Queen Elizabeth Park, Ishasha Sector & Kyambura Gorge

Queen Elizabeth Wildlife National Park (QENP), Kyambura and Kigezi Wildlife Reserves form one of the most diverse ecosystems in Africa. The wetland system comprising of Lakes George and Edward and the connecting Kazinga Channel result from the melting glaciers of the Rwenzori Mountains. The open savannah dotted with acacia and euphorbia trees harbour lions, leopards and herds of buffaloes, elephants and various antelope species. 10 primate species including chimps are resident in the park. The most common animals in the park include the giant forest hog, waterbucks, topi, hyenas and crocodiles. The park boasts of more bird species than any other park in Africa. Queen Elizabeth national park was designated a Biosphere Reserve with an aim of bringing on board human activities with the conservation and protection of wildlife, wetlands and natural resources. The park has 11 fishing village enclaves within the Protected Area.

Game Drives

The best game drives are done both in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Visitors can access the park's wildlife over the 200 kms of well-maintained tracks. Some of these tracks traverse large mating grounds of great herds of Uganda kob. Hungry lions can be spotted searching for prey. At a hot day, large herds of elephants descend to the water sources. The warthog is a hallmark sight on the Mweya Peninsula. The Crater Track offers breathtaking experience by bringing visitors to volcanic craters at the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains.

Kazinga Channel Launch Trip
  
The Kazinga Channel banks are crowded with hippos thus giving tourists a unique wildlife experience. The large numbers of migrant and resident water birds, the big herds of buffaloes and elephants drinking and roaming the Channel banks coupled with ‘schools' of crocodiles make a  launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel a must-do for all who wish to have a Uganda safari.

Bird Watching

The wide variety of habitats that range from savanna and wetlands to gallery and lowland forest is responsible for over 550 bird species, the largest of any protected area in Africa. The Kazinga Channel attracts many waterbirds, and in the vicinity of Mweya, acts as a migrant trap for birds moving along the Albertine Rift. A launch cruise is organized twice to three times daily from below Mweya, offering an excellent way to see a wide variety of water-related species on the channel: Papyrus Gonolek, African Skimmer, African open-billed stork, Great white and pink-backed Pelicans, Common Squacco Heron, Malachite and pied kingfishers, water thick-knee, White-faced Whistling, African wattled Plovers, etc. A bird trip to Queen Elizabeth national park for 2 to 3 days gives one the best chance to see these beautiful birds.

Tree Climbing Lions of Ishasha Sector

Ishasha, in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park, is a true pearl in western Uganda. Along the Ishasha River, the idyllic campsites frequently visited by colobus and other monkeys are impressive. Ishasha is famous for tree-climbing lions always seen resting in fig tree branches. In the acacia studded savannah topi, Uganda kob and buffaloes are seen grazing.

Kyambura Gorge and Wildlife Reserve

The Chambura Wildlife Reserve situated in the eastern part of QENP supports similar mammals to the rest of the park. The three saline crater lakes in it attract a number of flamingoes – not found anywhere else in Uganda. The lush riverine forest along the Kyambura River, in the deep Kyambura Gorge is home to habituated chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus and red-tailed monkeys. The Kyambura Gorge is suitable for a guided nature walk to track habituated chimps in their natural habitat.

Facts about Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Mean temperature: Mean maximum 28 0c, minimum 180c.
• Wet season: March – May, Sept – Nov. (750 mm – 1250 mm of rain)
• Altitude: 910m at Lake Edward to 1,390m in the crater area.

Total Area:
- QENP: 2,056 sq km
- Kyambura Wildlife Reserve 265 sq km

Animal species

• 95 mammal species
• 606 bird species

UGANDA WILDLIFE SAFARIS
GORILLA TREKKING TOURS
RWANDA SAFARIS
UGANDA RWANDA PRIMATES TREKKING
BIRDING TRIPS
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING TRIPS
CULTURAL TOURS