QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Uganda. The national park has an interesting set of wildlife species living within it. From the captivating diverse captivating landscapes to the lush vegetation cover, the park surely has a lot to offer.  It hosts abundant wildlife and is an important stronghold of lions in Central African areas.

The population of carnivores in Queen Elizabeth National Park is carefully monitored by the Uganda Carnivore Project. These dedicate their lives to keeping track of the tree-climbing lions, hyenas, leopards, and other exciting carnivores. The Uganda Carnivore Project makes it easy for guests to the park to see these animals by tracking them. It is therefore next to impossible to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park and not see any big cat.

A Brief History of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The park was established in 1952 by the British who were in charge of the Ugandan colony then. It was first known as Kazinga National Park. It was created after merging the Lake Edward and George game reserves.

The park was named Queen Elizabeth two years later in commemoration of the monarch’s visit to Uganda. History has it that Queen Elizabeth admired the attractiveness of the park since it was one of a kind. Queen Elizabeth had large herds of elephants, and intact rainforests housing various primate species and birds. These still exist today due to the wonderful work of the conservation bodies and rangers.

In the following years, thousands of masses were displaced from the region. The Songora herders moved on to areas near Virunga National Park. They had for long enough competed for grazing land with the wild animals in the park. However, they later on returned in 1964 following the insecurity caused by the Mulele Rebellion.

In 2006, the Basongora were forced to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo. They came back to Uganda and settled in the North of Lake Edward with their beloved livestock. They were attacked by predators numerous times and weren’t compensated at all. In retaliation, they killed 11 lions and other animals.

They laced out poisoned carcasses of animals for the predators, these would die instantly after tasting. This was referred to as a national disaster by various conservation bodies and needed immediate action. The masses were resettled and educated on how to coexist with the animals and there has been peace in the region since then.

Location and accessibility of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western region of Uganda. The park sits on an area of approximately 1978 square kilometers. Due to its large size, it extends to roughly four districts i.e. Kamwenge, Kasese, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 400 kilometers away in the southwest of Kampala the capital of Uganda. It lies along Kampala-Mbarara-Kasese road. Travelers to the park can also fly to Kasese airstrip.

Uniqueness and the main attractions of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The beautiful landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park play a huge role in its uniqueness. The park has lush forests and captivating savannah grasslands. These are not only appealing to watch but also host various wildlife.

Queen Elizabeth is further unique in the sense that it is the only host to the tree-climbing lions in Uganda. It is a concentration center for various wildcats therefore gusts can have the opportunity to marvel at many of them. For instance, the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, leopards, hyenas, and jackals to mention but a few.

What to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Community tours. Travelers to the park get the opportunity to explore the homesteads of the locals on the outskirts of the national park. This helps them to gain insights into the lives of the African societies. Travelers visit the Leopard village – Muhokya, and Kikorongo women. They are a mixture of entertainment and voluntourism. This helps improve sustainability in the tourism industry.

Crater lakes explorations. It is equally important to note that Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 10 crater lakes encompassing Lake Katwe. Lake Katwe is popular for its salt mines and the beautiful scenery it showcases. The Bunyaruguru crater also forms beautiful sites that attract masses. The volcanic eruptions that happened a million years ago graced the park with beauty.

Game drives. They equip the guests with the views of wildlife species in the park. Travelers have the opportunity to view leopards, lions, African bush elephants, and birds under the guidance of rangers and tourist guides.

Chimpanzee trekking safaris. Queen Elizabeth National Park has intact evergreen rainforests. These are habitats to beautiful primates. Chimpanzees reside in Kalinzu forest and Kyambura Gorge in the outskirts of the park. The gorge also presents the views of a forest trapped in a depression, which is good for photography and videography.

Boat cruises. Kazinga channel offers the most interesting boat cruise experiences. The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Travelers on the cruise enjoy watching wildlife species along the shores of the water body such as hippos, buffaloes, birds, and antelopes.

Nature walks. Nature walks immerse travelers in the beauty of the grasslands, forests, water bodies, and wildlife of the park. The peninsular is a perfect spot for sightseeing.

Bird watching. Queen Elizabeth National Park hosts over 600 bird species. A drive or walk through the landscapes of the park gets travelers excited watching the beautiful birds. Perfect bird-watching sites in the park are in the Mweya peninsular, along the Kazinga channel, in the forests, and Kasenyi plains. Travellers watch beautiful birds for instance African fish eagles, bush shrikes, sunbirds, song birds, turacos, and others.

Experiential lion tracking. Travelers to Queen Elizabeth are more likely to view lions. Experiential lion tracking helps ensure that guests have the views of the most sought-after animals in the park. Scientists track the lions using radio collars. The researchers move along with the guests following track of the lions and other cats.

Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park is during the dry seasons. They experience low rainfall therefore making it easier to traverse through all terrain in the park. Travelers therefore get to explore more of the park’s endowments and get the most out of their safaris. In addition, the dry seasons occur from June to September. However, the dry window of December to late February is ideal for travel to the park.

However, guests can also visit in the wet seasons. They also offer interesting unique experiences. The park and its facilities are usually not congested thus leaving ample time for the traveler to explore with no interruption.

Without delay, for a spectacular trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park, SEND INQUIRY or contact us directly at  +256 393 247 137 / +256 742 678 918 or email us at  info@ibuthsafaris.com.