2022 Activities in Queen Elizabeth national park

2022 Activities in queen Elizabeth national park; Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park in Uganda located in western region in four districts namely Kasese, Rubirizi, Rukungiri and Kamwenge. The national park was gazette in 1952 and covers a total area of 1,978 square kilometers which is comprised of different vegetation types including forest grassland, acacia woodland, swamps among others. Queen Elizabeth national park is famously known for harboring abundant wildlife species including 95 mammals species including the big four of the big five mammals which are elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, other mammals like waterbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs, hippos, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, banded mongoose, primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and more than 600 bird species including martial eagle, African wattled plover, pink backed pelican, papyrus canary among others to thrill while on Uganda Safaris Tours.

2022 Activities in Queen Elizabeth national park

Game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park

Game drive is the most famous activity in Queen Elizabeth national park which is carried out in a comfortable 4 WD pop up safari vehicle with a professional driver guide. Game drive in Queen Elizabeth park is best done early in the morning because that’s the time when animals are most active. During the game drives which are commonly done in Kasenyi area, you will be able to view different animals like Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, waterbucks, warthogs among others which will be feeding in open savannah plains, view predators like lions, hyenas, leopards looking for a hunt.

Queen Elizabeth national park also offers night game drives where you will be able to view nocturnal animals. During the Night game drives which is only done in Mweya peninsula, you will be able to view animals like hyenas, lions, leopards, civet, serval cats, view hippos grazing among others.

Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park

Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park is done on Kazinga channel a 32km water channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During the boat cruise which takes about 2 to 3 hours, you will be able to view animals like buffaloes, waterbucks, elephants, warthogs among others drinking water along the shores, view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view water birds like kingfishers, bee-eaters, cormorants, flamingos, fish eagles, hornbills among others while on 2022 Activities in queen Elizabeth national park.

Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park

Queen Elizabeth national park is a home of more than 600 bird species including endemic birds, water birds and migratory birds which make it the best bird watching destination in Uganda. Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in different areas such as Maramagambo forest, Ishasha sector, Mweya peninsula, Kasenyi area, Kazinga channel among others where you will be able to view different bird species including grey headed kingfisher, African mourning dove, swamp flycatcher, slender tailed nightjar, blue naped mouse bird, hooded vulture, martial eagle, pygmy kingfisher, greater flamingos, white tailed lark, slender tailed nightjar, black bellied bustard, papyrus canary, black crowned tchagra among others.

Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park

Chimpanzee trekking is an adventurous activity where tourists move on foot into the tropical rainforest in search of chimpanzees and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in Kyambura gorge also known as the valley of apes located in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Trekking of chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where after you will start trekking in the jungle with an experienced park guide who is well conversant with chimpanzee trekking trails. During trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours, you will be able to view other primate species, birds, plants among others and once the chimpanzees are found you will be able to spend one hour with them in their environment which helps you to learn more about their lifestyle, behaviors, watch them feed, breastfeed, play, hunt, fight, rest, take photos and record videos.

Nature walks/hiking in Queen Elizabeth national park

Nature walk/ hiking is an incredible activity in Queen Elizabeth national park where tourists get an opportunity to explore the park on foot. During the nature walk you will be accompanied by an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger and an experienced park guide who is conversant with hiking trails. Nature walk in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in different areas like Mweya peninsula, Maramagambo forest, along Ishasha River among others. Nature walk in the park gives you an opportunity to get up-close and personal with different animals, listen to sweet sounds of birds in trees, view colorful butterflies, relax your mind in a quiet environment, enjoy the cool breeze among others.

Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth national park

Queen Elizabeth national park can be visited all year round though the best period is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. During the dry season the park receives less rainfall therefore vegetation will be thin which allows you to view wildlife species clearly, hiking and chimpanzee trekking trails will be passable and big numbers of animals will gather around the water bodies to drink water hence giving you a chance to view different animals.

Queen Elizabeth national park can also be visited in the wet season also known as the low season in the months of March, April, May and November because that’s the best period for bird watching where bird lovers will get an opportunity to spot colorful and migratory bird species.

How to get to Queen Elizabeth national park

Queen Elizabeth national park is located in western part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where by you will drive from Kampala/ Entebbe through Masaka, Mbarara or Mubende, Fort Portal to the park headquarters which takes 6 to 7 hours’ drive.

The park can also be accessed from Bwindi impenetrable national park via Ishasha sector which takes about 3 to 4 hours’ drive.

Queen Elizabeth national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter domestic flights with Aerolink from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Mweya or Kasese airstrips. Domestic flights to Mweya or Kasese airstrips can be booked through your tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris.