Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most visited parks in Uganda.  It it is the perfect park when combined with gorilla tracking Bwindi Impenetrable forest, one can in five or six days can visit the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, take in the tree climbing Lions in the Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth Park, take a Boat Ride Safari on the Kazinga Channel with its abundant wildlife, hundreds of birds, the highest concentration of hippos in Africa.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is simply a tapestry of natural wonders in the western region of Uganda. Queen Elizabeth Park is filled with sa lot of wildlife, besides its lions, leopards and other cats, its elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and more species of birds than any other Ugandan Wildlife Park, there are the scenic Katwe explosion craters, the Maramagambo forest you can go hiking birding, the cultural visits among other activities in Uganda.

Getting There

This National Park is approximately 420 kilometers, 5-6 hours’ drive from Kampala. There are two routs used to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park and they include Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi-Kasese then to Queen Elizabeth National park. This activity can then be booked for from Mweya Information center. The other route is Kampala-Mubende-Fortportal then to Kasese-Queen Elizabeth National park, but it is the longer route than the first one. If you are coming from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and would wish to connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can connect via the Ishasha sector (Southern side of Queen Elizabeth National park).

Things to Do in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The most famous national park and traveler’s mostly preferred destination in Uganda is undoubtedly Queen Elizabeth National Park. The ample savanna, fertile swamps and the beautiful lakes make it the best dwelling for the big games, primate species including the chimps and several bird species. Just very close to the Rwenzori mountain, the park is located with beautiful crater lakes curving through the rolling hills, the Kazinga channel – an enchanting spot for the hippos, buffaloes, elephants and bird species on its shores.

A Uganda safari to the park exposes you to the moving attractions here that make a safari experience unforgettable. In case you are in Queen Elizabeth national park, don’t miss out on the following things that will create lifelong memories.

The Kazinga Channel is a long natural channel joining Lake Edward and Lake George. It attracts a wide range of both animals and birds, and it is notably one of the world’s largest concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles making it the dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth national park that most of the explorers have taken on safaris in Uganda just to have a Launch cruise at the Kazinga Channel. Travelers also get to spot different wildlife species like the elephants, buffaloes and others that compile here for drinking water.

Ishasha Sector

This is the number one spot center for the amazing tree climbing lions in East Africa. This sector of Queen Elizabeth Park is famously known for its prominent residency of the tree climbing lions. Most of the safaris to Queen Elizabeth national park aim at beholding these beautiful creatures lie up in the huge fig trees. Only inexperienced tour operators would take tourists to this park and deny them a chance to have the lion tracking experience in Ishasha.

The Kyambura gorge is also another spot that tourists shouldn’t miss while in Queen Elizabeth national park. It is the longest gorge in East Africa watered by the Kyambura stream keeping the forest with loads of food and water for the wildlife living here. It is the sector of Queen Elizabeth with chimpanzees the incredible apes. These primates are seen moving around the forest jumping from one to tree to another. Trek the Chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge game reserve today, just give us you dates.

Lake Katwe is a traditional salt mining lake formed about 10,000 years ago through volcanic eruptions. It is also one of the suggested spots to visit while in Queen Elizabeth national park. Just a 25minutes drive gets you to the lake where local people mine salt in a very traditional way that would make a traveler think that time has gone back to the 17th century. This is the special charm about Lake Katwe, its one spot you should not miss on your wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Also visit the Leopard village and encounter the culture of the people living around the park. Have a nature walk in Maramagambo forest. Trek the chimps in Kalinzu game reserve. Tour the Mweya peninsular and many more because this park simply has everything for every.

Indeed, if Queen Elizabeth National Park is to be ranked the best safari destination in Uganda, it is justifiable. It truly is a world that can trigger off your adventure curiosity and throw you into a pool of reality of whatever you ever imagined. Travel to Queen Elizabeth national park for an experience with lifelong memories.

Launch Trips

Queen Elizabeth National park located in Western Uganda is one of the rare places where launch trips are carried out. This is always a must-do activity for all tourists who visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for a safari. Launch trips within Queen Elizabeth National park are conducted from the 40 kilometer Long Natural channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward-the Kazinga Channel, which is a hot spot for incredible species that call this Park home and participating in a boat trips along the Kazinga Channel offers tourists with the golden opportunity to cruise just meters away from hundreds of large hippos and herds of Buffaloes while the Giant Elephants wander on the banks of the Kazinga Channel. The Hippos always stay in the water to protect their rather sensitive skin from the strong heat and graze mostly at night. The most fascinating creatures you will see include Crocodiles and the Monitor lizards at the Shores of the Channel. Other mammals present at the banks include Waterbucks, buffaloes, Uganda Kobs and bushbucks who only visit the Kazinga channel to quench their thirst and to cool off their bodies.

While on a boat cruise within this Channel, you will be able to sight on average 60 exceptional bird species. Some of the common bird species include Pink-backed pelicans, African Fish eagles, African spoonbills, Martial eagles, Papyrus Gonolek, Cormorants, African Skimmers and the occasional shoebill storks. Most of the boats within Queen Elizabeth National Park carry up to 40 passengers and wherever you sit, you will be able to capture a prefect view and will be able to take clear photographs, the fact that the boat even drifts slowly on the shores of the Kazinga Channel. On-board the boat will be a qualified guide who will be providing all the necessary information on the mammal and bird species encountered and anything you wish to know.

What is the Cost of Launch Trips within Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Launch trips within Queen Elizabeth National park cost only $30 per person for both Foreign-non residents and foreign residents, and Shs 30,000 for East African Community residents. These prices exclude the Park entrance fees into the National Park.

Boat rides within Kazinga Channel usually last for two hours and are conducted for three or four times per day, but believe me this is the most enjoyable activity you will have within this National Park. The boat trips always leaves at the following times-08:00am, 11:00am, 14:00pm and 17:00pm. For tourists interested in participating in the activity, you can contact the Mweya Information Center through +256 782 387805 or by contacting the Uganda Wildlife Authority Head office in Kampala through +256 414 355000.

Other riveting places that can be visited for launch cruises/boat trips include Murchison Falls in North-western side of Uganda and Lake Mburo in Western side of Uganda.

The launch cruise conducted in the Kazinga Channel is the most participated activity within the Queen Elizabeth National park because it allows tourists to explore over 60 aquatic bird species and mammals such as elephants, buffaloes and antelopes and reptiles as crocodiles and monitor lizards.