Facts,History and Background -Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most and frequently toured park among the 10 National Parks in Uganda. This park is positioned in the south western parts in 4 districts-Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi & Rukungiri. Queen Elizabeth National Park was formed and recognized in 1952 unruffled with Murchison falls National Park and was formerly known as Kazinga National Park but then later was re-titled Queen Elizabeth National Park in 1954 to honor the tour made by Queen Elizabeth 11 of Britain to Uganda. This park is occupies a land area of 1978 km ² which ranks it the 2^nd largest Park in Uganda.

Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park

1.Primates

This is one of the terminus in Uganda which does shelter the threatened primate species which involve Chimpanzees, Red tailed monkeys, Black & white colobus monkeys,Baboons,Vervet monkeys, to mention but a few which are positioned in the Kyambura gorge in this National Park.

2.Birds

Queen Elizabeth National Park does also provide shelter to a series of bird species involving the migratory birds, widely spread species, forest birds, Aquatic birds pus the savannah birds. It homes a total of about 619 bird species. And these include spur winged plover, African fish eagle, long tailed cormorant, open billed stork, white backed pelican, etc.

3. Kazinga channel

This channel covers 40 km distance -a water network which joins Lake George & Lake Edward. It provides you an opportunity to engage in an incredible boat cruise where you are able to widely spot a series of animals on the shores and still cruise close to water animals like in huge closet of Hippos,crocodiles,aquatic birds and so on.

4. Maramagambo forest

A natural forest stationed within the park elongating from the escarpment of Kichwamba towards Lake Edward. This forest houses 7 primate species such as Chimpanzees, Baboons, Vervet monkeys, Blue monkeys, pottos, bush babies, L’hoest monkeys, and so on with bird species inclusive. In this places activities like nature walks are paramount bird watching and Chimpanzee trekking all creating such an exciting experience for you once on your trip to this natural forest.

5. Kyambura Gorge

This gorge is recognized as the valley of Apes positioned in the eastern part of the park. It houses primates like Chimpanzees, Baboons. Red tailed monkeys, black & white colobus, etc.

6.Infrequent Tree climbing lions

These are eminent attractions in the park, that are stationed in Ishasha section of the park in the southern region and they are always s spotted lying in the acacia fig trees staring and looking down on the antelopes which will be grazing down.

Activities in Queen Elizabeth national Park.

Boat cruise and Bird watching.

Boat cruise is done on/along the Kazinga channel a water network which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. This activity is conducted and supervised in sessions like morning session begins at 9:00 am whereas afternoon goes for 2:00 pm and both sessions begin from the landing site next /close to Mweya luxury lodge. Every boat session does consume about 2 hrs and displays an opportunity for you to widely view a huge closet of animals like Hippos,crocodiles,mammals such as Buffaloes,Antelopes,Elephants along the water banks,also involves in bird species like African skimmer, saddle billed stork, pink backed pelican,and so many others

Bird watching is another activity in here since it shelters 619 bird species in total and this activity is supervised in several places in the park like Mweya peninsular,Maramagambo forest, Ishasha section,Kasenyi plains,Katwe area, Kazinga channel,Katunguru bridge and Lake Kikorongo .While doing the watching, you can be able to spot birds like flycatcher, pink black pelican, African broadbill, white tailed lark, long crested eagle, martial eagle, African skimmer, Black cuckoo, red chested sunbird ,etc.

Chimpanzee trekking

Alongside Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, this is the 2^nd well engaged in and involved in activity by several tourists to Uganda. Well Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park is conducted from Kyambura gorge (valley of Apes) stationed at the verge of the park. This activity is engage in still in 2 sessions –in the morning and in the afternoon both sessions last for 2-4 hrs in the wilds basing on the position of the chimpanzees. During your involvement in the chimpanzee trekking you be able to spot animals like black 7 white colobus, Baboons, vervet monkeys and bird species. You are able to spend strictly 1 hr with theses threatened creatures in their natural home learning about their behaviours, life style and meanwhile them entertaining you highly, can also take some photos as well.

When to tour Queen Elizabeth National Park

This park can be toured year in and year out, though the finest period would be the peak season (June –September & December –February).During the peak season ,the rain will pour in less amounts, so then the vegetation will be short in the park which enables clear sighting/spotting of animals, the roads to the park will be dry and travel-able/derivable. Still in this season animals will collect themselves at the water shores to quench their thirst of which you will get a chance to widely spot them and also clearly take clear photos too.

Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth National Park

This park has gotten accommodation falling in all levels of Luxury, mid-range and budget, so it’s up to you where your decision lies during your safari in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park contains accommodation which involves such, Mweya safari lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp,Kasenyi safari camp, Elephant Hub lodge, Park view lodge, Simba safari lodge, Queen Elizabeth Safari Camp, Mweya Hostels and cottages, Kyambura gorge lodge, Kyambura tented lodge, Jacana safari lodge,Katandara Hippo Hill Lodge,etc.

How to get to Queen Elizabeth National park

This park can be reached by using both Air and road means of transport. Once you are using and transferring by Air transport there are companies like Aero link Uganda which works day in and day out, daily timetabled and hired/rented flights from Entebbe Airport /Kajjansi Airfield to Mweya /Kasese Airfield.

And once transferring using road transport ,there are 2 circuits, one route/circuit from Kampala through Masaka ,Mbarara,Bushenyi and then to the park offices or the other circuit/route is from Kampala through Mubende ,Fort portal and then to the park headquarters and the whole expedition consumes about 6-7 hrs drive. With the above mentioned facts about this park ,then one is free to choose when to tour Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.