The Activities
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a park with an enormous diversity in flora and fauna. Let us guide you along the most amazing spots of the national park:
- Game drives in the Kasenyi Plains
- Wildlife viewing at Mweya Peninsula
- Boat safari on the Kazinga Channel
- Exploration of the Crater Lakes
- Chimp tracking in Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
- Forest walks in Maramagambo Forest
- Finding tree climbing lions in Ishasha
- Cross the Equator
Game drives in the Kasenyi Plains
The northern sector of the national park is called Kasenyi, or better known as the "Kobs Mating Ground". In this open savannah area you will find hundreds of Uganda kobs. The kob is an elegant antelope, similar to the impala, which lives in harems up to twenty females, leaded by one dominant male. Consequently, it is not exceptional to encounter a hungry lion in this area, waiting for his chance to pounce on one of the unsuspecting a
nimals. Big herds of buffaloes, giant forest hog, warthogs, monitor lizards and sometimes a lonely elephant can be seen during a game drive in Kasenyi as well.
Wildlife viewing at Mweya Peninsula
The Mweya Peninsula
is one of the best places to start
your game drive from. The forested area offers a great variety
of game tracks and at the same time it hides many narrow natural trails, created
by the inhabitants. A game drive in this area will give you
a fair chance of finding the elusive leopard and watching herds of elephant.
Also waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas and the giant forest hog are regularly seen
around the Mweya Peninsula. As it is located closely to the shores of the Kazinga
Channel do not be surprised when you encounter a hippo grazing peacefully between
the bushes, in the early morning or evening. Many bird species like the Black
Bee-eater, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl and Malachite Kingfisher inhabit this isolated
peninsula as well.
Boat safari on the Kazinga Channel
This famous 32 kilometers long channel is a natural link between Lake Edward and Lake George and is said to contain the world's largest concentration of hippos. A boat trip will offer you the opportunity to view hundreds of hippos laying lazy in the water or plunge timidly when you pass. Crocodiles will be found motionless at the shores and also buffaloes and waterbucks come to the water to cool off. Occasionally you may see an elephant coming to quench his thirst. Moreover, the Kazinga Channel is a true birders paradise as it is home to hundreds of (water) bird species. You may spot Pelicans, Fish Eagles, Kingfishers, Cormorants and the bright coloured Saddle-billed Stork.
Exploration of the Crater Lakes
One of the most scenic parts is the impressive crater area in the northwest region of the park. Formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, you can now explore a series of dramatic craters and dry calderas in the hilly landscape, offering stunning views of the park and its surroundings. The birdlife is spectacular, with large flocks of flamingos, but also buffaloes and other wild animals come to drink here.
Chimp tracking in Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
A real Tarzan
territory can be found in the northeast of the national park. This is where
the savannah grassland suddenly ends into an impressive gorge of 100 meters
deep and 16 kilometers long. The steep slopes are formed by the water of the
Kyambura River and make a beautiful contrast with the valley that is covered
by lush riverine forest. A walking safari takes you along the river, deep down
into the heart
of the gorge. Follow the sounds
of the ch
attering
chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys and other primates. Or try to catch a glimpse
of the colourful forest birds, while you find your way through the thick bushes,
with a blanked of dense forest canopy
raising high above you.
Forest Walks in Maramagambo Forest
A
part of Queen Elizabeth National Park consists of tropical rain forest including
the legendary Maramagambo Forest. It is one of the largest forests in Uganda,
with different walking trails traced out. A guided nature walk will lead you
through the lush primary forest, home to a large number of primates, butterflies
and bird species. Baboons, vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys and
even chimpanzees can be hiding in the trees or down in the bushes. Deeper into
the forest you will find the Bat Cave, a large cave which serves as a shelter
for thousands on Egyptian Fruit Bats and several pythons that prey on these
bats. Nearby is also the tranquil, picturesque Blue Lake. As the name implicates,
it is famous for the intense blue colour of the water.
Finding tree climbing lions in Ishasha
Follow the road to the southwest of Queen Elizabeth National Park and you will enter the remote plains of Ishasha. The landscape slowly changes as you pass large herds of Uganda kobs, topis and buffaloes, grazing peacefully in the savannah highlands. In the far end, the winding Ishasha River forms the natural border between Uganda and DR Congo. Here you will find hippos at the shores, lazy drifting with the stream. The birdlife enriches the trees along the river, while curious colobus monkeys and baboons often come to take a look at the visitors. The highlight of this area, however, is the tree climbing lion, who likes to take a nap in the upper branches of huge fig trees. So keep your eyes open when your guide takes you for a search along one of the circuits in the southern sector!
A popular photo stop is the Equator. The spot where this imaginary line crosses the national park is marked by two large circles. Not far from the Equator is the Queen's Pavilion. This was a temporary shelter to host Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their visit in 1954. Five years later a permanent pavilion was built for the visit by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. A new information centre on the site includes internet facilities and a coffee shop.
Interested
in a tour that combines a stay at Simba Safari Camp with different activities?
View our safari
packages or contact
us for more wildlife tours and special offers!
