The second-largest national park in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is well-known for its tree-climbing lions in the southern region. It is the only location in Uganda to witness these unique mammal species, which span an area of about 1978 square kilometres and pass through an open savannah and a unique gorge with a tropical forest. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most sought-after conservation area in Uganda when it comes to birds. The park was established in 1952 with the goal of safeguarding the species that are part of the protected ecosystem. It is situated between 910 and 1390 metres above sea level.
The park was renamed to its current name after Queen Elizabeth II of England visited, and the park’s wildlife was preserved over time. The park spans the equator, with the Katwe explosion area marking its highest point and Lake Edward its lowest. Its biodiverse ecosystem includes open savannah, humid forests, lakes, and crater lakes scattered throughout. These habitats support a variety of wildlife, including African buffaloes, African elephants, Uganda Kobs, lions, leopards, waterbucks, topi, and elands. There are 600 bird species in the national park, out of the 1070 species reported in the Ugandan survey.
Among the big five of the wilderness (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes), Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a variety of large mammals. Popular activities in the park include game drives along the Kasenyi plains, where visitors can expect to see lions, water bucks, elephants, and buffaloes, to name a few. The Kazinga canal is well-known for its boat cruises, which travel the entire length of the channel. Seeing a variety of wild creatures along the banks inside and on either side of the channel makes this unique activity a must-do.
The region is well-known for having the highest number of hippos in the world, and numerous animals visit the riverbank in search of fresher pastures and drinking water. The boat trip is offered twice a day, in the morning and the afternoon. Experienced lion tracking is available in the park and is a must-do if you spot the lions in the Katwe Salt Lake region, where you will also see a lot of salt miners and fisherman. The Ishasha sector game drives are located in the southern part of the park. The park has an impressive collection of birds.
It’s easy to overlook Kyambura Gorge in the park, which is home to primates and is most famous for its chimpanzees. The park has trained chimpanzee troops for guest visits; these animals are known for their loud sounds and are thought to share up to 98% of human DNA. These activities take place in the morning and afternoon. The national park is about 410 square kilometres to the north of Fort Portal Town. Chatter flights can be arranged to land at the Kasese airstrip within the park. The park is accessible year-round, but it is most enjoyable from December to February and from June to mid-September, when it is dry. It should be noted that even during the dry seasons, there may be occasional days of rain. It is therefore advisable to pack boots, insect repellent, sunscreen, long sleeve shirts, trousers and any other personal belongings. Visits to the conservation area can be coordinated with other African wildlife safaris.