QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Uganda’s most popular and accessible savanna reserve, the 1,978km’ s Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is bounded to the west the Ishasha River and Lake Edward along the Congolese border, to the north by Kasese and Rwenzori foothills, to the east by Lake George, the Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest Reserve, and to the south by the Kigezi Wildlife Authority.
Queen Elizabeth National Park together with Kyambura and kigezi Wild life reserves form one of the most diverse Eco systems in Africa. Here, the melting glacier waters of the Rwenzori Mountains create a vast wetland system comprising for two main lakes George and Edward being channeled by the mighty Kazinga Channel to the remote Ishasha River in the south. This park gathers an extensive diversity of habitats that range from savanna and Wetlands to gallery and lowland forest. This remarkable diversity is reflected in its bird list of over 550 species and that's why I may not be wrong to name it the birders' Paradise, the largest of any protected area in Africa. The lake shore lines congregate thousands of hippos as the patent Savannah speckled with Acacia and Euphorbia trees which furnish a dwelling for Elephants, Lions, Leopards, big herds of buffaloes, the Uganda Kob ,and many others. Facts bout Q.E.N.P
It covers approximately 2056sq-km2 Kyambura wild life reserve covering about 154sq. km2 and Kigezi wild life reserve covering an area of 256sq. km2. It receives an average maximum temperature of 28deg Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius. The park lies on an altitude range of 910 m at lake Edward to 1845 m above sea level that is at the top of the escarpment of the western rift It is a habitat for a medium altitude moist semi-deciduous forest, riverine bush land,, moist thicket, riparian forest, open grassland, seasonal and permanent swamps, open wood land, lakes and rivers. This place can be best timed from December-Februaryandthetourcanbeforatleast2-3days.
It has recorded about 95mammal species and 606 bird species.
ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK
Kazinga Channel Launch
Cruise
The most popular activity at Mweya is the launch trip to the mouth of the Kazinga Channel which leaves daily at 0900,11.00,15.00 and 1700hours and lasts for roughly two hours. Although not spectacular as it is in Murchison falls, it’s a great trip, with Elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, Uganda Kob and large hippo pods seen on a daily basis and the giant forest hog, leopard and also lion also observed from time to time. Keep an eye open for the enormous water monitor lizard, which is common in the riverine scrub as well as crocodiles, seen regularity. Water birds are plentiful, in particular water thick-knee, yellow-billed stork and various plovers, white pinked pelicans and white-bellied cormorants often flock on a sandbank near the channel mouth.
The 15.00 departure is most likely to yield good elephant sighting, particularly on a hot day when these thirsty creatures generally gravitate towards water form mid day onwards, sometimes bathing in the channel. The 0800 and 1700 departures should be more rewarding photographically as the light will be softer. The odds of seeing predators and other nocturnal creatures coming to drink are highest in the late afternoon.
Game drives
This is the act of driving through the park for the purpose of viewing animals. It is best done in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Q.E.N.P provides well-maintained tracks, which give visitors access to the park's game. The tracks pass through the mating grounds of the great Uganda Kob. The allegorical giant forest hog is seen moving around the bush. See the hungry lions looking for prey. In hot days, Elephants make their way down to the water while bush backs and buffaloes can be found on the channel track and juxtaposed circumference. The out standing panorama along the crater track brings you to a volcanic craters at the foothills of the misty mountains of the moon, of course The mighty Mt. Rwenzori.
One who has experienced this game drive in Q.E.N.P will be forced to believe that it is awe-inspiring and remarkable.
Maramagambo walk
The 1Km stretch of road between the visitors centre and Jacana Lodge passes through lush primary forest and can be walked unguided. Plenty on monkeys are likely to be seen-most commonly black-and-white colobus, red-tailed and vervet-and there is a slimmer chance of encountering the lovely L’Hoest monkeys, Chimpanzees, and even Leopards. A more popular walk of roughly 90minutes duration leads you to a large cave where significant concentration of bats are resident, as well as a rock python that is regularly observed by visitor. For bird watchers, the most rewarding walk is likely to be the longer loop around the back of Lake Nyamasingiri, which takes half day to complete and offers the opportunity to seek out rarities such as a scaly breasted illadopsis and chestnut wattle-eye.
Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
This is found in the eastern part of the protected area and supports similar mammals to the rest of the park. It has three saline crater lakes, which attracts a large n umber of flamingoes- not found anywhere else in Uganda. The steep Kyambura gorge, formed by the turbulent waters of the roaring Kyambura River, provides a luxuriant riverine forest, home to chimps. Black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and other primates as well as plenty of forest birds. Lions snakes and many others. Visit the gorge with a great opportunity to see chimps in their natural habitat.
Visit the Traditional Salt
See the way the salt ore looks like since the 14 century, salt has been mined by traditional method s and it is still in use today. Check how the salt mine have been sub divided and distributed to various tribes in Uganda. Your guide will explain to you the cultural strings attached to the salt mines, so interesting. Ishasha
The remote plains in the southwest of QENP, though bypassed by most tour group, ranks with the most alluring game-viewing areas in the country. Ishasha is well known for its tree-climbing lions population, which currently consists of around 40 individuals split across three prides. Unusual else where in Africa, the tree climbing behavior at Ishasha might be observed through the year but it is most frequently encountered during the rainy seasons.
ACCOMMODATION
Up market
Mweya Safari Lodge; This is one of the most beautifully situated lodges in Uganda. The 49-room Mweya Safari Lodge was described by one recent visitor as ‘vacation in the Bush’. The lodge has a prime location with views over the Kazinga Channel which attract large herds of buffalo and Elephant. The lodge garden are rustling with wildlife ranging from warthogs to a variety of lizards and marsh flycatchers. The restaurant is excellent with an a’la carter menu of Indian and continental dishes.
Jacana Safari Lodge; This is owned by Geo Lodges who also run the Nile Safari Camp in Murchison Falls National Park and the new Mabira forest lodge. This fabulous wood-and-thatch construction straddles the steep wall of the jungle-fringed Lake Nyamasingiri, comprising 5 craters at the northern end of the Maramagambo forest. Accommodation is in 8 luxurious, wooden, double sets with private veranda overlooking the picturesque lake and piping-hot showers. The open sided bar and restaurant are suspended over the lake and overlook a great lakeshore swimming pool. There is plenty of faunal red-tailed, olive baboon, black and white colobus monkeys and chimps are regularly heard calling across the lake.
Ishasha Wilderness Camp; This exclusive tented camp has recently opened and offers quality accommodation in this unspoilt remote southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park famous for it’s tree climbing lions that can sometimes be spotted resting in the branches of the large fig trees in the area. Combined with excellent game viewing opportunities for buffalo, elephants, kob, topi and other species of antelope, the camp provides the ideal location, for a midway break for at least two nights, between gorilla viewing in Bwindi and the game viewing in the Mweya area of QENP
Currently catering for up to twelve guests in large twin bedded and each tent has its own private en suite bathroom and dressing area providing hot water “bush” showers and an eco friendly toilet.
Basic/Budget Accommodation
Hippo Hill Camp-Katwe: Built spectacularly on a hill overlooking Kitako and Kabazimu Islands in Lake Edward in the buffer zone between the park and Katwe. The camp is surrounded by Lake Edward, Katwe salt lake and Munyanyange crater lakes. The camp presently offers luxury tents with private toilets and hot showers. Other facilities include a spacious dining and raised bar with views over the Salt Lake. There is a and a very spacious camping site for those who want to pitch up their own tents also.
The Institute of Ecology at Mweya provides shared facilities with single and double rooms. No bed lining is provided.
The Student Hostel at Mweya provides the cheapest option for those not equipped to camp. You can also camp at the hostel.
Ishasha campsite; This lovely , isolated cap consists of 2 basic bandas and is situated on a piece of flat ground several hundred meters away from the Ishasha river.
ACCESS
 From Kampala either via Masaka and Mbarara or via Fort portal, the distance to the park is approx 467 Kms. The Ishasha sector of the Park may also be reached from Kabala. There are three airfields serving the park; at Kasese, Ishasha and Mweya Peninsula.
Distance(KM) from Mweya Lodge to;
Fort portal 129
Kabale (Via Katunguru ang Bugangari) 229
Kampala 438
Mbarara 140
Ishasha (Via Katunguru) 124
Kabale (Via Katunguru and Kihihi) 216
Itineraries to Queen Elizabeth national park include;
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