Top Things to See & Do in Queen Elizabeth National Park
For your first time in Uganda Queen Elizabeth is one of the most attractive parks not to miss, especially if you are after ultimate Wildlife encounters. The Park was established in 1952 as Kazinga National Park but later renamed to Queen. This was intended to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II in 1964.
It covers a huge part of the land in the western part of Uganda with good habitats teeming with Wildlife, varying from 619 species of birds, reptiles, insects, to 95 species of mammals.
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s lush habitats mainly consist of Savannah grasslands, shrubs including the candelabra Euphorbia trees. Though the Albertine Rift is hot and dry, Queen is at least endowed with lakes, rivers, and swamps.
A safari in Uganda through Queen Elizabeth National Park rewards not only scenic wonders and wildlife but as well grants chances to delve into the part of Uganda’s culture through impressive interaction with the locals in the nearby communities. What an amazing Park in the Western ends of Uganda.
To limit on the hustle about Queen’s top major draws, below is the list of top things to see and do while on an unrivaled Safari in Queen
Things to See
Big Game
If it’s Wild animals, Queen is truly unbeatable. Over 3000 Elephants, 5000 hippos and 10,000 Cape Buffaloes call it home.
Not mentioned are the Warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Waterbucks as well as the peerless semi-aquatic Sitatunga Antelopes.
Of the African big fives, four are present including Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, and Elephants. Elephants are the most common and its population growth has recovered to the levels of 1960.
Big & Small Cats
For most travelers to Uganda, Big Cats are among the main motives for bespoke Wildlife Safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park. On a visit you can find the Serval cats, Lions, Leopards and Genal.
Sights of these cats are possible in the Kasenyi plains mostly for the Lions and Leopards. More than that, Travelers are more impressed by the famous tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
Leaving alone the big cats, most of the small cats are nocturnal, therefore you can easily behold them while on nocturnal game drives.
Primates
Ten Primate Species embrace the diverse habitats of Queen Elizabeth National Park including Chimpanzees, the closest primate to human features. Other species include Vervets, Black and White colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and baboons.
Birds
Queen’s variety of habitats including Savannah, wetlands and lowland forests are inhabited by over 619 bird species. With these high numbers recorded, it’s not hard to understand why Queen is listed among Uganda’s top birding hotspots. A must go for bird enthusiasts.
Things to Do
Game Drives
As highlighted, Queen is packed with Wildlife (3000 Elephants, 10,000 buffaloes, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Uganda kob, and Antelopes along with feline cats such as lions, leopards, genal and Serval cat).
Seeing and taking some stunning photos of these species is definitely a grand experience that is hard to forget.
There are numerous options to immerse Queen’s Wildlife but game driving is unbeatable. You can either do it during day time or at night.
The major areas in Queen where travelers marvel at the Park’s beauty through game drives include Kasenyi plains, Ishasha sector, and the Mweya Peninsula.
Chimpanzee Tracking – Kyambura Gorge
More than the big cats, big games and bird species, Queen is home to ten primate species including the human-related Chimpanzees.
These primates are found in the Kyambura gorge, an area dominated by savannah and as well-referred to as the Valley of the apes.
Chimpanzee tracking is among the activities that can occupy your days in Queen Elizabeth National Park. For your own notice, Chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge are hard to see during some seasons.
Therefore if you fancy meeting them, it’s better you time your visit to Queen respective to the best time of sighting these ever active primates.
The trekking expedition into the gorge Crosses rivers winding through lush forests. The tracking experience is beyond Chimpanzee encounters to admiring scenic views of landscapes as well as beholding other Wildlife species.
Kazinga Channel – Boat Cruise
Queen is home to over five thousand hippos, one of the largest hippo concentrations in Africa. They are found in the waters of Kazinga channel along with other aquatic species. The best way to take in these wonders of the Kazinga channel is by a two-hour boat cruise.
This cruise offers breathtaking views of hippos wallowing, water birds and crocodiles. In addition to the riverside animals such as Elephants, Buffaloes, and antelopes that draw near the banks for water.
This activity is inclusive of the main highlights for a trip to Queen and Mweya Safari boat is recommended for outstanding charms.
Lion Tracking Experiential
This is an experience limited to a few visitors; you must book in advance in order to be part of it respective to the dates.
It usually involves embarking a safari jeep with a guide and researchers track the Lions particularly those with radio calls attached to them.
After locating them, you are taught about their behaviors. The tracking session lasts between one to three hours and done twice per day, either in the morning or late afternoon.
Birding in Queen Elizabeth Park
When you ask most of the birders to Uganda of the best birding hotspots, Queen Elizabeth National Park cannot miss on the list. This is backed by the diverse range of bird species that inhabit its major habitats.
Over 619 species of birds are recorded in this Park including water birds, forest birds, and woodlands. Of the great regions in Queen, the Maramagambo forest has a lot to see.
Some of the species include Flycatchers, Pink-backed pelican, African broadbill, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, White-tailed lark, white-winged warbler, Martial eagle, African skimmer, pink-backed pelican, Papyrus canary, Corncrake, Chapin’s flycatcher, Black Bee-eater, Lesser and Greater Flamingo to name but a few.
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