Queen Elizabeth National Park started in 1952 as Kazinga park and as years went, it was renamed as Queen Elizabeth National Park after two years so as to memorialize a visit by Queen Elizabeth in Uganda. The park is a habitat of over 95 mammal species and more so 600 bird species. The Katwe explosion craters manifest the park’s highest point which is at 1,350m above sea level whereas the rock bottom point is at 910m at Lake Edward. Queen Elizabeth distances to the equator line and has monuments on either side of the road that mark the accurate mark where it crosses latitude 00.

Queen Elizabeth park is justifiably Uganda’s best tourist destination. The park’s various ecosystems, which have sprawling savanna, sparkling lakes, humid forests, shady and fertile wetlands that make it the best habitat for traditional game and primate species including chimpanzees and around 600 species of birds. Established against the backdrop of the pointed Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s superb views include lots of massive craters carved vividly into progressing green hills, panoramic outlooks of the Kazinga Channel which have their banks lined with buffalo, hippos, elephants, Ishasha plains that have fig trees that hide lions are able to jump on herds of unwary Uganda kob.

Besides the outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth park has a charming cultural history. There are many chances for visitors to please the local communities and enjoy dance, storytelling, music and many more. The gazetting of the park has warranted the conservation of its ecosystems that continually benefits the surrounding communities.

Queen Elizabeth national park reaches to Lake George that is in the north-east as you are going to Lake Edward which is in the south-west and more so comprises of the Kazinga Channel which joins the 2 lakes. Queen Elizabeth park is understood for its wildlife which includes, Ugandan kob, African buffalo, hippopotamus, warthog, giant forest hog, African crocodile, African leopard, African bush elephant, lion and chimpanzee. it’s a habitat of 95 mammal species and more than 500 bird species. Ishasha which is found in Rukungiri District is famously known for its tree-climbing lions and males sport black manes. Poachers once killed six elephants inside the park in 2015and this triggered anger and hindrance inside the Ugandan conservation community.

Queen Elizabeth park alongside the adjacent Virunga park may be a Lion Conservation Unit. The world is taken into account a possible lion stronghold in Central African Republic, if poaching is curbed and prey species recover. The park is also well known for its volcanic landscapes that includes deep craters and volcanic cones, many have crater lakes and on the list is Katwe craters where salt is extracted.

Services within the park include a tele center travel by Conservation through Public Health and therefore the Uganda Wildlife Authority, neighboring the Queen’s Pavilion, park lodges, game and scenic drives, and boat launches.

Location.

Queen Elizabeth National park is located in the Western parts of Uganda. It crosses the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri.  When using the road, it is in the south-west of Kampala and is about 400 km and Kasese town is at the northeastern edge outside the park whereas Rubirizi is at south eastern boundaries that are outside the park. The park has Maramagambo Forest, Kyambura Game Reserve, Kibale National Park in Uganda, Kigezi Game Reserve and the Virunga National Park in DRC.

Geography and climate

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located within the Albertine Rift Valley that is found in the southern parts of Uganda. The park is close to Rwenzori Mountains and covers an area of 1,978km2 which includes fields, marsh, slopes and woodland. Queen Elizabeth National Park is shapes the Parc National des Virunga that is in DRC and in the same line the greater Virunga landscape is found and covers a big land in East Africa. The park has two rainy seasons where by one season starts in March and ends in July whereas the other starts from September to November. The rainfall rains differently in the park. The most rain falls around 1,250mm for a year and this occurs in Maramagambo forest but 750mm fall in the Kazinga Channel zones every year.  This is probably so because of the changes in air movements of Mount Rwenzori that wave towards the north and also the slopes of Kichwamba that slopes to the East.

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) has two main wet seasons. This is because they are in an equator environment and there is a movement of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) every year. The first season of rain downpours in late February for the four stations and the second onset starts to rain in the middle of August. There is no difference on the amount of rain received in both seasons but it is said katwe receives more precipitation in the second rainy season than the first principal downpours.

Bio diversity.

 Queen Elizabeth National Park is under UNESCO support and is allocated as Biosphere reserve for humanity. This national park incorporates a variety of natural communities starting from the semi-deciduous tropical woodland to green knolls, marshes and savannah. It is a habitat of popular tree climbing lions, Uganda kob, elephant, gazelle species, monkeys, chimpanzees, hippos and buffaloes. 600 bird species are also found here. Some of the bird species available are dark honey bee eater, shoe bill storks, 11 sorts of ruler fisher, raptors and falcons, some birds of prey and many more. Flamingos can be spotted in groups in the pit lakes in the north. You can view well while at Kazinga Channel and also inbetween Lake Edward and George.

Best time to visit Queen ELizabeth National park.

Visitors who want to visit Queen Elizabeth national Park can come and visit at their convenient time. But do not forget the fact that there is a rainy season and during this season, conditions of the park are troublesome and it is recommended to use a 4×4 vehicle within the park. Most travelers settle at Kyambura Game Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Enganzi Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Simba Safari Camp and Mweya Hostel.

Tourism in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The best visitors like moving around the recreation center that join game viewing at Kasenyi region and game drive at Ishasha as you searching for the tree climbing lions and chimpanzees that are found in the Kyambura Gorge which is next to Kalinzu forests. Going to Kazinga channel enables you to watch the different bird species and also explore the natural life. You can add on watching forest strolls that are in Maramagambo forest where you find a bat buckle.

Seek for help on the guidance of how to pay for the activities you wish to participate in and also how you can easily reach the park. This guidance can be got from Uganda tour operators and we here at Africa Adventure Vacations we are there to serve you at our best. We can reserve chimpanzee permits for those who are interested I chimpanzee trekking.

Wildlife

There is a lot of wildlife to look out for when at QENP and this starts from 2500 elephants, 5000 hippos, 10,000 buffalo to sighting of iconic species in Africa.  More herbivores like waterbuck, topi, warthogs, Uganda kob, sitatunga antelope.

Primates.

There are ten species of primates that are habited in the park and the commonest one is chimpanzee. Baboons are bold and also Vervet and black-and-white colobus monkeys are sighted in the trees.

Birds

Queen Elizabeth National Park supports birding too. 600 bird species are supported in the park as there are wetlands, savanna and lowland forests. Many birds in the park are well known in East Africa and a bird watcher cannot miss out.

Big Cats

 The Queens indefinable habitants are lions, civet, leopard, genal and more cats. Lions can be spotted everywhere in the park but they place of relaxing and climbing is at Ishasha in the southern parts of the park. Leopards are also located in the park as the big nocturnal and also small cats are spotted and night game drives.

Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park

The best route to reach Queen Elizabeth National is through using the tarmac road that takes you from Kampala via Mbarara town and Bushenyi up to the center of the park.  The Mweya peninsula is 22km away.  Coming from the south and passing through Mbarara will make you cover a distance of 420km and passing through Fort Portal will make you cover a distance of 410km.

Getting to Queen Elizabeth National park enables visitors to have a chance to take a route to the Rwenzori Mountains, Lake Mburo National park and Kibale National Park that is famous for Chimpanzee tracking.  You can also reach the park through the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Air travel.

Charter flights can be arranged to existing airstrips of Kasese, Mweya and Ishasha.

Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth is refuge for a large number of exciting species that inhabit the park, and boat cruising along it gives tour safaris the chance to cruise just meters from hundreds of huge buffaloes, hippos while elephants remain on the shoreline of Kazinga channel.

Around 60 bird species can be spotted during the boat cruise. It carries 40 passengers, the boat has a seat which allows to view and expert ranger takes you through the creatures’ stories.

Boat trip last 2 hours and run 3-4 times per day. They can be booked through Africa Adventure Vacations.

Caves in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Bat Cave is located beneath the shady canopy of Maramagambo Forest. While at cave, you can view the resident bats and the pythons. There is also a cultural cave at the Nyanz’ibiri community. The Bat cave was funded by the Center for Disease Control. The cave has a viewing room where visitors can spot pythons and bats.

Nyanz’ibiri community has a historic cave that was a hiding place during the time of Idi Amin as a president. This place acted as a place for offering sacrifices and cleansing misfortunes.

Birding Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth has variety of habitats which are roughly over 600 species. In fact, Queen Elizabeth is talked about by Birding International as the Important Birding Area. The park has got Savanna grass and forest that connect to DR Congo. This is the greatest park of birding in the East African national parks.

When birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is good to have this sites in your mind for best experience; Kasenyi Area, Kazinga Channel, Maramagambo Forest, Mweya Peninsula, Ishasha Sector, Katunguru Bridge, Lake Kikorongo and Katwe.

The main bird species in the park include; Papyrus Canary, Martial Eagle, Pink-backed Pelican, African Broadbill, African Skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Black Bee-eater, Black-rumped Buttonquail, White-tailed Lark, White-winged Warbler, Corncrake, Shoebill, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Bar-tailed Godwit, Papyrus Gonolek. The birds are water birds, forest dwellers or woodland birds found in Maramagambo Forest.

Chimpanzee tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Chimpanzees are men alike. Human beings share a lot with chimpanzee. Besides their hairy body, chimpanzee know how to hold hands and greet each other, they live in a social group of 10 to 100 chimpanzees, they eat and sleep. They also know how to kiss too. They babysit their young ones until four years. Chimpanzees also know how to use different tools like rocks for splitting nuts. They use sticks for drawing termite from nests and use pods for fetching water.

The chimpanzees have different skills that are inherited from generation to generation. They normally depend or feed on leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds. However, the skills of the chimpanzee depend on the diet and habitat. Chimpanzees also get annoyed and angry to those that try to tamper their anger.

Kyambura Gorge has got the most conducive environment for visitors to discover the vegetation types Chimpanzees, birds and the monkey behaviours. The Kyambura Gorge has a rainforest environment that is good for visitors. It is not easy to spot the chimpanzees but you can hear their sounds in a distant place.

Cultural encounters in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Leopard Village

Ecotourism is what welcomes to Leopard Village which is near Muhokya village. It is bordering northern part of Queen Elizabeth. This is a village where the community is run on social and economic ecotourism. Leopard village has a development initiative that is responsible for developing cultural and wild life conservation. It has almost 3acres of land.

Leopard village has got loving and welcoming community members who even make the visit by enjoying a conversation with them.  Tourists visit the traditional huts of Bakonzo, Basongora and Banyabindi ethnic groups. Visitors can also buy handcrafts made by local members.

Leopard is partied by local communities and Uganda Carnivore Program. It is also being supported by Zoos in the United States and Germany. The local communities are of Kahendero, Hamukungu and Muhokya. Donations and fee are to help the community to develop.

Cultural encounter Kikorongo Women Community.

In Lukonzo “Kikorongo” means too much sunshine.  The Equator Cultural Performers has a wonderful performance that consists of fire making, music, dance and drama. They teach Kikorongo’s African ArtCraft to visitors who are willing to learn. They teach how to make necklances, beads, baskets, woven belts, purses and bowls.

Game Drives In Queen Elizabeth National Park

For unforgettable experience, tracks go through the North Kazinga Plains, Kasenyi, and Ishasha help to spot buffalo, warthogs, antelope elephant and baboons. Lions and leopards can be spotted during the morning ride.

ISHASHA

In Ishasha you can sight lions and the local members siting under shady fig trees. In the southern part of Queen Elizabeth, you have a have higher chances of watching hippos, topis, hippos and buffaloes.

KASENYI PLAINS

Kasenyi is in open grasslands that provide Queen Elizabeth the best game drive. Lions prey on the Uganda Kob.  Touring with Mweya based Uganda predator Project gives a tourist a chance to sight hynas, leopards and lions since they monitor them by fitting them with radio collars.

Hiking / nature walks in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Nature walks are one of the best ways to travel on the landscape and variety of wildlife of the park. Locations are Ishasha river and Maramagambo forest; Mweya peninsula with its beautiful views, where you may spot a variety of savanna and forest species and also having a chance to get closer to hippos on foot.

Mweya peninsula offers woodland and savannah with scenic views and bold warthogs. A t the end of park you will find tour safaris more enjoyable and easy to stroll along the Ishasha river where you can watch a variety of savannah and forest mammal and bird species as well as having a great chance on this walk to get closer to hippos on foot and remaining safe on the raised bank above the Ishasha river.

Wildlife research tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park

A research trip is organized for those tourists and scholars who want to test the wild adventure of African Fauna. When researching you will be able to witness and participate in monitoring of birds and mammals, habituation calls using a locator, surroundings and behavior plus the weather. It’s a wonderful adventure. The reports by researchers are reserved in the databases for future use and for preservation of the wildlife ecology and conservation of ecosystem.

Lion Tracking, Mongoose Tracking, Bird Counts and Hippo Census are some of the tourism experiments and activities running in Queen Elizabeth. The tour is in-between 2-3 hours. It takes place in the early morning and evening especially in the night. Few visitors are allowed in the park to reduce the amount of pressure put on animals and also to boost the experience of tourist on the site.

Book with us at the reservations desk of AAV and book in advance for best experience and to avoid inconveniences.

Areas of interest in Queen Elizabeth National park.

Lake George.

Semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope are found in the papyrus swamps of this Ramsar wetland place. You can watch the indefinable Shoebill alongside other innate birds on the lake.

Explosion Craters

You can see 72 enormous round basins that are scattered across the equator and this truly shows the Albertine Rift’s bubbling volcanic ancient. Do not miss the geological history of the region. The 27km drive amid Queen’s Pavilion and Kabatoro gate earns you a view of the huge craters, circular lakes, Rift Valley ridge and Kazinga channel and these are in front of the environment of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Katwe.

Katwe is a well-known lookout point in Uganda that cannot be missed and is in the Katwe- Kabatoro community on Lake Katwe which is known as a Salt Lake. Salt mining has been the order of day since the 16^th century in this place. What follows is the sanctuary bird watching place known as Munyanyange. It is also a location of migratory flamingos that are seen from August- November.

Kasenyi Plains.

Kasenyi plains are open savannah area which can give a visitor a great chance to watch various types of vast herds of Uganda kob and also attract prides of lions, warthogs are spot grazing bent down on their knees, guinea fowl rush over the grassland and huge dark elephants pace across the game drive tracks hence providing dream photo opportunities for visitors.

Mweya Peninsula.

Mweya peninsula is the chief point and the visitors Centre of the park. It Is also the preliminary point for the Kazinga channel boat cruise. In Mweya peninsula there is also a luxurious lodge, hotel, restaurant, campsite and budget food options. A lot of animals and birds surround the place.

Kazinga Channel.

 Doing boat cruise at Kazinga channel is gives excessive opportunity to watch a diversity of wildlife animals flowing at the banks and these includes water birds, buffaloes, hippos, elephants, caiman, weaver birds, marabou storks, monitor and elegant pairs of fish eagles. Boat cruise at Kazinga channel is unforgettable experience that you will never forget in your life. Here a visitor needs to sit with his or her camera and enjoy the incredible sight.

Kyambura Gorge

Kyambura river runs through underground forest of just 100 metres to the Kichwamba escarpment. This area is well known as a place of chimpanzees whereby some of them are habituated and can be tracked in the forest with the help of guides or UWA rangers. Kyambura Gorge is also a home to other primates and bird species and you can watch birds like African skimmer, white winged warbler, papyus gonolet and ovampo sparrow hawk. The Kyambura Gorge entrance fee is also a satisfying spot for a picnic.

Kyambura Wildlife Reserve.

In Kyambura Gorge, there is a crater lake in the East of Kyambura which gives you a great chance to watch a lot of water birds that includes the great egret and the larger and smaller flamingoes.

Maramagambo Forest.

Maramagambo forest is a home to a large number of primates and these include chimpanzees, monkey species and baboons. The forest is also a place of many bird species including the Rwenzori Turaco, forest flycatcher, pink backed pelican, white tailed lark and black bee eater.  In Maramagambo forest there is also the cormorant house, it has big tree which has turned white because of the birds live here at night, one can also decide to visit this tree.  The shady forest also hides crater lakes and a Bat Cave with particularly built viewing room.

Ishasha Sector.

Ishasha sector is the habitat for the tree climbing lion in the southern part of Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National. visitors can also see the herds of Uganda kob and it is a home of birds like rare shoebill, African White-backed Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle and Wahlberg’s Eagle.  Many wildlife like elephants, buffaloes and among others are available. Ishasha sector is a convenient way to pass through to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Best Time to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is said to be open throughout the year, though wildlife viewing is at its best from January to February and June to July (the Dry seasons). However, this scenic park is at its most beautiful in the Wet seasons from March to May and August to December. April, May, August and September are very wet months and during that time, the rain might interfere with your safari.

Accommodation Prices in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Luxury: $190 and over

Midrange: $75 – $185

Budget: $35 – $70

Camping: Under $35

Below is a list of lodges you may book in Queen Elizabeth National Park on your safari ranging from Budget, Midrange and Luxury properties

• Hippo Hill Lodge
• Bush Camp
• Hotel Margherita Ltd
• Ishasha Jungle Lodge
• Ishasha Tented Camp
• Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp
• Kingfisher Lodge Kichwamba
• Katara Lodge
• Kyambura Tented Camp (UWA Concession)
• Mweya Safari Lodge (UWA Concession)
• Mweya Hostels and Cottages
• Queen Elizabeth Safari Camp
• Rwenzori International Hotel
• Rwenzori Gardens
• Sandston Hotel
• Simba Safari Camp
• Spring Resort Hotel
• The Village Eco Lodge
• The Baboon Safari Resort’s
• White House Hotel
• Virina Garden Hotel
• Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge Lodge
• Park View Safari Lodge Kyambura
• Elephant Hab lodge

Park entry fees for queen Elizabeth national park

Queen Elizabeth national park is an outstanding destination that surprises tourists with its wonderful activities. As earlier said, Queen Elizabeth is a park found in the western parts of Uganda and accommodates a large number of tourists who want to have a remarkable safari experience like wildlife viewing, lion tracking and chimpanzee tracking, launch cruise, nature walks and bird watching.

Queen Elizabeth national park is also managed by Uganda wildlife authority (UWA) thus UWA is accountable for drafting charges to be imposed on tourists as they try to access the parks in the pearl of Africa, Uganda and payments for the activities they wish to participate in as they are within the park.

The charges are in different categories like activity fees, entrance fees, annual park fees, aircraft fees and vehicle fees. Again the charges vary on a merit of the status of the tourist and they incur like this; East Africa Community tourist, foreign residents and non-foreign resident’s tourists.

Entrance fees.

Entrance fees are very important as far as your acceptance to enter the park is concerned in fact it is the only permit you can use at the entrance of the park for a trip experience. You can make the payments at UWA offices that are located at the main gate of the park. You will be charged according to your status. If you are a tourist from the East African Community, you will be charged lesser if compared to foreign and non-foreign residents. Foreign and non-foreign residents will be verified for their status by showing a valid working permit and a passport. East African tourist will only be obligated to show a valid national identity card or a passport for those who have.

The entrance fee to queen Elizabeth is as follows;

Foreign residents

Foreign residents usually pay USD 30 per entrant to the park. The permit is supposed to expire immediately after 24 hours.  Children are requested to pay USD 10.

Non foreign residents

These pay USD 40 per entry for adults and children are charged USD 20.

East African community residents

East African community residents pay 20,000 UGx

Activity fees

ALL activities that tourists participate in at Queen Elizabeth are charged differently. The charges vary according to the status of a tourist and more so the category of the activity being participated in. the charges vary as explained below.

Boat cruise

USD 30 for foreign non residents

USD 30 for foreign residents

UGx 30,000 for east African community residents

Game drives

The game drives are charged depending on the time you wish to participate in the drive and the charges are as follows;

Day game drive

USD 20 for foreign non residents

USD 20 for foreign residents

UGx 20,000 for East African community residents

Night game drive

USD 30 for foreign non residents

USD 30 for foreign residents

UGx 50,000 for East African community citizens.

Nature walks

Day nature walk

USD 30 for foreign non-residents

USD 15 for foreign residents

UGx 10,000 for East African community citizens

Night nature walk

USD 40 for foreign non-residents

USD 20 for foreign residents

UGx 15,000 for East African residents

Bird watching

USD 30 for foreign non-residents

USD 30 for foreign residents

UGx 10,000 for East African community residents

Annual park fees

These fees are paid annually and are charged on institutions and tourists who are planning to tour Queen Elizabeth national park for the full year. Foreigners and East African members can be victims of these charges as they are detailed below.

single person

Single east African traveler pays UGx 150,000 and a single foreign resident pays USD 350

Couple

USD 500 for foreign resident couple

East African community couples pay UGx 200,000/=

Family

USD700 is for foreign resident couples

 UGX300, 000/= is paid for East African community tourists. Minimum of 4 family members is allowed.

Co-operate

Co-operate fees are charged on companies and institutions like hotels and banks that plan to visit Queen Elizabeth national park.

Foreign resident co-operates pay USD 1500

cooperate East African citizens pay UGx 2.5 million

Safari guide 

This annual fee is charged on only East African community guide and drivers who operate in Queen Elizabeth National Park and always pay UGx 100,000/=

Tour company driver is usually not charged so long as is from a recognized Ugandan tour company.

Vehicle, boat and air craft park entry fees

Motorcycles

Motorcycles for foreign registered are supposed to be paid for USD 30/=

 Ugandan are paid for at UGx 10,000/=

saloon cars

Foreign registered saloon cars pay USD 40

 Ugandan registered pay UGx 20,000/=

mini buses

Mini buses for foreign registered pay USD 50

Ugandan registered are pay 30,000/= UGx

Pickups and 4WD cars

foreign registered pickups and 4WD cars are pay USD 50

 Ugandan registered ones are charged UGx 30,000/=

school buses

School buses for East African education institutions are charged UGx 50,000/=

buses and lorries

Foreign buses and Lorries pay USD 150

 Ugandan registered are pay UGx 150,000

Nb: Vehicles are always charged per entry in Queen Elizabeth national park

Air craft fees

The fee that is going to be charged depends on the airfield it is going to within Queen Elizabeth national park. Charges also vary on the kind of aircraft and number of seats. The charges are as follows

Helicopters

Foreign resident’s helicopters pay USD 100

 East African community helicopters pay UGx 250,000.

Gliders and micro lights pay USD 10 for foreign crafts

 20,000 UGx is paid for Ugandan registered crafts

 3seaters are paid for USD 20 for foreign crafts and Ugandan registered crafts pay 40,000 UGsh.

4-6 seater are charged USD 30 for foreign crafts and 60,000 UGx for Ugandan registered crafts

7-14 seater is charged USD 40 for foreign crafts and 80,000 UGx for Ugandan registered crafts

15-20 seater is charged USD 50 for foreign crafts and 100,000 UGx for Ugandan registered crafts

20 and above seater is charged USD 60 for foreign crafts and 120,000 UGx for Ugandan registered crafts

More than A4 to 21 craft are charged at a range of USD 30 – USD 50 for foreign resident crafts and at a range of UGx 60,000 – 120, 000 for east African crafts.

Parking fee

Parking for aircraft is at USD 8 for foreign residents

Parking for East African community crafts is at UGx 500.

Note: landing fees for all aircrafts eliminates charges payable by travelers and pilots to en-route and they do not pay any entry fees long as they have spent less than 2 hours in the park.

Boat fees

Boat fees are charged to boats per day

Boats of less than 15 seaters are charged USD 50 for foreign registered and UGx 50,000 for Ugandan registered boats

Launches of more than 15 seaters are charged USD 100 for foreign registered and UGx 150,000 for Uganda registered.