Big 5 tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Big 5 tour in Queen Elizabeth National Park : The big 5 tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park is part of the exciting wildlife experiences to enjoy when visiting the south western part of Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth national park is among the best places to engage in wildlife viewing tours across Uganda and different wildlife species are found around the destination including 4 of the big 5 such as elephants, lions, leopards and buffalos.
Rhinos which are part of the big 5 can be seen at the Zziwa rhino sanctuary which is the only location where they are found in Uganda. Tourists take part in rhino tracking experiences to see the rhinos in the wild.
There are over 95 wildlife species found in Queen Elizabeth National Park which can be seen during safaris around the destination and they include warthogs, hippos, bushbucks, hyenas, mongoose, impalas, bushbucks, kudu, elands, topi and many others.
Chimpanzees and other primates can also be seen around the national park in area such as the Kalinzu forest, Maramagambo forest, Kyambura gorge among others. Other parts of Queen Elizabeth national park where the big 5 and other wildlife species can be spotted include Kasenyi plains, Mweya peninsula, Ishasha sector among others.
During safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park, the 4 of the big 5 which can be spotted include the following;
- Elephants
African elephants are among the big 5 found in Queen Elizabeth national park and they can be seen in different parts of the park such as the Kasenyi plains, Kazinga channel area and as they roam around the savannah plains.
These elephants are known for being herbivores and are also the largest land mammal that can be seen in the national park. There are many elephants found in Queen Elizabeth national park and during sfarais, they can be spotted in their herds.
- Lions
Queen Elizabeth national park is home to many lions and some of the best places to see them include around the Ishasha area where tree climbing lions can be spotted on safari.
Lion tracking is also among the activities which take place during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park. during this activity tourists can search around the Kasenyi plains for the lions and see them among the savannah plains by monitoring their collars which are tracked by the researchers.
This national park is known for being home to many lions. Lions are predators and can seen around the park as they hunt and move around the savannah plains in Queen Elizabeth national park.
- Buffalos
Buffalos are also among the big 5 and they are easily spotted during wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park.
They are also herbivores and roam around the savannah plains and aroma by the water shores around the Kazinga channel. The buffalos can be spotted in herds and also solitary ones during tours in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Among the big 5, buffalos are considered to be the most dangerous and they can be seen in big numbers around Queen Elizabeth national park.
- Leopards
Leopards can also be seen during tours around Queen Elizabeth national park and they can be spotted in areas around the Kasenyi plains.
They are known to be solitary creatures and can also camouflage in the wilderness of Queen Elizabeth national park making them difficult to spot during safaris around the destination. Leopards are also known to be good climbers and are also nocturnal wildlife species but can also be seen during day.
Activities to do during big 5 tours in Queen Elizabeth national park
There are various activities that are done during tours in Queen Elizabeth national park in search for the big 5 and other wildlife species and they include the following;
Game drives
During safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park, tourists can engage in game drives which can be done in the morning and also in the afternoon.
The game drives take place in different parts of the national park in search for wildlife species such as elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards, impalas, topi, elands, warthogs, hyenas, hartebeests, bushbucks among others.
Boat safaris
Boat safaris can also be done around Queen Elizabeth national park along the Kazinga channel where different wildlife and bird species can be spotted.
The boat rides take place in the morning and afternoon and tourists can enjoy seeing elephants, hippos and buffalos along the shores of the Kazinga channel.
Guided nature walks
Safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park also involve guided nature walks around the savannah plains of the park where tourists can encounter different wildlife species on foot.
Best time for big 5 tours in Queen Elizabeth national park
The best time for big 5 tours in Queen Elizabeth national park is during the dry season in June to October and from December to February which is also a good time to see other wildlife species found in the destination. During the dry season, wildlife species can be seen around the water sources and the vegetation is also thinner making them easy to spot during safaris.
Wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park can also be done during the rainy seasons around November and March, April and May despite the rains. Driving around the national park gets difficult during the rainy season since the trails become muddy but the lush vegetation makes it a good time to engage in photography safaris and also bird watching.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park has budget, midrange and luxury lodges where tourists can stay during their big 5 tours in the country. Tourists can also do camping during their safaris around the national park.
Some of the lodges where tourists can stay during their big 5 safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park include Parkview safari lodge, Elephant plains lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Elephant hab lodge, Pumba safari cottages, Buffalo safari lodge, Bush lodge, Kikorongo safari lodge, Queen Elizabeth safari lodge, Engiri game lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp, Katara lodge, Kasenyi safari camp among others.
