Queen Elizabeth National park

Queen Elizabeth National park is located in the western arm of the Rift valley covering districts of Kamwenge, Rubirizi, Kasese and Rukungiri in Western Uganda. The protected area intersects the equator to the north of the Kigezi highlands and south of Rwenzori mountains. Queen Elizabeth National park lies between Lake Albert and George with Kazinga channel crossing through the park’s 700 sq miles land area. The park is the second largest protected area covering an area of 1978 sq km. At first Queen Elizabeth National park was a wildlife reserve and later in 1952 became a national park under the name of  Kazinga National park. In 1954 it was renamed to Queen Elizabeth National Park to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Uganda. 

Vegetation in Queen Elizabeth National park

Queen Elizabeth National park features different vegetation types in different sectors of the park. Some of these vegetation types include; tropical rainforests, open grasslands, savanna woodlands, sheer-sided volcanic calderas, acacia woodlands, freshwater, saline lakes and wetlands. For instance; the northern part of the park is occupied by savanna grassland and is dotted with cactus trees and tall grass. The grass looks golden when sunrises and when sun sets.       

The park is covered by open grasslands, savanna woodlands, freshwater river and lakes and saline lakes. The northern part of park is covered by savanna grassland which is dotted with cactus trees and tall grass that looks golden in morning when sunrises and in evening when sun sets.these grasses act as the hunting groupings for lions since they camouflage with the color however during rainy season, grassland covers the hills of queen Elizabeth providing a beautiful scenery

The  southern part has savanna woodland which has acacia trees like acacia hooky, acacia Gerald, white don acacia. This area is famously known for tree climbing lions due to the presence of sycamore fig trees(Cycus sycamorus). Queen Elizabeth national park has reversed shrubs that don’t allow other plants to grow under them.

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National park

Queen Elizabeth National park is a home to 95 mammals including 20 predators and 10 primates. Some predators include the big cats like lions, leopards, serval cats, civet and genet. The primates include; olive baboons, red colobus, chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus. The park has the largest population of African elephants and other mammals like buffaloes, waterbucks, jackson hartebeest, orbis among others. The southern part of the park offers a rare sight of tree climbing lions. These are always seen on the branches of large fig trees. The water bodies in Queen Elizabeth National park support a number of species like Nile crocodiles, hippos. The interconnecting waterways  harbors a number of bird species including migratory birds and lesser known species. These birds come from countries like South Africa and the USSR during the winter. Some of these birds include pelicans, flamingos, kingfishers making the park a best birding destination.

Activities done in Queen Elizabeth National park

Bird watching

Queen Elizabeth National park is a home to 600 birds and some of these are endemic and others are migratory. The drop in the climate in Queen Elizabeth National park has favored the migratory birds to escape from their countries. Due to the presence of different biomes in the park, birds are always seen in their specific places, for instance; Katunguru bridge harbors white winged warbler,  pied kingfisher, white winged tern, and papyrus gonolek. The Mweya peninsula hosts waterbirds and some of these include; Nubian woodpecker, swamp nightjar, gray headed kingfisher, martins, African mourning dove, swamp flycatcher, little bee eater, and little bee eater. The Kate sector has salty lakes which attract lesser flamingos that are found at lake Munyanyange and other birds that can be spotted include; sulfur breasted bush shrike, marsh tchagra, black bishop, white breasted nigro finch, and chestnut wattle eye.

The Maramagambo forest found in the western Rift Valley along Kichwambwa escarpments harbors forest birds like; black coucal, blue shouldered robin chat, African emerald cuckoo, brown illadopsis, yellow bill, red throated wryneck, African mustached warbler, and barbets. The Ishasha sector has plenty of bird species like cristicola, shoebill, African green pigeon, African crowned eagle, palm but culture, African wattled plover, martial eagle and gray kestrel. 

The Kasenyi area consists of savanna birds like; croaking cisticola, gray backed fiscal, hooded vulture, long crested eagle, repels griffon vulture, white tailed lark, brown backed scrub robin, flapper lark and white backed vulture. Lake Kikorongo harbors shoebill, saddle-billed stork, African jacana, sacred ibis, black crake, and yellow wagtail.

Game drives

Queen Elizabeth National Park offers both self-guided and expert-led game drives all done in different sectors using different game circuits of the park. The morning game drives start at 6:00 am when animals are not active and when the nocturnals are still active. Game drive in Kasenyi plain is a must for anyone visiting Queen Elizabeth National park. The Kasenyi plains in the northeast of the park features a number of wildlife animals like bushbucks, Defassa waterbuck, Ugandan kob, buffaloes, topis, elephants, side striped jackal, lion and leopard. The night game drives start at 7:00 pm and can be done in Mweya Peninsula. During this time tourists get an opportunity to witness the nocturnal wonders of the park as they emerge from their daytime hideouts. The Mweya Peninsula is a hotspot for seeing both small and big cats. Some of these creatures include; leopards, lions, genets, civets and servals.  

Exploring crater lakes

Queen Elizabeth National park features volcanic craters known as Katwe- Kikorongo explosion craters found in the northern sector of the park. Some of these lakes are covered by vegetation and others are filled with saline and fresh water. Lake Katwe is one of the explosion craters where salt has been mined for centuries. Women, men and children immerse themselves in salt extraction. Tourists get the opportunity to have insights of the salt mining process. Lake Munyanyange is also one of crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National park that hosts migratory birds of lesser flamingo.

Boat cruise on Kazinga channel

Boat rides in Queen Elizabeth National park take place twice a day in the morning and evening. The activity is done on Kazinga Channel, a waterway that joins Lake Edward and George. There are many mammal species that can be spotted during boat cruise for instance; hippos which are always in a school, Elephants, waterbucks and  buffaloes that are seen on the shores of the channel. Kazinga channel is also a home to reptiles like; monitor lizards, Nile crocodiles, and water monitor lizards. There are also plenty of water birds for instance, kingfishers, storks, pelicans, and skimmers.

Chimpanzee tracking

The activity takes place in the eastern side of the park in Kyambura gorge. The chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National park are known as the Uganda chimpanzees of the lost gorge since they dont cross to Maramagambo forest. The activity has two sessions: the morning and afternoon session. The morning tracking starts with briefing at  8:00 am and later visitors are guided on a hike into the forested gorge to search for chimpanzees. The afternoon session also starts with briefing under the fig tree at 1:00 pm and tourists are grouped into 12 people each with a ranger. Kyambura has 23 chimpanzees led by an alpha male called Kihango. There are also other primates that can be seen like olive baboons, L’hoest monkeys, red, black and white colobus monkeys.

Tree climbing lions

Queen Elizabeth National park is one of places in the world with tree climbing. The experience is done in Ishasha, the southern part of the park. The lions climb and lounge in the branches of fig, acacia and candelabra trees. This happens due to the desire to escape insects and heat. 

Accommodation in  Queen Elizabeth National park.

Queen Elizabeth National park is surrounded by different accommodations that range from budget to midrange and luxury. Some of these include; Enganzi safari lodge, Katala lodge, Park view lodge, Buffalo safari lodge, and Queen safari lodge. All these lodges are well established and provide comfortable retreat. These places have contributed to community development which has created a harmonious relationship between tourism and community.