QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Plan your tourism travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park if you are seeking a true African Savanah Safari with significant biodiversity.

On this page we share with you information that can help you plan that thrilling Savanah tour to this Uganda National Park with the highest biodiversity ranking on the globe.

You will find information about

• How to get there
• Interesting activities you can do at the park
• and Bird watching at the Park.
• When to visit
• Where to stay
• What to Eat

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular & accessible savanna reserve. Set majestically in the shadow of the Rwenzori, flanking lakes, open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that QENP boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world!

The park is located in south western part of the country near Kasese.

This extraordinary park is 1978Km sq & is bounded to the west by the Ishasha River & Lake Edward along the Congolese border, to the north by Kasese & Rwenzori foothills, to the east by Lake George, the Kyambura Gorge & Kalinzu Forest Reserve and to the south by the Kigezi Wildlife Reserve.

Almost 100 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species testifies to the extraordinary ecological diversity of this park & makes it a superb safari territory and a prime grazing area to buffaloes, elephants, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog and handsome Uganda kob (antelope species), ten primates species including the olive baboon and the legendary tree.

The climbing lions of Ishasha remind me of the "The Man Eater" during the building of East African Railways in the early 20th Century.

Other predators in the park include the spotted hyena,leopard & side stripped jackal.

All these are regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula - which also boasts a marvelous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains.

The Kyambura Gorge harbors habituated chimps, the Maramagambo Forest is home to an alluring selection of forest monkeys and birds 4 duiker species, and flocks of flamingo are resident on the crater lakes.

Getting there and away!

It is a 5-6 hours non stop drive from Kampala on a surfaced road via Mbarara to Kasese, and can be reached on a dirt road from Bwindi. It is also accessible by public transport.

The Orientation of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The Kazinga Channel & Lake Edward divides the park into its northern & southern components linked only by an artificial bridge across the channel at Katunguru on the main Mbarara- Kasese road.

The main tourist focus in QENP is the Mweya peninsula- site of the parks headquarters,luxury lodge, budget hostel & camp site.

Interesting activities at Queen Elizabeth National Park!

You will enjoy launch trips on the Kazinga Channel which offer great game viewing.

Game drives around Mweya can also offer you a thrilling game viewing experience.

You can go for the chimp tracking in the Kyambura Gorge or guided walks in Maramagambo Forest.

Bird watching at Queen ELizabeth National Park!

Queen Elizabeth National Park has more than 610 bird species, the highest total for any national park in Africa.

Birding any where in the park is good but Queen Elizabeth stands out for the myriad water birds on the Kazinga Channel.

When to visit?

You can visit Queen Elizatheth National park at any time of the year.

Where to stay?

Up market accommodation.

Mweya Safari Lodge

Mweya Safari Lodge a.k.a “The Sheraton in the Bush!” is one of the most beautiful lodges in Uganda.

It has 49 rooms. The dinning areas and bar offer a grand stand view of the Kazinga Channel which attracts large herds of buffalo & elephants.

The Rwenzori foot hills offer a spectacular view on a clear day.

The lodge gardens are rustling with animal life,ranging from warthogs to variety of lizards.

The restaurant is excellent with an extensive a’la carte menu of Indian and Continental dishes.

The self contained rooms are well furnished with large beds, mosquito nets, and a private verandah.

Hippo hill camp

Hippo hill camp – This new camp overlooks Lake Munyenyange just outside the park. It is under the lake kitandara tours.

The equator lodge

The equator lodge is a newly constructed lodge which is on a hillside beyond the equator just outside the national park.

The lodge offers great views of Lake George & Kikorongo.

It is conveniently placed for the Kasenyi lion area & planned walking safaris around explosion craters & shoebill swamp.

If you arrive from Fort Portal and Kibale forest, you will have easy access to this lodge. The cottages are beautiful with self contained rooms.

Budget type accommodation

• Mweya Hostel, and
• Kookaburra Camp

shoestring type accommodation

• the Mweya camp,

• Excellent lodge,

• channel camp site I &2 and

• Rwenzori Salaam Lodge.

Where to eat?

You can enjoy your meals at the Mweya Safari Lodge which serves excellent meals OR the Tembo Canteen which has a good location overlooking the Channel.

The price of food & drinks is reasonable.

Click here for information on how to start your own tourism business to offer tour packages to Queen Elizabeth National Park

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