Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the top savannah parks in Uganda. The park is located in western Uganda. The park was named after the queen Elizabeth of England. The park is home to several wildlife species that include, Lions, elephants, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, chimpanzees, spotted hyenas and more. Queen Elizabeth is a top notch wildlife safari destination when in Uganda. Encounter Africa Safaris organizes trips for tourists to Queen Elizabeth National Park and other destinations in Uganda. For more information and assistance on visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park, contact us.
Tour Packages For Queen Elizabeth National Park
If you are considering to visit Uganda, these are some of the tour packages Encounter Africa
- 3 day Uganda Queen Elizabeth Park safari
- 5 days Uganda Queen Elizabeth Park safari
- 8 days Uganda wildlife and gorilla safari
- 12 day Uganda wildlife and primate safari
These and many more tour packages to Queen Elizabeth National park are available for you to choose from. Even better, you can have a tailor made trip that fits into your preferences to ensure that you enjoy yourself to the fullest. For more information on our tour packages, Contact Encounter Africa Safaris.
Activities To Do In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park has several activities for you to engage in as you visit. There are different activities that can suit your tastes and preferences and they include the following;
Game drives.
Game drives are one of the most popular activities that are done by tourists in Queen Elizabeth National park. Game drives in the park are done at different times of the day. They can be done early in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening and also on night game drives. During the morning, you can be able to see the animals as the predators retire from their night activities and other mammals rise for the new day. The animals do different things during the day and that is why all the different times are allowed as you have different experiences. The night game drives are very great for people who are interested in seeing the nocturnal animals. As you go for these game drives, you will be able to see the popular tree climbing lions, Elephants, baboons, buffaloes and so much more. If you are interested in game drives, let Encounter Africa Safaris help you plan your trip.
Boat cruises
Boat cruises are done on the Kazinga channel. This is a water channel that connects Lake George and Lake Albert. The Kazinga channel is very popular because big numbers of wildlife always converge there in search of water thus making it a big tourist spot. The scheduled boat cruises can be done in the morning and the afternoon. While on this cruise, you will be able to see one of the largest concentrations of hippos in the country. The channel is also home to several Nile crocodiles. In addition to these two species, you can see waterbucks, sitatunga antelopes, elephants and more. If boat cruises are of your interest, please reach out to Encounter Africa Safaris to help you organize one on the Kazinga channel.
Lion tracking
Lion tracking is an experimental activity of tourism that happens in both the Mweya and Ishasha sectors of the park. The tracking is done by researchers who follow lions that have radio collars and study the behaviors of these lions. The activity is managed by the Uganda Carnivores project and is very safe to embark on. It is important to know that lion tracking requires prior planning. Unlike game drives and boat cruises, lion tracking can only be done by a limited number of people in a period of 2 to 3 days in the mornings and afternoons. If you are interested in lion tracking, contact Encounter Africa Safaris.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth is done in the Kyambura Gorge also known as the magnificent valley of apes. The gorge has a small community of chimpanzees to trek but it can be a great additional activity while you are in Queen Elizabeth. The Chimpanzee permits in Kyambura Gorge are cheaper than the other locations and are definitely budget friendly as shown below.
Non-Resident Foreigner -USD 100
Resident Foreigner – USD 80
East African Citizens – UGX 50,000
For more information and assistance on booking chimpanzee permits and a trip to Queen Elizabeth please contact Encounter Africa Safaris.
In addition to the chimpanzees, you will be able to see other species such as olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys and so much more.
Birding
Birding can be done in different parts of the park such as the Kazinga Channel, Mweya peninsula and the Kyambura Gorge. The species that can be spotted in these areas include African hobby, African skimmer, Crab-plover, Great white pelican, Black-rumped buttonquail, collared pratincole, Common sand martin, and so much more. The best time for bird watchers in Queen Elizabeth is during the months of May to September but if you are interested in migratory birds, you can consider the months of November to April.
Lake Katwe Salt Lake experience
Lake Katwe is a salt lake that can be visited while you are in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The lake is very popular for its salt mining activity. Going to Lake Katwe gives you the opportunity to see the local process of salt mining. In addition to this, you can visit the communities around and experience the cultures and also get some crafts for souvenirs.
In addition to lake Katwe, you can also visit the other crater lakes that are in the region of Queen Elizabeth like Nyamunuka, Bunyaruguru , Kasenda and many more.
If you are interested in participating in any of the activities mentioned above, please contact Encounter Africa Safaris to organize everything for you.
How To Get To Queen Elizabeth National Park
Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park can be done via road and air. By road, you will take about 4 to 5 hours from the central region (Kampala or Entebbe). The journey is very interesting as you get to see and experience different parts of the country until you reach your destinations. If you do not want to go through long hours of traveling, you can choose the option of flying to the Mweya airstrip and then take a short drive of about 30 minutes to an hour to your chosen place of accommodation. Encounter Africa Safaris assists clients in booking flights and also offers vehicle hire and transportation services for those using road means. Our vehicles are suitable for the park’s terrain and are modified to fit the tour experience. The vehicles come with professional driver guides that are well conversant with the location and the country in general.
What To Pack For A Trip To Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Sun protection gear. This includes sunglasses, hats and sunscreen. Having this is important especially if you are visiting during the dry season as the sun can be very hot and this can be uncomfortable and end up making your entire experience less than you expected.
- Safari clothing. Packing the right clothing for your trip is very important. These should include neutral coloured shirts and trousers that are environmentally safe and not bright to attract negative attention of the wildlife. Warm clothing for the cold evenings and mornings should be included.
- Insect repellent. This is very important to keep away insects which could cause irritation or even allergic reactions and diseases.
- Camera equipment. Having a camera with you on a trip will enable you to take amazing photos. Remember to pack extra batteries and storage devices.
- Pair of binoculars. These are great to have for the game drives. Binoculars enhance your game viewing experience by zooming in into wildlife that would be normally far to see.
- Personal first aid kit. This can include all the necessary medications that you need for your health; these can be allergy medications, painkillers and more. Your kit should also include things that help you in case of accidents such as plasters and bandages.
For more information and assistance in planning your trip to Queen Elizabeth feel free to contact Encounter Africa Safaris.
Accomodation In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Several accommodation options in the different sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park can fit your preferences on where to stay when visiting the park. The options available range from budget to luxury and some of them include the following.
- Elephant Plains Lodge – Luxury
- Mweya Safari Lodge – Luxury
- Kyambura Gorge Lodge– Luxury
- Ishasha Wilderness Camp – Luxury
- Ishasha Jungle Lodge – Midrange
- Buffalo Safari Lodge – Midrange
- Adverk Safari lodge – Midrange
- Bush Lodge – Budget
- Simba Safari Camp – Budget
For more information or help booking accommodation for your visit in Queen Elizabeth National Park contact Encounter Africa Safaris.
Best Time To Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park can be visited at any time of the year. Uganda experiences a tropical climate with two seasons which are dry and rainy. The dry season is a good time to visit because the animals always converge at the water points which makes them easy to see. During this time, the vegetation is also short making it easy to spot the animals. The dry season happens in the months of June to August and December to February. The rainy season is also fairly good majorly because there are tourists visiting the park and this can get you some discounts on things such as accommodation.
Visa For Uganda
Entry into Uganda requires you to have a valid tourist visa. The visa has to be applied for online. The issuing time is about 3 days and more so you have to make sure that you book your visa at least 7 days before your arrival into the country. For your visa to be authorized, you need to have the following:
- Passport copy (bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity.
- Recent Passport-size Photograph.
- Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
- Hotel booking or reservation (if any other accommodation, provide an address)
- Proof of yellow fever vaccination.
For more information on the visa process please reach out to Encounter Africa Safaris for assistance or Visit the Uganda Electronic Visa system.
Is It Safe To Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Yes it is very safe to visit Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda. The park is under the management of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and it ensures that the park is secure for visitors. When in the parks and the reserves of Uganda, you will be safe as there are several rangers stationed in the park and the guides that take you on the trip are very conversant with the locations and who ensure that you’re on your trip without any safety challenges. Uganda as a country is also a safe and stable country in general which makes it a safe option to visit. If you are planning a trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Contact Encounter Africa Safaris to help you with the entire process.
Why Use Encounter Africa Safaris
Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the leading tour operators for the East African region, we have been organizing amazing safari experiences to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania for the last 15 years and are in a position to give you the best advice in terms of getting the best out of any penny spent. We have a team of competent safari designers and guides who will make sure that planning and executing your safari is done with ease. Encounter Africa Safaris is owned and run by locals and part of the money paid by you is channeled to benefiting projects that support community development as well as conserving the environment. If you are looking for an operator to curate and plan your trip to Uganda and the rest of East Africa, choose Encounter Africa Safaris and I assure you that the package will be amazing. Encounter Africa safaris is highly recommended on Trip Advisor as well as safari bookings. Feel free to visit these platforms and get to see what other clients say about our service.
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