Travel Guide To Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), Game Drives and Wildlife Viewing In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game drives at Queen Elizabeth National Park are the most memorable safari activity on any Ugandan tour as they involve a drive through the park in search of wildlife. At Queen Elizabeth National Park the most notable areas for carrying game drives are the Kasenyi plains, the Mweya Peninsula, the north Kazinga plains, the Crater lakes, and the Ishasha sector famous for tree-climbing lions.
This activity involves the visitors to drive through the park while viewing animals. The Park has several spots of well-maintained game viewing tracks. The Park has over 200 km of well-maintained game tracks. The best time for game drives is in the morning hours and evening hours when there are high chances of seeing elephants, buffaloes, lions, and a variety of antelopes and other wildlife you can see on safari in Uganda.
About Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP, or Queens) is Uganda's most visited national park. The Park's diverse ecosystems include sprawling savannah, shady forests, lakes, and lush wetlands all providing ideal habitats for classic big game, forest primates, and birds. The park was initially named Kazinga National Park in 1952 but was renamed 2 years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Park is often paired with Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and/or Chimp trekking in Kibale Forest. The park is famous for its big cats, including tree-climbing lions and leopards. Game drives will reveal the park's range of big game including elephants, buffalos, antelopes, and warthogs.
Boat safaris take you across the Kazinga Channel that links Lakes Edward and George. Here you'll find buffalo and elephants coming down to the shore, pelicans rafting together in the sunshine, and plenty of hippos.
There are over 600 species of recorded birds in Queens, and you can even pair a game drive or boat safari with chimp trekking in the mystical forests of Kyambura Gorge.
Crater Lakes game drives:
There are 72 craters of different sizes scattered throughout the park, evidence of the area's tumultuous volcanic history. Many of these are clustered in the north of the park making for a fascinating half-day drive when the view and geologic record is the focus rather than the wildlife.
It's humbling to think back to the formation of these craters, dozens of impressions on the Earth's crust, becoming enveloped by flora and fauna over the ensuing millions of years. The violent and fiery past of the craters abruptly contrasts with the green, forested oasis of life that exists there now.
The open grasslands of Kasenyi provide QENP's primary game viewing area, thanks to resident herds of Uganda kob and the lions that prey on them. The sightings are guaranteed with the signing up for a tour with the Mweya-based Uganda Predator Project which monitors the movement of lions, leopards, and hyenas fitted with radio collars.
Ishasha Sector game drives:
This QENP's southern sector offers a classic game viewing experience under vast Rift Valley skies. Visitors will see buffaloes, hippos, elephants, topis, and more. The chance of sighting lions is the best in Ishasha, the local lion prides obligingly to spend their days resting up in the branches of shady fig trees.
Mweya Penninsula game drives:
Traveling in 4x4-wheel drive vehicles adapted to provide great visibility through hatch roofs and sliding windows, you will patrol the grasslands with your guide for about 3 hours in the early morning or evening when the animals are at their most active.
Each species has its ecological niche, home, and behavior patterns. When the guide understands these, they can introduce you to the story of the savannah, bringing you closer to its wonderful animals.
Access to Queen Elizabeth National Park:
The Park is easily accessible, both as a single destination and connectable as part of a longer itinerary. Two routes run from Kampala to Mweya, the primary hub in QENP. The most scenic route passes through Fort Portal (410 km ) and offers detours to Kibale, Semuliki and Rwenzori Mountains National Parks
The park's proximity to Bwindi and Kibale makes it a popular pairing with gorilla or chimp trekking. The journey from Kibale Forest and the Fort Portal area takes about 3 hours. Driving from the Mweya Peninsula to Buhoma, northern Bwindi takes about 4 hours.
Alternatively, scheduled light aircraft flights can be arranged from Entebbe to airstrips in Kasese, Mweya, and Ishasha. The flight takes between 60 and 120 minutes depending on the routing used.
Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth Nationa Park:
The Park can be visited all year round, however, it's best during the drier season from June to early October and again in December through to early March.
Accommodation in QENP:
Elephant Plains Lodge:
Found in the Northeast Escarpment, the Elephant Plains Lodge is one of the newest properties in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It sits high up on the escarpment, offering views that stretch for miles and miles. Right next to the lodge is Lake Kikorongo, frequently visited by herds of elephants (hence the name!).
The lodge is made up of a collection of private cottages set around the main compound. This area of the park is particularly stunning, with views of the grasslands stretching to Lake George and the easily accessible Kasenyi Plains where you will often see wildlife wandering through.
Kyambura Gorge Lodge:
Kyambura Gorge Lodge, found right next to the Kyambura Gorge in the eastern sector of the park, is quickly becoming one of the best accommodation options in Uganda. Due to its location, it is the perfect base for chimp trekking, game drives, and boat safaris.
Ishasha Wilderness Camp:
The Ishasha sector in the south-west is one of the quietest areas of the park. Here, the Ishasha Wilderness Camp offers a true tented camp experience without compromising on comfort or style. Based on the banks of the Ishasha River, right at the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the camp blends well into the natural surroundings.
Mweya Safari Lodge
The Mweya Peninsula extends out into the Kazinga Channel, a long natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George. Here you will find the Mweya Safari Lodge, a government property built over 30 years ago which has been converted into a large hotel. The central location is ideal for hopping on Kazinga Channel boat trips, and the views of the distant grasslands merging into the lakes are wonderful.
