Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Queen Elizabeth National Park It is located in western Uganda in the Kasese district. It was gazetted in 1952 by the Uganda Wildlife Authority; it is 1978 square kilometers. It was locally called Kazinga Channel National Park and named Queen Elizabeth National Park by Queen Elizabeth II after her visit.

It is the second largest park in Uganda, home to the Big Four animals and various other mammals, including the famous climbing lions, which are found only in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park has a lot of adventurous activities like game drives, bird watching, boat cruises, and chimpanzee tracking, to mention but a few.

Here are things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Boat cruise at Kazinga Channel.

You cannot visit Queen Elizabeth National Park and leave without visiting Kazinga Channel; it boasts a variety of birds, fishing opportunities at Kazinga Fishing Village, and a chance to see hippos, buffaloes, and elephants. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel is an exhilarating experience for one not to miss.

Safari game drives.

Game drives allow you to tour around the park and view wildlife in their natural habitats, and these animals can be spotted: elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippos, and warthogs. Game drive safaris give you an opportunity to see a variety of animals, and game drives are the top things to do in Queen Elizabeth.

Chimpanzee trucking

Chimpanzee trekking is also a must-do on your safari tour. It is done from Kyambura Gorge. The chimpanzee trekking is done in the morning and afternoon. While in Kyambura Gorge, you can see other primates like baboons and monkeys.

Cultural and community encounters.

A cultural visit to African communities is a memorable experience to have on your safari. You can choose local communities like the Lake Katwe mining community, Batwa culture, and Bakonjo. These communities will share their way of life, and you will get to see things done locally, like crafting shoes.

Nature walks.

The guided nature walks are done in the Mweya Peninsula, where you get to view the park and animals like mongooses, elephants, antelopes, buffalos, and warthogs. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to interact with the Basangola locals residing in the vicinity of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Lion trucking.

Lion tracking is done in the areas of Kasenyi Plains and the Isasha Sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth Park, where we find tree-climbing lions and normal lions. Lion tracking is mainly for researchers, but regular tourists can also do it for fun.

Bird watching.

One of Uganda’s top birding spots, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 600 bird species, including the papyrus canary, martial eagle, pink-backed pelican, white pelican, Hadada ibis, oxpeckers, African hobby, black bee-eater, African finfoot, African skimmer, and many more.

Hiking.

This activity takes place in Maramagambo Forest, where visitors are guided through the forest and can hike until they reach the bat cave, which is filled with many bats, allowing clients to see all types of trees in the forest.

Visiting Lake Katwe.

Visiting Lake Katwe will give you an opportunity to see how salt is mined without machines. These salt miners use their hands to pick out salt, and also around Lake Katwe there is a community of local people who make crafts like shoes and bags.

Queen’s pavilion.

Visiting the Queen’s Pavilion is another activity to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is the place where the Queen of England renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park, so it is so attractive and everyone would wish to visit it because it is even on the hill so visitors will have the double opportunity of seeing the Queen’s Pavilion and hiking where they can see Kikorongo town very well.

Wildlife research.

This is a great experience that allows tourists to get closer to the wildlife; tourists are always assigned to the researcher who takes them deep into the park, and during this activity, researchers have animals of their choice, like lions, leopards, elephants, and others. Although this activity is organized by order, wildlife research is conducted by appointment, as you need qualified researchers to guide you.

Where to stay

Accommodations range from mid-range and luxury to budget options.

The Mweya Safari Lodge, in the Mweya Peninsula, offers grass-thatched rooms that create a refreshing atmosphere during your stay. Other accommodations include Elephant Plains Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, and Katungulu Guest House, among others.

Best time to visit

Queen Elizabeth National Park is best visited during the dry season, when it is ideal for game drives, chimpanzee trekking, and other activities.

Visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park offers you a wide variety of activities that cater to all interests, whether wildlife, bird watching, primates, or cultural encounters, so while on a safari tour in Uganda, do not miss out on visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park.