currency that are accepted are; Uganda shillings and US dollars. All payment has to be in cash as no credit card will be accepted. Upon payment, a receipt will be given and you will present this receipt at the dock before you join the boat cruise. You should ensure that you’re at the dock (where the boat cruise starts) 30 minutes before the trip starts.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. With the above guidelines, you’re more than ready to explore the wildlife of queen Elizabeth national park on the Kazinga channel. Please contact us today if you need any further assistance. we will arrange any activity in this destination.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. If you are not on an organised safari, bookings for the boat can be made through the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya (+256 782 387805) or the UWA headquarters in Kampala (+256 414 355000).

Besides the Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts of other interesting places that offer sightings of exceptional wildlife species and birds. These sites include the Kasenyi Plains with several wildlife species such as Uganda Kobs and Lions, Mweya Peninsula, the Kyambura gorge to sight the only population of Chimpanzees in the Park, Ishasha sector with the extraordinary tree climbing lions, Lake George, Lake Kyoga to spot several migratory species, Lake Edward and Maramagambo Forest with its magnificent attractions such as red-tailed monkeys, the Bates pygmy antelopes, the two crater Lakes and Caves that offer shelter to large Bat colonies and snakes especially the pythons.

Bird Watching

Besides the numerous captivating wildlife species found in Queen Elizabeth national park, it is also a bird watcher’s Paradise because it is a home to over 606 bird species (about 60% of Uganda’s total bird species), hence making it the destination with the highest bird species in East Africa and also an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Uganda.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park runs across the Crater spotted foothills of Mountain Rwenzori in the North, along the shores of Lake Edward to the isolated/remote Ishasha River in the South, covering a wide range of habitats that include the Open Savannah, tropical rain forests, brooding Crater Lakes, thick papyrus swamps and the large Lake Edward. It is for this rich vegetation range that it is one of the richest biodiversity Conservation National parks in Africa.

Bird Species

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an incredible treat as this is Uganda’s most popular and scenic park containing a variety of habitats that range from savanna to wetlands to lowland forests. A majority of the birds found in this area are regarded as famous birds of East Africa and are a must see for birdwatchers in Africa!

As earlier mentioned, there are 606 bird species in this park including 11 species of global conservation concern that call this park home. The best bird watching areas in Queen Elizabeth national park include the Kazinga Channel famous for the aquatic bird species, the Maramagambo Forest, Katunguru Bridge area, Ishasha Sector, the Katwe area popular for the migratory bird species, Lake Kikorongo, the area around the Mweya Peninsula and Kasenyi area among others.

Some of the popular bird species you might encounter in this park include the African Jacana, Great Cormorants, Papyrus Gonolek, pin-tailed whydah, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Common Squacco Heron, white-winged terns, the African Fish Eagle, Marabou Storks, African Mourning Dove, Pin-tailed Whydah, Great white Pelicans, black-headed gonolek, African mourning dove, yellow-billed stork, Long-tailed Cormorants, Slender-tailed Nightjars, Pink-backed Pelicans, collared pratincole, the Black-headed Gonolek, Sedge Warbler, pied kingfishers.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Malachite Kingfishers, Swamp Fly-catcher, Black-rumped Buttonquail, White-winged Terns, Collard Pranticles, White-winged Warbler, Gabon Nightjars, Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Open-billed Stork, African Skimmer, Papyrus Canary, Pied Kingfishers, open-billed Storks, Egyptian Goose and Grey-capped Warbler.

Magnificent flocks of Flamingos are always seen in the Crater lakes, creating a pink-like carpet Image. While on a boat ride/launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel, you will sight some of the aquatic bird species that include pelicans (for example the Pink-backed Pelicans), African Fish Eagles, Egyptian goose, Kingfishers, African Jacana and Saddle-billed Storks among others.

Bird species like the elusive Shoe bill stork, swamp flycatcher, Papyrus Gonolek, papyrus Canary and White-tailed Lark and the White-winged warbler are popular around the Swampy vegetation zone. The bird species common in Maramagambo forest include over 54 raptors, Papyrus Canary, Lesser Flamingo, White-winged Warbler, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Martial Eagle, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Black Bee-eater, the rare Shoebill stork, African Broadbill, Greater Flamingo, African Skimmer, White-tailed Lark, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Bar-tailed Godwit and Pink-backed Pelicans among others. Other common bird species include Common Squaco Heron, Yellow-backed Weavers, Black-bee eaters and African Jacana among others.

Best bird watching time in Queen Elizabeth national park

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National park is an all year activity, but tourists can be rewarded with the best views if they visit during the rainy seasons (Mid-March to end of May and September to November) because numerous migratory bird species are common. The Flamingos for example are commonly sighted around then Crater lakes (especially Lake Katwe and Bunyampaka) during the rainy seasons.

Best Places to Go Birding

Don’t miss these birding hot spots in Queen Elizabeth National Park:

Kazinga Channel Kasenyi Area

The Mweya Peninsula Maramagambo Forest

Ishasha Sector Lake Kikorongo

Katunguru Bridge area Katwe Area

You can book birding safaris through the listed tour operators or at the Katwe Tourism Information Center if you are already within the park.

How to access Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. National park is about 420 kilometers/5-6 hours drive from Kampala, and the commonly used route is Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara – Bushenyi – Kasese via a murram road to the center of the park. Tourists from Bwindi national Park can also connect to Queen Elizabeth National park through the Southern side (Ishasha sector). An alternative route to be used is Kampala – Mubende – Fortportal – Kasese then to Queen Elizabeth national Park.

In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth national park is the destination with the highest bird species in the whole of east Africa because over 606 bird species call this park home. This makes this Park a perfect destination for an African Safari because it is not only birds that you will see but also four for the Big Five animals (Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes an Elephants) and also engage in a life changing launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel which all complement your safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Chimpanzee Tracking

Queen Elizabeth National Park is not only a home to the wildlife mammals but it is as well a habitat to the great primate animals that found in the tropical rainforests of Kyambura valley gorge and Maramagambo forest. Some of the primates found in the park include the great chimpanzees, the white and black colobus monkeys, the grey checked mangabey, the red-tailed monkeys, the L’Hoest’s monkeys among others.

Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the great adventure experiences that a number of travelers prefer to enjoy when they visit the park.

Where to go chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park?

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth national park are found in only two forest destinations that is Kyambura gorge and Maramagambo forest. However, chimpanzee trekking in queen Elizabeth national park is only done in Kyambura gorge that is located in eastern side of the park due to fact there are no habituated chimpanzees in Maramagambo forest and the forest has not yet been declared as a safe chimpanzee trekking destination although there are very many chimpanzees that can be spotted in Maramagambo forest.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is extremely interesting and an exciting adventure as it gives an insight to travelers to explore other primates that are found in the park as well as other wildlife animals. Such as the grey checked mangabey monkeys, the blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, the white and black colobus monkeys, the L’Hoest’s monkeys, as well as wildlife animals that come to the valley gorge to drink water from the Kyambura gorge, such as the elephants, the hog forest hogs, the buffaloes, bushbucks among others.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge is done into two phases the morning phase and the evening phase, however the best time recommended is during the morning hours when chimpanzees are waking up to go and look for food in the forest and when it’s not yet hot in the forest. The chimpanzees trekking experiences in Kyambura gorge can take about 3-4 hours to find a chimpanzee community due to the fact that chimpanzees are found of moving from one place to another.

Once you meet a chimpanzee community, you will be allowed to spend only one hour with the chimpanzees, as you enjoy their feeding lifestyle patterns, you will enjoy watching the babies of the chimpanzee’s breastfeeding, watch them as they de-nest among other behaviors of the chimpanzees in the jungle.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura will give travelers an opportunity to enjoy bird watching experiences since the forest is one of the best spot destinations for bird lovers. Birds expected to be seen include the African Skimmer, falcon flycatcher, African broadbill, the papyrus gonolek, white winged warbler among others.

Travelers are advised to carry enough batteries and cameras so that they take photos and videos of the chimpanzee communities that will act as take-home unforgettable memories about the chimpanzee trekking experiences.

Kyambura Gorge

The Kyambura Gorge experience is more than discovering Chimpanzees in their natural environment; it teaches visitors about the ecosystems of Kyambura Gorge’s “underground” rain forest, including vegetation types and fruiting seasons, forest bird identification and behavior, and chimpanzee and other primate ecology.

Although chimp sightings are not guaranteed, visitors stand a pretty good chance at hearing and seeing these dark cousins of man because the chimp family is habituated. Tours last between one and three hours and start at 8am and 2pm daily.

Chimpanzee Tracking in the Kyambura Gorge

The Kyambura Gorge jungle is the best spot for chimpanzee tracking lovers as it does offer the finest tracking experiences.And while on the mountain gorilla trek,be ready to enjoy various sights of different interesting wild life species like savanna elephants, a number of baboons, vervet monkeys, different bird species, water bucks among others, all habituated in the thick forests of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Unlike mountain gorilla tracking, chimpanzee tracking in Queen Elizabeth is quite easy; as the Kyambura forest gorge has a well-developed tracking network of trails rising right from top of the gorge running down the forest and the river, providing you with a beautiful scenic view over the varying forest vegetation.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Usually, there are game rangers available to guide your tracking process while giving you all the necessary information on these creatures. The tracking process can last from 30 minutes to long hours according to the movements made by the chimpanzees as they look for food and water. On your hunt, be ready to witness great views of birds as they sing and rejoice through the woods of Queen Elizabeth national park.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. To track chimpanzees, you must wake up early and report to the starting point by 8:00 am which is the morning tracking time while 2:00pm is the afternoon time for late trackers. Tracking chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge can be engaged in at any time of the year.

What is the cost of chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park?

To enjoy the chimpanzee tracking tourist activity in Uganda, one to first acquire the tracking permit that is usually at US$50 at Uganda Wildlife Authority. Or buy the chimpanzee permits from the park headquarters (Katunguru).

Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the best alternatives for chimpanzee safari adventures due to fact that the trekking permit is more affordable than in Kibale forest national park and Budongo forest.

The chimpanzee trekking permit in Kyambura gorge costs US$50 per person per day while in Kibale it is costs US$150 per person thus it’s a cheaper option for the budget travelers. The permits can be acquired at the Uganda wildlife authority headquarters offices or travelers can book with the Uganda safari experts before they travel. At the same time the chimpanzee trekking permits can be acquired from Mweya information center in the park.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Adventure in wild is one of the best Uganda safari experts that has experience and knowledge in organizing chimpanzee trekking safaris in queen Elizabeth national park, please contact us for more information regarding your chimpanzee safari in the park.

Best time for chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park

Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth national park for the chimpanzee trekking adventure is during the dry season in the months of June, July, august, September to mid-October which is the long dry season as well as in the months of December, January and full February that is referred to as the short dry season.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. During these months, there is no or even little rainfall that might be expected to destruct the chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge. The ground in the valley gorge is not wet and slippery therefore movement in the forest to search for the chimpanzee community becomes easy compared to the rainy season when trekking trails are slippery and muddy thus making trekking in the forest difficult.

What to pack for chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park?

Travelers planning to come to Queen Elizabeth national park for the chimpanzee trekking experiences need to prepare themselves for the jungle after they have confirmed their booking for the chimpanzee trekking permit.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kyambura gorge is tropical thick rainforest that will require travelers to carry long sleeved shirts and tops for ladies as well as trousers to protect their body skin from the thorny bushes and wild insect bites, travelers can as well carry along an insect repellent.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travelers are advised to carry strong hiking gum boots and long socking for firm and easy movement in the forest, socking will help to protect your skin from thorny bushes as you go through the jungle.

Travelers are as well advised to carry along strong water rain jackets that will help you in case it rains while trekking. The rain jackets can be carrying both in the rainy season as well as in the dry season due to fact that its tropical rainforest where there is alike hood of raining any time.

An African head hat and sun glasses that will protect your eyes from direct sun rays during the dry season, other requirements that might of help during the chimpanzee trekking experience include, strong binoculars to enjoy bird watching while your trekking in forest, extra batteries and cameras to take videos and photos with the chimpanzee community as well as capturing their behavioral patterns of life in jungle.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The chimpanzee trekking gears is a long list that travelers need to know, you can contact us for the chimpanzee trekking gears before you set off for your chimpanzee trekking safaris so as you plan accordingly what to carry for the perfect experiences.

What To Carry

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. When planning a Kyambura gorge chimpanzee tracking trip in Uganda, one should be aware of what to include in their package as this too adds on the experience you get while on this adventure. Among the things that should be considered is a pair of hiking shoes to ease movements within the gorge forest, sweater since hiking may start very early in the morning, and possible rains, a cape / robe, a pair of binoculars and long trousers or pants.

Nature Treks

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. While on safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, hiking/nature walk is that one thrilling experience you need to take part. There are many hiking trails in and around Queen Elizabeth National Park each of which allow you to discover unique and varied natural wonders in different habitats in this park.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Nature treks are one of the more active ways to explore the landscapes and wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Locations include the shady Maramagambo forest, with many bird species, a bat colony and the all-white Cormorant Tree – a resting place for cormorants and a cultural site for local people.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Mweya Peninsula offers savannah and woodland with beautiful views and bold warthogs, while the Ishasha River Walk gives visitors the chance to get up close to hippos and water birds. Book your tour with a trained UWA guide at the Mweya Visitor’s Center.

Popular Trails in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Here are the popular trails in Queen Elizabeth National Park;

The Kyambura Gorge hiking trail

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. A hike down and in the pristine Kyambura Gorge is truly an experiential adventure. It takes you through chimpanzee trek that gets you close to chimpanzees, a great opportunity to explore their behaviors, take as many photos as possible.  While at Kyambura Gorge, you hike through the forest and this rewards you with exceptional sights at varied primates, birds, butterflies, mammals a mention but a few. Kyambura Gorge is also best called the lost valley.

Hiking through Maramagambo Forest

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Maramagambo Forest trails allow you to explore variety of birds, primates, lush rainforest among others. Maramagambo Forest comprises of Crater Lakes, thick ironwood, caves including the bat cave and others. The Maramagambo Forest Loop can take you the whole day to explore and you will need some packed lunch.

Kasenyi track

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kasenyi track is a popular wildlife trail where most visitors embark on game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This track rewards visitors with exceptional sights at varied savanna wildlife species including Uganda Kobs, lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, birds a mention but a few. Game drives along the Kasenyi track are conducted in the morning and afternoon.

The Mweya Peninsular

Mweya Peninsular takes you through mongoose research tracking about 3 hours. Explore more about on the banded mongoose, their habits and behaviors. Besides, enjoy amazing sights at elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs, birds and many others while on game drive via Kasenyi track.

The Ishasha track

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha track on southern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park allows you catch a glimpse at the tree climbing lions while relaxing on the tree branches as well as many savanna wildlife dwellers.

Kalinzu Forest

Hike through Kalinzu Forest to view chimpanzees with park ranger guide. Kalinzu Forest is one most exceptional site for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda. It is about 45 minutes’ drive away from Mweya area.

Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is open for hiking or nature walks at any time of the year. But the dry months are the best as most trails remains drier due to low rainfall received making it ideal for nature walk or hike. The dry months in Queen Elizabeth National Park start from June to September and December to February. However, it is also possible for you to explore its trails during wet season which takes place from March to May and from October to November.

Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The notable places for visitor overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Ihamba Lodge, Katara Safari Lodge, Kingfisher Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge, Bush Lodge and others.

Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is reachable by road or by air. By road, start your journey from Kampala or Entebbe through Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi route approximately 420 kilometers or Kampala via Mubende-Fort Portal to Kasese route which is about 410 kilometers. By air, take a flight from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kasese/Mweya/Ishasha airstrip.

About Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular national park. With its diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forest, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, Queen Elizabeth National Park is ideal habitat for a safari in Uganda. The park is home to classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds.

Set against the magnificent backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains (the mountains of the moon), the park’s magnificent vistas include 72 enormous craters carved brutally into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The 1978km2 Queen Elizabeth National Park enjoys a stunning location on the rift valley floor between Lakes Edward and George where a mosaic of habitats supports 95 mammal species and a remarkable 612 species of birds. Forty years ago, Douglas Willocks described the diverse features that led to its creation in 1952. There still exists no better introduction or a more enticing invitation to visit the park.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. ‘Scenically the area had everything. Thirty miles to the north, the blue Rwenzori exploded from the plain, a composite, jagged mass of mountains, sixty miles long and forty wide and looking in certain lights as if you could reach out and touch them. Across Lake Edward to the west, the Mitumbe hills stood sentinel on the Congo, blue too in the long sight but in the closer green, wooded, precipitous, unfriendly and epitomizing darkest Africa.

The eastern boundary of this possible park was marked by the calm green escarpment of the western Rift Valley. And between all the hills, mountains and lakes was endless savanna, its constantly repeated motif the branched cactus arms of the candelabra euphorbia tree.’

The dramatic scenery is largely due to the Rwenzori mountains beyond the park boundary. The park itself lies on the rift valley floor where it rises 480m from 910m at the Kazinga Channel to 1390m in the Explosion Crater field.

The low altitude and its location directly on the equator mean that temperatures can be warm, rising from a mean minimum of 18°C to a mean maximum of 28°C. The park receives up to 1250mm of rain, mostly during March – May and September – November.

Biodiversity

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. From open savannah to rain forest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Almost 100 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species makes this superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog and handsome Uganda kob all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula – which also boasts a marvelous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Elsewhere, the remote Ishasha Sector is famed for its tree-climbing lions, the Kyambura Gorge harbors habituated chimps, the Maramagambo Forest is home to an alluring selection of forest monkeys and birds, and flocks of flamingo are resident on the crater lakes.

Conservation Importance

Wildlife and Unique Species

The park supports a high concentration of large mammals, including elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and hippos.

Predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas thrive due to the abundant prey base.

The Ishasha sector is home to tree-climbing lions, a rare behavioural adaptation observed in only a few locations worldwide.

Kazinga Channel and Aquatic Ecosystems

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometer natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George, is a critical habitat for aquatic species.

Boat safaris provide close encounters with hippos, crocodiles, and bird species that depend on the water ecosystem.

The channel attracts large concentrations of wildlife, especially during the dry season when animals rely on its water supply.

Birdlife and Ornithological Significance

Queen Elizabeth National Park is an internationally recognised birdwatching destination, supporting over 600 recorded species.

Migratory birds from Europe and Asia and resident species adapted to wetland, savannah, and forest environments contribute to its ecological importance.

The park’s wetlands and shoreline areas serve as critical breeding and feeding grounds for numerous bird species.

Geological and Cultural Features

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park contains volcanic craters and salt mining areas that provide insight into Uganda’s geological history and traditional economic activities.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Katwe salt pans, where local communities have been harvesting salt for centuries, highlight the intersection of conservation and cultural heritage.

Plan Your Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth national park is truly amazing and spectacular! It’s a popular tourist attraction located in the western region of Uganda. Being designated as a National park, allows the local official to control the area and set the rules. You can expect to see a large variety of native wildlife species including birds, reptiles and mammals.

At Queens Elizabeth national park, provisions have been made for camp sites and lodging accommodations for visitors.

During your safari, always be sure of only glorious scenery and escapades. Hop into the safari van and spend hours keeping your eyes peeled for wildlife. It’s all out there; you just have to pay attention. These animals are made to blend in with their surroundings and if you blink, you may miss an amazing opportunity.

This national park is endowed with every kind of wildlife you can think of especially wild game like four of the big five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards) hippos, buffaloes, warthogs, bush pigs, a variety of antelopes etc . The park has over 606 different bird species as well as plants that are rare.

What is the best time for visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park?

During Dry season from June to September and December to February every year is the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National park. The park can as well be visited all year around and you will be able to see the wildlife and do a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dry seasons offer great sighting of wildlife compared to wet seasons.
Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park can be visited by tourists during the weekends and most trips from Kampala or Entebbe to the park start from 3 Days! Many tourists combine Queen Elizabeth National Park with the neighboring national parks such as Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Semuliki National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.

Where can I stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park?

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. On your flying safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you atleast need to spend a night in either Entebbe/Kampala before the start day and at the end of your safari. This will help you catch up with the flight departure and return times as well avoid the risk of missing the flight in case of uncertainties like loss of your luggage, missed connecting flight to Entebbe on your flight to Uganda among others.

Accommodations in Queen Elizabeth National Park range from budget, mid-range to luxury.

Budget options include Pumba Safari Lodge, Elephant Hab Lodge, Bush Lodge among others and their Fares range from 90-100 dollars a night per person.

Things to See in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Mid-range options include Buffalo Safari Lodge, Enganzi Lodge, Irungu Safari Lodge, Park View safari Lodge, Ihamba Lake side Lodge among others and their fares range from 100-200 dollars a night per person.

Luxury options include Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Mazike Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge and Mweya Safari Lodge, Kasenyi safari camp among others and their fares range from 200-400 dollars a night per person.

Contact Wild Planet Safaris today for more information.