What can you do at Queen Elizabeth National Park? Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park in Uganda that covers about 2080 square kilometers, it crosses over districts like Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, and it is located in the western region of Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth National park was first known as Kazinga Channel but later it was renamed as Queen Elizabeth National park after the visit of Queen Elizabeth of England in 1954. This National park lies behind the Rwenzori Mountains providing stunning and classic views from the crater lakes like; Lake Katwe, other twin lakes of Edward and George and Maramagambo forest, Kyambura George. However, Katwe craters are ranked as the highest point of Queen Elizabeth National park standing at an elevation of 1350meters as Lake Edward is ranked to be at the lowest point standing at an elevation of 910meters.
Queen Elizabeth National park is also considered the most visited among all the national parks in the country and this because of its wildlife and volcanic features such as; deep craters, crater lakes, volcanic canes and more especially tourists come to see the tree climbing lions and many others.
Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
There are several activities that tourists who travel to Queen Elizabeth National park on a safari get opportunities to engage in as they help them have a memorable experience during their stay in the park and these activities include;
Wildlife Viewing.
Tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park get high chances of looking at various wildlife species while touring around the park and this is because this park, is a home to over 95 mammal species such as; Uganda Kobs, Warthogs, bush pigs, leopards, hyenas, and many more as it also harbours primate species like; Black and white colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, baboons, chimpanzees, Vervet monkeys which are usually found with Maragambo forest and Kyambura George. More so, this park is famous for hosting large numbers of over 200 climbing lions which are known as the kings of the jungle, they are always spotted with in Kisenyi plains and 610 bird species like; Turcaos, flamingos.
Therefore, tourists who visit the park always have a great experience exploring through the wildlife, the beautiful scenery, and the wonderful and amazing landscapes such as the Crater lakes, Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo forests and capturing the classic views of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Game Drives.
Tourists who involve in game drives explore through the park while using 4 by 4 wheel vehicles with open roof tops that helps tourists to get clear views of Queen Elizabeth national park and get opportunities to sightsee various wildlife species more especially the big 5 mammals such as; elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and others like; spotted hyenas, elands, bush babies, warthogs, Uganda kobs. These game drives are conducted in different places like; in the Kasenyi plains, the katwe fields, ishasha plains and on the Mweya peninsular.
More so, these game drives go for at least 3 to 4 hours and the park offers its visitors with both day and night game drives so they have a chance to choose on what they prefer however the day game drives are considered as the best it being that tourists have more chances of having clear views of the animals. In addition, during this activity, tourists are always accompanied with well-trained and experienced game rangers with a major purpose of guiding them and taking them to specific spots where they are sure there are now animals, and they all know all this because they are well conversant with the park. The other major role of the park guides is to ensure the safety of both the tourists and the animals.
Bird Watching.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best destinations that bird lovers should never miss to check out because touring around this parks gives people opportunities to sightsee different bird species due to the fact it is a home of over 605 bird species and it is ranked among the destinations in Uganda that have a big population of birds.
Therefore, while tourists are on their birding safari in Queen Elizabeth National park, they always looks at birds like; Water thick knee, Cuckoos, Turcaos, black bee eaters, flamingos, Warblers, African fin foot, red chested sunbird, grey-winged robinchaf, fish eagles and many others. The best birding spots within Queen Elizabeth National Park that is tourists get to visit include; Kyambura Gorge, the Crater lakes, the savannah plains, Maramagambo forest and in Kazinga channel.
Tracking tree-climbing lions.
Tree climbing lions are considered as the main attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park and these lions are easily spotted within the Ishasha sector where most of them are seen climbing trees. These lions normally climb in order to avoid being bitten by parasites and while they are up, it makes their hunting easy as they get chances of tracing spots where to hunt.
Guided Nature Walks.
Tourists visiting in queen Elizabeth National park often go for guided nature walks through Maramagambo forest where they opportunities to look at bird species, vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, bush babies and also get chances to visit the python cave and Bat cave . During these guided nature walks, tourists are always accompanied with park rangers or guides who are there to ensure the safety of tourists and the animals, and they allow tourists to feel free to ask any questions of what they would love to understand better.
Hot Air Balloon.
Hot air balloon is one of the best thrilling and exciting activity that provides tourists with an aerial view of Queen Elizabeth National park. Flying over this park gives you classic views of the all the beautiful nature and wildlife within the park and this activity is best done during the morning hours.
Chimpanzee trekking.
Tourists with an interest of trekking chimpanzees can best do from Kyambura Gorge, which is known to be a large valley covered by an underground tropical rain forest, and therefore chimpanzees have a tendency of hiding deep inside the kyambura gorge due to their fear of being attacked by the other predators. Chimpanzee trekking activities normally take at least 2 to 4 hours and tourists are required to purchase chimpanzee trekking permits that they will be required to present at the park headquarters.
Cultural encounters/ community visits.
Tourists who have an interests about learning about the culture of people who live near the park are free to visit the neighbouring local communities where they always get a chance to watch how people live on a daily basis, how they prepare their local meals, how they speaks, visitors sit and listen to stories which help them to learn about the local peoples history, listen to their folk songs. More so, these local people always entertain their visitors with their local traditional dance performances.
Therefore, Book with our tours and travel companies such as Achieve Global safaris to get your best tour packages while planning for your safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
