Safari Attractions at the Park
Some of the Uganda Wildlife Safari attractions like Tree climbing lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, and a wide range of Antelopes are encountered on a Uganda Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Attractions in Queen Elizabeth Park
A number of attractions can be found in Queen Elizabeth national park, ranging from plants, to wildlife animals, to physical features like crater lakes and a lot more, such as the fact that it offers a wide variety of Uganda Safari activities for its visitors. Here is a list of some of the attractions that can be found at Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Wild animals
There are so many different species of animals in Queen Elizabeth national park including the big four mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards.
But also hippos, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, warthogs, giant forest hogs and many more species that you can find in the park. Animals in the park can be viewed during the game drive, boat cruise or nature walks.
Primates
It is noteworthy that the national park is also home to a variety of primate species such as chimpanzees, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
There are primate tracking activities that can be carried out by visitors to the park who are interested in seeing primates in the park in Kyambura gorge, commonly referred to as the valley of the apes.
Birds
There are more than 619 bird species in Queen Elizabeth national park, making it the best Uganda birding destination in the country due to its diversity of species. There are many bird species that are commonly found in the national park, such as the gull-billed tern, African wattled lapwing, spur winged lapwing, black winged stilt, African spoonbill, sacred ibis, water thick knee, swamp nightjar, cattle egret, black breasted snake, double toothed barbet, African fish eagle, brown snake, little bee eater, malachite king fisher and many more.
Kazinga channel
In the entire length of 40 kilometers, the Kazinga channel connects Lake Edward with Lake George, which is located in the Great Lakes.
During boat cruise safaris in Kazinga channel, which can be arranged in the park, you have the opportunity to view large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, other animals along the shores, along with a variety of water birds and other animals.
Tree climbing lions
Queen Elizabeth national park has some of the most beautiful tree climbing lions on the planet and this is one of the most popular attractions within the park. It is possible to observe these magnificent cats on game drives in the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park lying up in acacia, fig trees while watching the Uganda kobs grazing on the open plains of the savannah.
Mweya peninsular
In the north eastern part of the park, this is an attraction to visit that overlooks Katwe Bay, where Kazinga Channel connects Lake Edward with Lake George in the middle of Lake George and Edward. In Mweya peninsular, there are a number of activities you can participate in such as tracking mongooses, nature walks, and game drives where you can observe leopards and other wildlife animals in their natural habitat.
Kyambura Gorge
The Kyambura Gorge is one of the most frequently visited areas in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and for good reason. A number of primate species can be found here and they include chimpanzees, baboons, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys among others. This park can be found in the eastern part of the park.
Crater lakes
The Queen Elizabeth national park has about 10 crater lakes, including Lake Katwe, a salt mining lake that was formed by a volcanic eruption, which is one of the most famous crater lakes in the region.
Lake Katwe is situated in the northern part of the Mweya peninsular and local people extract rock salt from the lake for use in cooking and selling. The Kasenyi plains are also home to lakes that are excellent birding areas, such as Lake Munyanyange, one of the best birding areas in the area, as well as Lake Nyamunuka and Munyampaka.
Maramagambo forest
The Maramagambo forest is situated within the boundaries of the Queen Elizabeth national park. The Forest is located on the eastern edge of the Kyasanduka Crater Lakes and the Nyamasingiri Crater Lakes. As the forest extends from the Kichwamba escarpments up to the lake Edward, it is home to a number of wildlife species, including elephants, pygmy antelopes, bush pigs, primates including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, bush babies, pottos, bats, bird species, such as black bee-eaters, pink backed pelicans, African skimmers, papyrus gooleks, white winged warblers, martial eagles, Verreaux’s eagle owls and Chapin flycatchers.
Visit the local communities
As a part of the community tour program, the Queen Elizabeth national park is a great location to be able to get involved in cultural encounters.
As you walk through the park, you will be able to see a number of communities around the park, and you may be able to do your community walk accompanied by a guide who is knowledgeable about every direction and the most attractive things within these communities. For example, you can visit the Busongo fishing villages which sit on the shores of Lake George and engage in sport fishing, boating, tasting of the local fish, and also listen to interesting stories about the park from the locals.