Overview
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the popular parks in Uganda. It is in the western part of the country. It covers about 1,978 km2. It is popular for its tree-climbing lions. Here are some of the reasons you should go on a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari.
Wildlife
Queen Elizabeth National Park is rich in wildlife. It is home to 4 of the Big Five. You can spot lions, leopards, buffalos, and elephants. Tourists flock to the park to track the tree-climbing lions. Observing their behavior is a fulfilling safari experience. It is home to several species of antelopes. You can spot bushbucks, topis, and Uganda kobs. Crocodiles and hippos are abundant in the Kazinga channel. The park is home to primates such as chimps and colobus monkeys. Other common species are zebras and giraffes.
You can enjoy the sightings of these animals during game drives, boat cruises, nature walks, to balloon safaris. The best time for these activities is during the dry season. Most animals gather around water sources in the park.
Birdlife
Birds are among the attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is home to more than 600 species of birds. It is a perfect birding destination in Uganda. Its variety of habitats that range from the wetland, and forest, to savannah, supports many bird species. Some of the common species are shoebill, palm-nut vulture, swamp flycatcher, and great blue turaco.
You can spot resident species at any time of the year. But May to September is the best time. Food is abundant attracting many birds. The weather is also good for birding with less rain. But November to April is the best time to see migratory birds in the park.
Scenery
Queen Elizabeth National Park has several beautiful features. The Kazinga Channel is an attractive feature. It is between Lake George and Lake Edward. The park has over 10 beautiful crater lakes. It has large forest areas such as Maramaganbo and Kyambura forests. These features give the park a stunning view.
Climate
Queen Elizabeth National Park has a good climate for tourist activities. It is usually warm. The dry season is between January to February and June to July. But it can rain. Temperatures range between 16°C and 29°C. This is a perfect time to see attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The wet season is between March to May and August to December. Roads and forest trails may be slippery. It is a good time to see migratory birds.
FAQs about Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Which district is Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park is within several districts including Rukungiri, Kamwenge, Kasese, and Rubirizi. This is in the western part of Uganda. It lies between Lakes Albert and Gorge. The Kazinga Channel crosses through it. It is about 400 km from Kampala. Its coordinates are 0.1577° N and 30.0794° E.
- Why visit Queen Elizabeth National Park?
The park has many activities for tourists. You can enjoy tracking or tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of the park. You can spot them in acacia or fig trees. You can enjoy the views of hippos, elephants, and crocodiles in the Kazinga Channel in the park. This is done via boat cruise safaris. Other common activities are game drives, bird watching, balloon safaris, and cultural tours.
- Which is the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park?
You can visit the park at any time of the year. But the best time is during the dry season. This is between June to September and January to February. Animals are easily spotted around water sources. But the wet season is a good time to see migratory species of birds.
- How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park
You can get there by road or air. From Kampala city, it takes about 6 to 7 hours to reach the park. But there are several airstrips nearby such as Kihihi, Mweya, and Kasese. You can fly to these airstrips from the international airport via a scheduled or chartered flight. Tour operators arrange for transfers for a smooth Queen Elizabeth National Park safari.