How to get to queen Elizabeth national park?
Queen Elizabeth national park is located in south western Uganda in Kasese district, so getting there is either by road or air so, it is according to the visitor’s choice there are those that do not wish to travel long distance so best option is to use air.
By road
And by road there are two routes to access queen Elizabeth national park one is from Kampala via Mbarara, Bushenyi to the park or from Kampala via mubende, fort portal which is the Kasese route and it is about 5-6 hours. Or one can decide to access it from ishasha sector which is in the southern part of queen Elizabeth national park especially for the visitors from Rwanda.
By air
Scheduled flights are available for visitors that want to travel for short distance, there are private chartered flights from kajansi airfield to Kasese mweya airstrip and it is 1 to 2 hours then one can transfer to the hotel with car or if one is going to sleep in mweya safari lodge he or she can foot because it is so near.
Best time to visit queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park can be visited any time of the year but the best time is during the dry season it is when the park is easily accessed and easy spotting of animals because the vegetation is always short
Activities to do when you are in queen Elizabeth national park
Game drives
This is the main activity to do while in queen Elizabeth national park because of the animals there are over 95 mammal species recorded in the park and among these there are big 4 animals such as leopards,lions,elephants,and buffaloes and other animals include hippos,warthogs,bushbucks,waterbucks and others, the game drives are done in shifts in the morning and afternoon though the morning game drives are the best because you will be able to see animals like hippos before they get back into water.
Chimpanzee trucking
It is another interesting activity to do while in queen Elizabeth national you not miss seeing the primates not only the chimpanzee there are also monkeys and baboons and this activity takes about 2 to 3 hours it is done from kyambura gorge.
Boat launch
The boat launch takes place at kazinga channel where tourists are able to see variety of birds and animals that always gather around to drink water. Boat launch takes 2 hours and it is done two shifts still from 8am to 11am them from 3pm to 5pm.
Nature walks
Nature walks are always carried out around mweya peninsula, nature walks will give you a clear view of the park, and during nature one can be able to see animals that were not seen during game drives like the mongoose and spot number of birds. And nature walks are best done on foot if you want to enjoy the park well because the nature walks take u to different routes in the park and different corners.
Best places to visit when you are queen Elizabeth national park
Mweya peninsula
This is a narrow area being separated by lake Edward and kazinga channel. In the north of kazinga channel it is the most used route during safaris because it has a lot of wildlife. It is called channel and also leopard loop that is the most common place where you can spot most of the leopards and it is also common for African fish eagle.
Kasenyi plains
Kasenyi sector it is located in the eastern side of the park, and it is famous for lions, kasenyi plains is mostly common for lions and some times leopards but those interested in trucking lions kasenyi is the place in case you’re not ready for insasha sector.
Kyambura gorge
It is known as the valley of lost apes; in case you don’t want to go to kibale national park and you are in queen Elizabeth national park kyambura gorge has most of the apes you maybe if you want to do chimpanzee habituation which is only done in kibale national park but chimpanzee trucking it can be done from kyambura and the permits are obtained from Uganda wildlife authority.
Maramagambo forest
Maramagambo forest it is arain forest found in queen Elizabeth national park it is also known as a home of bats. Visiting maramagabo forest will give you an opportunity to see reptiles, bats and other primates like monkeys, baboons, birds. Visiting maramagambo forest gives you a serene and less crowded alternative to other tourist’s spots making it an excellent choice for those e seeking tranquility and deep connection with the nature and being in the wilderness.
Ishasha sector
This is a sector known for tree climbing lions and it is located in the southern part of queen Elizabeth national park. Ishasha is a home to tree climbing lions and Topis, Kobs and some of the birds so really want to see tree climbing lions they are clearly seen in ishasha.
Where to sleep when you are in queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park has a variety of accommodation where to sleep ranging from luxury to budget range, so the visitor chooses a room according to his or her budget since they are their in many numbers so it is right for the tourist to choose a room according to how your pockets are standing to avoid problems during your wildlife tour. And these include bush lodge, enjojo lodge, kasenyi safari lodge, bush lodge, mweya safari lodge, Sasha wilderness camp, mweya hostel, Tembo safari lodge, and others.
Frequently asked questions about queen Elizabeth national park
What is queen Elizabeth national park known for
It is famous for abundant wildlife including the rare tree climbing lions
When was queen Elizabeth national park established
It was gazetted in 1952 as a national park
How did queen Elizabeth national park get its name
It got its name after the visit of queen Elizabeth ll
How big is queen Elizabeth national park
It covers 1978square kilometers
When can you visit queen Elizabeth national park
It can be visited through out the year but best time is during the dry season