There are endless things to do in Queen Elizabeth national park. With boat trips on the 40 km Kazinga Channel, a meandering drive among spectacular volcanic craters, lion viewing on the Kasenyi Plains, chimpanzee tracking in the depths of Kyambura Gorge, walks into the dark depths of Maramagambo Forest and game drives beneath vast skies in the remote wilderness of Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth National Park has plenty to interest any visitor.
Top Things to Do in Queen Elizabeth National Park
A classic Uganda safari through the Queen Elizabeth National Park is packed with different adventure activities. Popular adventures include launch trips on the Kazinga Channel that offer great game viewing, as well as game drives around Mweya. Also available are chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge and guided walks in Maramagambo Forest.
Game Drives
By and large the most popular activity for people when they visit QENP is game viewing. There is a network of roads around the Mweya peninsula as well as across the main tarmac highway in Kasenyi. The Channel Track stretches from the Katunguru Gate to the Mweya Peninsula and runs roughly parallel to the Kazinga Channel. It is a great track for a variety of game and a good place in the park to encounter elephant as they cross over the track several times per day in their quest for water. As the track is rather close to the channel, it’s not uncommon to see hippo out of the water in the early hours of the day. Other common mammal species seen along this track are buffalo, warthog, bushbuck and waterbuck. Although not as common, lion and leopard are sometimes spotted along the Channel Track. On one occasion I have seen a lioness in a Euphorbia tree near the Katurguru Gate not far from the road, so it pays to keep your eyes open and never discount any possibility. There are two campsites along the Channel Track both offer a great wilderness experience in the park.
In the Kasenyi sector, east of the Kasese highway, a number of small tracks wind through the kob breeding grounds. The major draw in the area are the lions that feed on the Uganda Kob that graze in these open plains. The best time to spot the lions is just after daybreak and just before sunset. During the heat of the day, they are resting near or in the thickets. Pay attention to the shady sides of bushes and for the flicking of a tail or the twitch of an ear. Lions blend in well, but are willing to offer a clue periodically to their whereabouts, you just need to learn how to recognize it.
If you’re after a classic African safari experience, the trails through Kasenyi, the North Kazinga Plains and the Ishasha Sector offer virtually guaranteed buffalo, antelope and elephant sightings, along with warthogs and baboons. Taking an experienced guide is the most successful way to track down a pride of lions, and maybe even the odd leopard. Early morning and dusk are the best time for viewing animals, as they spend the daytime escaping from the heat under shady trees or in the park’s lakes and channels.
Game Drives – Kasenyi Plains and Mweya Sector
In the Mweya and Kasenyi plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, visitors will find vast numbers of Uganda’s unique and strange Euphorbia, or “candelabra” tree. The many nearby crater lakes and mountain ranges provide a beautiful backdrop for your journey as you view the wildlife.
Game Drives – Ishasha Sector
In Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is a great place to visit for wildlife viewing and seeing the unique Tree climbing lions.
Explosion Crater Drive
A scenic 27 kilometre route winds through the craters between the Main Gate and the Queen’s Pavilion at the Crater Gate. Although the area is not teeming with game, it makes up for it with its scenery. It’s a good place to take your time, stop and enjoy the breathtaking views and it’s not uncommon to see elephants inside the craters. Although the entire drive is stunning, there are a few highlights. The massive Kyemengo Crater, which is located at Baboon Cliffs is by far the largest crater and standing atop the rim is a slightly dizzying experience. It really is difficult to gauge how far above the crater floor you are and it’s an amazing sight to behold. Kitagata is a smaller crater with a dark, inky-blue lake. On a sunny day, you can see the reflection of the sky in the lake. The Crater Drive is one of the gems of Queen Elizabeth NP. If you’re going to explore the area, a four wheel drive vehicle is recommended, as well as a reliable spare tire as the road passes over sections of abrasive lava and in some places can be rather steep.
Launch Trips
Another popular activity within the park and, in my opinion, one not to be missed, is the boat trip up the Kazinga Channel towards Lake Edward. Several times per day boats slowly ascend the channel close to the shore, providing visitors with the opportunity to get close to pods of hippos, crocodiles, elephant, buffalo, numerous species of birds and if you’re lucky, lion or leopard.
The Kazinga Channel is an oasis for the many fascinating species that inhabit the park. Taking this boat tour from Mweya to the mouth of Lake George gives visitors the chance to stand just a few meters from the hundreds of enormous hippos and buffaloes that spend their days cooling off in the water, while elephant families drink and bathe on the shoreline.
Visitors can hope to see an average of 60 bird species during the trip, from the saddle-billed storks with their colorful beaks to vivid malachite kingfishers and pairs of elegant fish eagles.
The guides are extremely knowledgeable about the animals and birds seen from the boat and will identify each species, give a brief description of their habitat as well as offering other little pieces of information about them. Water birds are plentiful and even if birds don’t particularly interest you, they are fascinating to watch. Pygmy kingfishers with their brightly colored plumage flitting around the shore, Fish Eagles call out from high above, Pelicans and African Spoonbill fishing in the water all make for an enjoyable couple of hours. Boat trips can be booked through Mweya Safari Lodge or the UWA.
Hot Air Ballooning
This is the newest activity to be introduced at Queen Elizabeth by Uganda Balloon Safaris. For those with a sense of adventure looking for something unique, the balloon safari is the perfect way to experience this incredibly scenic area and the chance for a bird’s eye view of the park and its inhabitants. Floating above the park, the silence of the savannah below is only periodically broken by blasts from the burners. Launching at dawn the flight lasts for approximately an hour, after which a delicious bush breakfast is served. Hot air ballooning gives a unique perspective and a chance to see the dramatic scenery and landscape of QENP.
Nature Walks
Nature treks are one of the more active ways to explore the landscapes and wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Locations include the shady Maramagambo forest, with many bird species, a bat colony and the all-white Cormorant Tree – a resting place for cormorants and a cultural site for local people.
Experiential Tourism
Experiential tourism in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an activity that allows tourists to get up close with the wildlife species such as Lions, Mongooses and hippos through tracking them, and the results are added on the Rearchers’ databases.
Agritourism
The sweeping Kichwamba Escarpment makes up the eastern wall of the Western Rift Valley. This 2-3 hour tour begins in rural Kataara Village with a hike through the farms of the escarpment in the cool morning or early evening. Your expert local guide will point out beautiful bird species, exotic and medicinal plants and sites of cultural importance, as well as explaining local farming methods.
Cultural Tours
While on your Queen Elizabeth wildlife safari, you may choose to visit Lake Katwe and witness how the local communities are harnessing park resource to earn a living. It is also an indication why Queen Elizabeth National Park was voted as one of the Parks where wildlife co-exists with human beings. For those who want to visit the local communities, we have the Kasoga community experience project where the local community will share with you the hard experience of living near the park and how they have managed to co-exist peacefully with wildlife you will as well enjoy the cultural encounters and traditional dances.
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge
Chimpanzee tracking is among the major activities done in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is done in Kyambura Gorge which is within the Park. Chimpanzee tracking is done in the morning and afternoon and we can book you the permits and organize this trek for you depending on the itinerary and timing of the activities. To participate in all mentioned activities, you will need more time to spend in Queen Elizabeth national Park and have a great memorable experience.
Bird Watching
For those interested in Birding safari, Queen Elizabeth National Park is among Uganda’s best birding spots with over 600 bird species which include; Albertine rift endemic birds, water birds, and savannah birds, most of the birds can be spotted on the boat ride on Kazinga Channel and during game drives in the park.
Some of the Birds include, Collared pratincole, Palm-nut vulture, Pel’s fishing-owl, Rare Swamp flycatcher, Gray crowned crane(Uganda’s National bird), Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron, Shoebill stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black headed lapwing, Back-bellied Bustard ,Swamp Fly catcher, Giant Heron, African Jacana, Secretary Bird among others.
Lion Tracking Experience
The Uganda Carnivore Program is an organization dedicated to the research and conservation of large predators including lion, leopard and hyena. Part of the conservation mission is to educate tourists on the parks predators and their interaction with the people and villages around the park. The tracking experience allows you to join them in the field as they track the animals fitted with radio collars. Their research gives them insight into the movements, breeding habits and health of the predators. If you are interested in a lion tracking experience, bookings can be made through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).