Location of Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park is located in south western Uganda in Kasese district, which is 410 kilometres from Uganda’s capital city Kampala, but park spreads in the districts of Rubirizi and Rukungiri to Mitooma. The park is a home to several species of wildlife with over 95mammal species with over 612 species of birds. The main gate of queen Elizabeth national park is located in Katunguru still found in Kasese district, also the nearest town to Queen Elizabeth national park is Kasese district making Kasese the biggest part that owns queen Elizabeth national park.
These are some of the districts where queen Elizabeth national park extends and each having the tourism attraction apart from Kasese which is the main there are others, and these include.
Rubirizi district
Apportion queen Elizabeth national park extends into Rubirizi district which was divided from Kasese district and it is in the northern side of Kasese in this area of the park it is known for its lush forest and diverse primates like chimpanzee because we find Kyambura gorge in Rubirizi district which is known as the valley of Apes.
Rukungiri district
The small portion of the park lies in Rukungiri district in the north east of Kasese district, where we find Maramagambo forest which is a home of bats and reptiles.
Queen Elizabeth national park is surrounded by several communities and each with its unique culture, traditions and way of life.
Kasese town. Kasese town is the largest town near the park and it is a gate way for most tourists with various amenities including hotels shops and many more.
Katunguru village. This is a small village located at the entrance of queen Elisabeth and in Katunguru is where we find most hotels, lodges and restaurants making its popular stop over for most tourists.
Ishansha sector communities. This is the part of the part known for tree climbing lions, though there are local communities living with in and most of them are involved in agriculture and may offer agriculture experiences to visitors interested in agriculture.
village Kazinga fishing. This is found along the shores of Kazinga channel, where you find fishing communities and their main activity is fishing which earns them a living. Visitors that are interested in fishing can take part and participate.
When is the best time to visit queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park can be visited through out the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to July then December to February. For birders who are looking forward to seeing migratory should visit in wet season.
How to get to queen Elizabeth national park
By road
This is the most common way to access the park and the distance is about 4 to 6 hours and its adventurous journey because as you move you have stop overs in towns to shop food, have a look at the land scapes around and some of the mountain ranges.
By air
Chater flights can be arranged to transport the visitors to queen Elizabeth national park and visitors if they are going straight to queen Elizabeth national park, they will be put at mweya peninsula airstrip and those going to ishansha they are put at ishansha airstrip.
Safari activities in queen Elizabeth national park
Game drives
Queen Elizabeth national park has areas where game drives can be done with a lot of concentration of wildlife, like Kazinga plains with a lot of warthogs, bushbucks, elephants, hippos and Kobs, and also truck lions in Kazinga plains and in ishansha sector and you will be able to see Topi, and various birds’ species.
Boat cruise
Boat cruise in queen Elizabeth national park is done on Kazinga channel. The activity takes about 2 hours and gives you a chance to relax and enjoy fresh river breeze and spot various birds, hippos, elephants taking water and buffaloes, and the boat goes up to where Kazinga channel joins lake Edward and then return to the starting point.
Chimpanzee trucking
It takes place in Kyambura gorge which is in eastern side of the park. The gorge has impressive landscape and with a diversity of wildlife and primates, and the best time for trucking is morning hours and apart from the chimpanzee you will be able to see the monkeys, baboons, duikers and various forest birds.
Birding
Birding in queen Elizabeth national park is habitat to over 605 birds with both migratory birds and residents’ birds and some of the birds include Grey-headed kingfisher Black-tailed Gawith, white pelicans, cattle egrets, hadada ibis to mention but a few.
Nature walks
Nature walks are done at mweya peninsula, and Kyambura gorge then Maramagambo forest, the hike mweya peninsula will take you through the mweya airstrip where you will see buffaloes and mongoose.
Visit the crater lakes
The crater lakes in queen Elizabeth national park are quite many and these include lake Nyamununka, lake Munyanyange lake Katwe. The lakes offer beautiful and breath-taking scenery of the park, and a visitor will get an opportunity to see some animals like the antelopes that come to take away their thirsty.
What to pack while going to queen Elizabeth national park
Clothes
The clothes should be loose, fitting and casual and carry colours that may not attract animals because bright colours may lead to attack.
Shoes
You need to carry waterproof boots because some of the trucking routes be muddy and wet, so need to carry shoes that are waterproof and comfortable.
Insect repellent
It helps against mosquito or any insects in the bush during either game drives or chimpanzee trucking.
Binoculars
There are a lot of birds and small animals in queen Elizabeth national park so binoculars are a must as you head for the Uganda safari tour.
Inconclusion if you would like to make a booking for your Uganda wildlife in queen Elizabeth national park contact your trusted tour operator, African vacation safaris. And you will get a worthwhile experience in Uganda.