On the Western Side of the Pearl of Africa lies Queen Elizabeth National Park; the biggest in the country. It covers 1978 square kms and the closest city is Kasese. This is the most visited National Game Park in the country. It has various and diverse wildlife species like the tree climbing lions of Ishasha, amazing landscapes like the Kazinga channel and many other reasons. This article contains everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth National Park. It contains the top tourist attraction sites in the area, best times to visit and tips for an epic travel experience. Dive in.
Top Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
What makes Queen Elizabeth unique is its diverse range of tourist attraction sites; including the diverse wildlife species, broad savannah lands, the famous Kazinga Channel among others. This section contains the sites you should never miss to see when you visit this Safari.
Ishaka: Home to Climbing Lions
Ishaka located in the Southern regions of the National Game Park is the home to the country’s largest number of tree climbing lions. They do this mainly to escape the hot savannah’s most especially in the afternoon hours. Queen Elizabeth is greatly known for its Tree Climbing Lions.
Kasenyi Plains
This area is located in the North Eastern Part of the GamePark and offers exclusive and exciting game drives. In this area, you can expect to sight large herds of Ugandan Kobs, buffaloes, elephants and warthogs. Predators like lions and leopards are also spotted in this open savannah. Are you a safari photographer? Ensure to visit this place for the best Wildlife Shots.
Kazinga Channel
The other area that you shouldn’t miss visiting is the Kazinga Channel. This waterway is approximately 32 km long and connects lake George to Lake Edward. A variety of wildlife species made this place their home making it one of the best Wildlife spotting areas in Uganda. Expect to see giant chunks of Nile crocodiles, African Hippos, Elephants and over 600 bird species like the King Fishers and African Fish Eagles.
Kyambura Gorge
This George is also known as the Valley of the Apes. It is largely visited for its exciting Rainforest adventures and since it’s a home to many primates for example Gorillas, various species of monkeys and baboons. In this area, tourists experience guided gorilla trekking, beautiful waterfalls and bird sighting activities.
Best Time to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park: Weather & Safari Seasons
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the tropical Savanna Regions of Uganda. This makes it a recurrent travel destination. For a fulfilling experience, it is very important to know the best time to visit depending on your preferred activity. This section contains the two main park seasons and hints on the best time to explore and try different activities helping you plan an effective trip.
Dry Season
Queen Elizabeth National Park experiences two dry seasons with little rainfall and temperatures around (25-30) degree Celsius. This mainly range from June to September and December to February. In this season, animals can easily be spotted around water sources as they come to drink water. This makes it easy to spot lions, antelopes and Buffaloes among others. If you want to visit Queen Elizabeth for its fauna, consider visiting in dry months. The roads are more accessible during these times making animal sights and activities for example Gorilla Trekking more accessible for a fulfilling experience.
Wet Season
This season is characterised by heavy rains and cooler temperatures. It mainly covers the months of March to May and October to November making it also two seasons a year. Around this time, the flora is greenest forming beautiful sceneries. This season is best for bird watching as over 600 bird species can be spotted including traveller birds. The advantage of visiting in this season is trips are less expensive as few people book. The challenges are it is hard to spot the animals as they are scattered due to availability of water in most regions of the park and also some spots cannot be reached easily due to the muddy and slippery roads for example the Gorilla Trekk spots and sights.
Places to stay when you visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth offers various accommodation lodges and campsites to tourists, ranging from luxurious lodges to budget-friendly, comfortable campsites. Here are some of the best luxurious and budget-friendly lodges in Queen Elizabeth.
Luxury lodges and campsites include;
1: Myeya Safari Lodge
Located in the middle of Queen Elizabeth National Park, this lodge offers a stunning view of the famous Kazinga Channel, boat safaris, game drives, and chimpanzee trekking experiences. The lodge also features sizeable cottages, a swimming pool, and serves local and international cuisine.
2: Kyambula Gorge Lodge
Kyambula Gorge, a luxurious lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park,it offers sauna services, guided chimpanzee trekking, and a swimming pool. With stylish Banda cottages and well-designed rooms, the lodge provides a comfortable safari stop for tourists.
3: Ishasha Wilderness camp
Located in the Ishasha sector, this remote, luxurious camp is well known for its climbing lions and luxury tented camps on the Ntugwe River, offering an exclusive safari experience and wild life view. This camp also hosts bush breakfasts and game drives.
Budget lodges and campsites include;
4: Pumba Safari cottages
Located in the Kyambura region of Queen Elizabeth National Park, this is one of the most affordable campsites, offering single and double rooms, free Wi-Fi, a bar, and gardens with shade for outdoor views.
5: Bush lodge
Bush Lodge is another budget-friendly lodge along the Kazinga Channel offering Banda cottages and non-self-contained tents. The lodge is also popular with backpackers and budget travelers, offering good food, guided game drives, and boat safaris, giving an extraordinary experience.
Conclusion
Are you planning your next trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park? This article has covered the key spots you should check out at the Park. From the Kazinga Channel, Kisenyi Plains, Ishaka; home to climbing lions, among others. Check out the best time and season to travel that fulfils your needs for a unique experience. It also contains information on the best lounges to utilize on your trip to meet your budget needs. What is your favorite activity at the Game park? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Uganda, the Pearl of Africa 🥰