Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda wildlife safari tour in Uganda
“A medley of wonders” – Queen Elizabeth National Park
The national park formerly known as Kazinga national park by 1952 gained its current name by 1954 as a commemoration to a visit by Queen Elizabeth II therefore the name Queen Elizabeth National park. The park is traversed by the equator line with monuments on both sides of the road to show the exact spot where the southern and northern hemisphere are separated.
The seemingly dangerous lions actually do climb trees! Uganda wildlife safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park actually attests to this with a number of them reluctantly resting on the fig stems.
Brief Facts about Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda
Location: 
Uganda
Nearest City: Kasese
Coordinates: 00°12′S 30°00′E
Area: 1,978 km2 (764 sq mi)
Established: 1952
Governing body: Ugandan Wildlife Authority
Straddling the Equator, endowed with plentiful natural resources from friendly people, water wonders, flora, and fauna is Uganda! Aland locked country referred to as a leading tourism destination because of her diverse uniqueness from wildlife, flora fauna, water wonders and friendly people only appreciated when you plan a Uganda safari tour. If you choose to focus on beauty within, a true piece of beauty is in one of the 10 national parks In Uganda named Murchison Falls National Park.
What to see at Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda | Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda
Wildlife at the park is breath taking with about 95 mammal species and some of the most popular ones include, African leopard, African buffalo, Ugandan kob, African bush elephant, Nile crocodile, the lion, the hippopotamus, the water buck, and chimpanzees. The big games are about 5000 hippos, approximately 2500 elephants and over 10,000 buffaloes! The primates are about 10 species including the chimpanzees, vervet and the black and white colobus monkey but the most daring of them all is the bold baboon. The big cats like the interesting tree climbing lions, the nocturnal and fiendishly well camouflaged leopard, the civet, genal and several other creatures of the wild are part of the thrilling wildlife encountered on a Uganda wildlife tour. A lot of wild game will excite the tourist but the tree climbing lions reluctantly enjoying the calmness of the tree branches at Ishasha in Rukungiri district will captivate lifetime memories. All these animals within one area and the place is still so calm, wow! this attests that the park is that haven for your wildlife safaris in Uganda as you enjoy to watch some of the great Ugandan beauty.
Birds in the diverse eco system are approximately about 600 species, a phenomenal number for such a small area. The confluence of the savanna and forest linking to the expansive forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo which allows the tourist to have a glance at both the East and Central African bird species offer unrivaled Uganda birding safaris in just one destination.
There numerous water birds too with key species including the African skimmer, African Broadbill, Martial Eagle, Black-rumped Butonquail, Chapin’s fly catcher, Verreaux’s Eagle owl, Black Bee-eater, White tailed lark and White Winged Warbler.
The Katwe explosion crater is one of the volcanic features with volcanic cones, deep craters with birds whirling above and salt is extracted from the salty waters. The water in these craters rotate in an amazing way.
Flora in the lush sprawling savannah, fertile land, flowering plants and sparkling lakes accompanied by the humid temperatures gives the best scenic view for tourists on Uganda safari tours. The Maramagambo forest is the major forest at the park that contributes to the niceness of the park.
Water bodies too sit within the park like the Kazinga channel where aquatic mammals like the hippos and Nile crocodiles are seen in the waters especially in the morning.
The culture of the people within the park area is so interesting for instance the historic cave and cultural museum which is very well preserved, Banyaruguru hut has a lot of valued artifacts that were formerly used as tools for daily survival. In the kichwamba escarpment is a human- animal conflict where the communities use beehives to divert destructive elephants from their farms. The Kikorongo (which means too much sunshine in the local Lukonzo language) women community has the cultural performers who entertain guests in the lodges and hotels, teach the tourists how to weave and therefore the culture will all be expressed before you at your comfort.
What to do at Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda | Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding Tours; are so rewarding since the national park is classified as an important birding area with over 600 bird species including the African Broadbill, White winged Warbler, African skimmer, Black bee – eater, Black rumped Buttonquail. For an exhilarating birding experience these hot spots are one good place to visit; Kazinga channel, Mweya peninsula, Maramagambo forest, Ishasha sector, Lake kikorongo, Katunguru bridge area, Kasenyi area and katwe area tours
Game Drives; Through the park are Uganda wildlife safari trip drives at the north kazinga plains, kasenyi and the Ishasha area with a great opportunity to have antelope, buffalo and elephant sightings with the warthogs and bold baboons. As you have a drive through the park the sounds of the elephant around the crater filled valleys is so amazing and relaxing. The small cats can best be seen on night drives through the park.
Cultural Encounters; The culture will give you a lot to do away from the wild game and flora in the park for instance the Nyanz’ibiri cave community which will give you a glance of the beauty at the pearl, weaving activities from the Kikorongo women community that will teach you during a cultural tour in Uganda a lot of craft skills on handcraft things like necklaces made with a lot of passion. Bee harvesting at Kichwamba where bees are used to scare away elephants from the plant farms.
Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel; will grip the tourist to memorable Uganda adventure safari tours as the boats go past the hippos and Nile crocodiles.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda – Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda Map
How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda;
By road; From Entebbe International Park, the fastest route includes a ferry for 1.4km after an 8km drive from Entebbe then a road drive again to the Park. The total distance is 381km a road drive of about 7h 3min. The other route is Entebbe via Mbarara-Kasese road which is 415km taking about 7h 18min. From Kampala, the fastest route is Kampala-Fort Portal road 372km about 6h 26min to south western Uganda. From Kasese town, via Fort Portal-Mpondwe road Queen Elizabeth National Park is 30km about 8minutes drive. From the nearest town of Kasese, Queen Elizabeth National Park is 45.3km about 47minutes drive via Hima- Katunguru road. From Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park is 98.9km via Fort portal-Mpondwe road. From Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ntungamo-Katunguru road is 300km taking about 5h 57min. From Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Fort-portal-Mpondwe road is 35.4km about 63min.
By air; A chartered flight for a wildlife tour in Uganda can be organized from Kampala at Kajjansi which takes about 51 minutes in about 290km. From Kasese airstrip, Queen Elizabeth National Park is 5.1km via Fort portal-Mpondwe road taking about 13minutes.
Best Uganda safari/visit/tour time to Queen Elizabeth National Park
The best time of the year for a wildlife safari tour in the park is during the dry seasons in the months of January- February and June – July when the wild game is not in hiding from the cold but around pools of water. The best time of the day to successfully track down a pride of lions is in the early morning or dusk.
Diverse wildlife, with about 5000 hippos, 2500 elephants, over 10,000 buffaloes and over 600 bird species……wow! Any passionate tourist can’t afford to miss this experience just made possible by planning a safari to Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodations, Safari Lodges & Safari Hotels in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Safari Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park with no worries of where to rest from after a beautiful trek through the park. Either luxury, mid-range or budget safari accommodation is availed in various hotels and lodges including,
Luxury Safari Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park;Is provided at Mweya safari Lodge located on a peninsula within the heart of Queen Elizabeth National park, Jacana safari lodge at the periphery of the biggest crater lake, The Baboon Safari resort at kyambura, Katara lodge and Kyambura game lodge which provides luxury tented cottage lodging near kyambura Gorge. Read More
Mid-Range Accommodations in Queen Elizabeth National Park;Is provided at Kingfisher lodge in Kichwamba, Ihamba Lakeside safari lodge, Buffalo safari resort next to kazinga channel, Pumba safari cottages in Kyambura. Read More
Budget Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park;Is available at Tembo safari lodge off Ntungamo-Katunguru road, Queen Elisabeth Bush Lodge, Simba safari camp, Engiri game lodge next to the entrance gate, Irungu forest safari lodge, Marafiki safari Lodge in Rubirizi. Read More
Short Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour Packages
The short gorilla safaris in Uganda are designed to enable mini break holiday makers to enjoy the taste of nature and encounter the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. These short Uganda Gorilla Safaris range from 3 Days Uganda gorilla safari to 4 Days Uganda gorilla safari, 5 Days Uganda gorilla safari and 6 Days Uganda gorilla safari. The short gorilla safaris are less costly and enable the limited time clients to have an encounter with attractions that they never thought of. The short gorilla safaris to Uganda are well detailed and designed to maximize your Uganda safari experience thus worth undertaking. View More Short Uganda Gorilla Safaris
Long Uganda Gorilla Safari Tour Packages
The long gorilla safaris in Uganda are designed to last a couple of days and are designed to enable Uganda gorilla safari undertakers have an extended encounter with gorillas along with other Uganda safari attractions like other primates, wildlife, scenery and culture. The Long safaris in Uganda extend up to 24 days and are comprehensively designed to enable Uganda safari undertakers to explore Uganda in detail. The destination Uganda is very diverse and every corner has got rich attractions and activities can keep you mesmerized throughout your long gorilla safari in Uganda. Taking you to the virgin wilderness of Kidepo up to the Impenetrable forests of Bwindi in the south west for gorilla trekking while traversing the Chimpanzee trekking destinations of Kibale, wildlife havens of Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park along with scenic wonders of the snowcapped mountains of the moon among other attractions like the worldly hospitable people. View More Long Uganda Gorilla Safaris
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