Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular national park in the country. Famous for its tree-climbing lions located in the Ishasha sector of the park, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second biggest park in Uganda. It was established in 1952 as an incredible animal sanctuary in the country’s western region. Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, crossing the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. The park was once called Kazinga Channel National Park in 1952 when it was established. The park was named after the waterway or channel which connects Lake Edward to Lake George. However, all that changed when the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, decided to visit and explore the park in 1954, which was approximately 2 years after it was gazetted. Her visit to Uganda, a British protectorate, then led to the changing of the park’s name from Kazinga Channel National Park to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park spans 1,978 square kilometers and harbors over 95 wildlife species and 500 bird species. The park has a variety of wildlife species, including lions, buffaloes, foxes, waterbucks, duikers, oribis, elephants, leopards, hippos, reedbucks, crocodiles, etc. Although Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, it is also an incredible wildlife specimen that hosts stunning adventures.
What are the interesting things seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park has many interesting things that can awe any visitor who embarks on an adventure safari there. Below are some of the interesting things seen in the park.
Tree-climbing lions
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a top destination for tree-climbing lions. These lions are located in the Ishasha sector. Tree-climbing lions have, over the years, been selling like a hot cake, with visitors from far and wide coming to witness these gifted lions. Tree-climbing lions are only found in two places in East Africa. These are the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and Lake Manyara National Park in southern Tanzania. Tree-climbing lions are a major tourist activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Birds
There are approximately 600 bird species in Queen Elizabeth National Park. These birds stay in the different ecological systems in the park, from the savannah woodland plains to tropical rainforest and riverine vegetation. The park hosts both the endemic resident species and the migratory species that fly into the park during the breeding season. Some bird species spotted in the park include African crowned eagle, African mourning dove, swift, martins, grey-headed kingfisher, Nubian woodpecker, African mustached warbler, African emerald cuckoo, black coucal, yellow bill, African fin foot, etc.
Kazinga Channel
The Kazinga Channel is of great importance to the park. This great water channel connects Lakes Edward and George. It is 32 kilometers wide and stretches for over 40 kilometers and is the main hotspot for the aquatic life adventure of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kazinga Channel hosts the largest population of hippos in the country, with over 5,000 hippos. The channel also harbors counterless Nile crocodiles that can always be spotted on the banks of the channel, busking in the hot sun. It is the main water source of the park and often sees animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and antelopes come to quench their thirst in the channel.
Primates
The vast ecosystem of Queen Elizabeth National Park is quite interesting, with tropical rainforest harboring its lowlands and savannah grasslands and woodlands in the plains. There are over 10 primate species, but the most notable one is the chimpanzee primate. Other primates include colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked crested mangabey, and red colobus, among others.
What is the most popular tourist activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Several tourist activities are offered by Queen Elizabeth National Park that suit its various attractions that are stretched across its borders. However, below is the most popular activity in the park.
Game drives
Game drives are the major tourist activity in the park. Game viewing involves exploring the park in the comfort and safety of a safari vehicle as you view various wildlife species. Game viewing is the perfect time to spot the various wildlife species going about with their daily chores. Some of the animals viewed while on a game drive include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, antelopes, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, and leopards, among others.
However, several other activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park suit any tourist’s bucket list, and these include the following.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is the best way to explore these primates in their natural habitat. Trekking involves walking through the rainforest in the gorge in search of chimpanzees and, upon their location, spending an hour with them. Trekking in Kyambura Gorge takes place in two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Birding
For birding enthusiasts, Queen Elizabeth National Park has got you covered. With as many as 600 bird species housed in the park, there are incredible chances to spot a variety of them. There are designated trails for spotting various birds, and with the help of an experienced guiding birder, visitors are assured of a good time.
Boat cruise
A boat cruise is a boat ride experience on the Kazinga channel that offers an opportunity for tourists to view and explore the wildlife along the channel. Animals to spot include hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalos, and different bird species, to mention but a few. These come to take a drink and cool off their bodies from the hot sun. A boat cruise is done in two sessions, one in the morning and the other in the evening.
Are there chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Yes, there are chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park. These chimpanzee primates are harbored in the Kyambura Gorge, the Valley of Apes. The Kyambura Gorge is found in the heart of the park, stretching for over 156 square kilometers. It is a tropical rainforest that sinks for approximately 100 meters downslope. Kyambura Gorge is drained by the Kyambura River, which it was named after. It hosts over 100 chimpanzee primates that can be spotted on a chimpanzee trekking adventure experience. Trekking of chimpanzees can be done both in the morning and in the afternoon for an hour.
How much is a chimpanzee trekking permit in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Trekking of chimpanzees is done in the Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park at a cost. Chimpanzee trekking permits are documents that allow visitors to trek chimpanzees in the wild. Each trekking permit costs vary from nationality to region of the visitor. These permits cost USD 100 for foreign non-residents, USD 80 for foreign residents, and UGX 50,000 for East African citizens, including Ugandans. Obtaining a chimpanzee trekking permit is only by purchasing it from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a local tour operator.
What is the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for chimpanzee trekking?
Queen Elizabeth National Park is crossed by the equator and thus receives an equatorial type of climate. This climate is characterized by two dry and wet seasons every year. The dry seasons run from June to September and December to February. During this time, the park receives dry conditions, humid temperatures, and little or no rainfall. This causes the vegetation to be sparse, thus providing the best conditions for outdoor activities. Chimpanzee trekking is an outdoor activity, and hence, the dry season is the best time for a chimpanzee trekking adventure experience in Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
This applies to other activities like game drives, boat cruises, and nature walks, to mention but a few. Although birding is an outdoor activity, the best time for this activity is during the wet season. This is because during the wet season, the bird species are in the breeding season, and the park receives migratory bird species. The wet season runs from March to May and October to November.