Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Queen Elizabeth National Park, located in Kasese, western Uganda, is one of the most frequented national parks in Uganda. It is one of the best places to visit in Uganda for an incredible safari experience that will make your safari unforgettable. It is one of the few spots in Uganda where you may see four of the big five game, as well as diverse bird and primate species. Over 600 bird species and 95 mammal species call Queen Elizabeth home. The Park is a hub for a variety of activities such as game drives, nature walks, chimp trekking, hot air balloon rides, boat cruises, and lion trekking. These safari activities will provide you with an unforgettable experience and allow you to witness a wide range of animal species.
Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Several game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park will enable you to observe a range of interesting wildlife during your Uganda safari tour. In the Park, safari game drives are done in three sessions: morning, afternoon, and night game drives. The morning game drive, which begins at 06:30 a.m., allows you to see a variety of animals in the park catching their first meal of the day. You will also be able to watch the nocturnal game as they return to their hideouts. Expect to see elephants, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, oribis, impalas, lions, leopards, and a variety of other spectacular animals. The game drive should take at least four hours, after which you should return to your lodge for breakfast.
During evening game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will get the opportunity to see a variety of nocturnal species, such as lions, leopards, and hyenas, catching their prey in the wild. You can also join in night game drives while in the park to observe the park as it comes to life when the sun goes down. Night jars, leopards, lions and hyenas are among the notable bird species that might be seen during night game drives.
Game Drives in the Ishasha sector (Tree-climbing lions)
The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, located in the park’s southern half, is one of just two places in Africa where you can see tree-climbing lions. The lions are claimed to have evolved this strange behavior for a variety of reasons, including avoiding tsetse flies and the heat of the lower terrain. Because they can see their prey from a considerable height while perched on acacia and fig tree branches, they can easily locate them. Aside from the tree-climbing lions, this area also features Uganda Kobs, buffaloes, elephants, hippos, and numerous antelope.
Experiential game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park
Lion trekking, one of the most exciting experiences in Queen Elizabeth National Park, is also available to visitors. The immersive game drive allows guests to visit the lion pride using a radio collar. Researchers track these lions to learn about their behavior and how they coexist. You will learn how carnivores designate their territories by urinating along the perimeter, which helps to keep rival lion prides from raiding their territory. While spending time with the carnivores, you may also see female lions hunting in the wild.
Other Safari Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is another protected area in Uganda that provides excellent chimp trekking opportunities. The rainforest is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s far eastern region. The canyon’s 1-kilometer length and 300-foot depth are surrounded by vast savannah grasslands, crater lakes and the Rwenzori Mountains, which give a somber backdrop to the breathtaking scenery. Chimpanzees and other primates live in the gorge. Trekking straight down the ravine’s steep slopes, via vines and massive fig trees, will lead you to an underground forest. You’ll have to wade through streams and cross rivers to find the chimp colony. Once there, you will spend an hour watching them feed, socialize, play, and go about their daily primitive routines.
It’s like looking back in time and witnessing Homo sapiens two million years ago. Chimpanzee permits for Kyambura are USD 50 for non-residents, USD 40 for residents, and UGX 30,000 for East African citizens. Every day, two guided chimp excursions are offered, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Boat Cruises on Kazinga Channel
One of the pleasures of a Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park is a boat cruise down the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise will allow you to see a wide range of water birds in the park, such as Pied Kingfishers, White-breasted Cormorants, Osprey, Double-tooth Barbet, Familiar Chat, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, and Spot-flanked Barbet, Pygmy Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Grey-capped Warbler Spur and White-browed Coucal. You will also see The channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George is also home to several hippos and Nile crocodiles.
Birding
Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park can expose you to a wide range of exciting bird species. With over 600 documented bird species, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most outstanding birding locations. Spur-winged Geese, Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, Hadada Ibis, African Fish Eagle, Pygmy Kingfisher, White-browed Coucal, Grey-capped Warbler, African Darter, African Wattled Lapwing, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Common Squacco Heron, Crowned Lapwing, and Eastern Grey Plantain-eater are just a few examples.
Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
One of the pleasures of a Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park is a boat cruise down the Kazinga channel. The boat cruise will allow you to see a wide range of water birds in the park, such as Pied Kingfishers, White-breasted Cormorants, Osprey, Double-tooth Barbet, Familiar Chat, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, and Spot-flanked Barbet, Pygmy Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Grey-capped Warbler Spur and White-browed Coucal. You will also see The channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George is also home to several hippos and Nile crocodiles.
