There are various places of interest in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
There are several attractions that can be visited on a safari through Queen Elizabeth National Park. The easiest national parks to visit that you can combine with Queen Elizabeth National Park include
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – home to the endangered mountain gorillas. A 5 Days Safari in both parks is possible and such a trip is commonly offered by tour operators
- Kibale National Park – home to over 13 primate species. This forest park is the most popular place for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda.
- Kalinzu Forest – This is another destination hosting chimpanzees in Uganda. You can go for chimpanzee tracking in this forest.
Katwe
One of the most famous look-out points in Uganda is in the Katwe-Kabatoro community on Katwe Salt Lake where traditional salt mining has been practised since the 16th century. The neighboring Lake Munyanyange is a bird sanctuary and a migratory location for the lesser flamingo from August to November. Did you know that on the border of Queen Elizabeth National Park you can visit Katwe Salt Lake where you can see the traditional practice of Africa’s oldest industry?
Kasenyi
Kasenyi is the area in the park where pretty much every vehicle heads to first thing in the morning. The area that lies east of the Kasese highway is characteristic of its golden colored grass and has the stereotypical look of an African safari with the towering Rwenzori Mountains as a backdrop. Large herds of Uganda Kob graze here and in turn attract prides of lion. This area is commonly referred to as the Kob mating grounds and its common to see male Kob battling it out for dominance and mating with females. Dirt tracks wind through the open flat savannah which is the most popular area in the park to spot lion. It’s best to get an early start as a few hours after sunrise, the lions generally retreat to the shade of the thickets and become a lot more difficult to see.
Kasenyi Plains
The vast savannah of Kasenyi is the perfect setting for a classic African safari experience. Huge herds of Uganda kob attract prides of lions, warthogs graze bent down on their knees, guinea fowl scuttle through the grassland and huge dark elephants stride across the game drive tracks, providing the perfect photo opportunity for visitors.
Mweya
Mweya is the main tourist centre of the park and is located at the western end of the Kazinga Channel where the channel enters Lake Edward. The Uganda Wildlife Authority visitor centre is also located on the peninsula, along with Mweya Lodge as well as a hostel, campsite and a canteen. It is from this peninsula where the Kazinga Channel boat trips depart. The peninsula is abundant with animals and bird life and from its elevated position, various points on the peninsula provide excellent views of the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward.
The visitor centre is where activities in and around the park can be organized. The centre houses exhibits about the parks history, animal and bird species along with a topographical model of the lake systems in the area. The exhibits are a little the worse for wear, however they do offer some interesting information.
Mweya Lodge has a lofty position on the peninsula and offers luxury accommodation with spectacular views across the channel. Mweya Lodge offers an experience of its own in the heart of the park and from the restaurant and bar, the 180 degree views are outstanding. The lodge has been in existence since the 1950’s and is a well-established part of the peninsula and definitely worth a visit.
Mweya Peninsula
Mweya is Queen Elizabeth National Park’s focal point. It contains the park Visitors Centre, a luxury lodge, hostel and campsite and the departure point for the Kazinga Channel launch trip – and is still jam-packed with birds and animals. As well as the lodge restaurant, there are also budget food options. Its elevated position presents visitors with gorgeous views of the Kazinga Channel and surrounding plains, as well as the Rwenzori Mountains. The peninsula’s proximity to Kasenyi and the North Kazinga plains means it is an ideal place to experience wildlife-filled game drives in the morning or evening.
Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
The beautiful crater lakes of this reserve, located to the east of Kyambura Gorge, offer excellent opportunities to observe many water birds including Greater and Lesser Flamingoes and the Great Egret.
Kazinga Channel
The Kazinga Channel is a wide, slow-flowing, 32 kilometre long body of water that connects Lake George to Lake Edward. It can be difficult to tell which way the water is flowing as the elevation change from Lake George to Lake Edward is only one metre and therefore the water flows slowly and calmly. The Kazinga Channel is home to one of the largest hippo populations on the planet, supporting over 5000 of these giant herbivores. Crocodiles can also be seen basking in the sun on its banks. During the volcanic activity in the region 8000 years ago, fish and crocodile populations were wiped out by the ash but slowly, over time, they have come back to the channel. The channel is where the boat trips take place and is one of the most popular activities to engage in while visiting QENP.
Ishasha Sector
This southern sector of the park is less visited than the northern sector, however, it should not be quickly dismissed. The landscape around Ishasha is especially picturesque and it’s the only place in the park to see Topi. It has become the famed area for tree climbing lions and if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself endlessly circling the base of giant fig trees looking upwards and miss everything else. Sure, lions draped in the trees, lazily shifting around on the branches is a pretty sensational spectacle, but Ishasha really is so much more than that.
This remote southern region of the park enjoys fewer visitors than the popular game circuits of Kasenyi and Mweya 100km to the north – but those who venture this far may be rewarded with sightings of Ishasha’s most famous residents – the tree climbing lions – as they lounge in fig and acacia trees while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kob. It is also home to many buffalo and elephants – and offers a good chance of sighting the rare shoebill on the shore of Lake Edward. Ishasha is also a convenient and scenic region to pass through on the way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located just 70km away.