Queen Elizabeth National Park, well known for its variety of mammals, is located in the western region of Uganda and is the second largest of the 10 national parks in the country, next to Murchison Falls National Park. The park covers an area of almost 1978 square kilometres. It stretches from the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges in the north, along the Kazinga Channel to the shores of Lake Edward in the south. The park incorporates a wide variety of habitats that range from wetlands to Savannah to lowland rainforest. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, making it one of the most well-known and popular parks to visit in all of Uganda. Some of the animals you might encounter on a self-drive tour include African elephants, lions, Cape buffaloes, leopards, hippos and over 600 species of birds have been recorded here. The Kazinga Channel is a dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park – joining Lake George and Edward. This channel is home to one of the largest concentrations of hippos in the world and offers opportunities for boat safaris.
Queen Elizabeth National Park - Uganda Self-drive Tours
As a major tourist attraction, Queen Elizabeth National Park is well-serviced with a variety of accommodations and tour options. It is easily accessible from other destinations like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the south and Kibale National Park in the north. Through the development of tourism and a strong conservation ethic, the park is focused on both protecting and preserving the natural environment and wildlife and providing an enjoyable and lasting experience for visitors.
Wildlife viewing opportunities in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park has a diverse ecosystem including sprawling Savannah, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands. This makes it the ideal habitat for a host of African wildlife, and there are indeed plenty of opportunities to see these animals. Visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park can make the most of the opportunities to see lions, leopards, giant forest hogs, Cape buffalos, elephants, Defassa waterbuck, Uganda Kobs, Topis and bushbucks. In terms of programs, tourism activities in the park include launch trips along the Kazinga Channel, which can be taken from the Mweya Peninsula and the Katwe and research centre. Chimp tracking in the Kyambura Gorge; nature treks – such as the Maramagambo and Ishasha interpretive trails. The addition of hot air ballooning in the Ishasha wilderness offers visitors an aerial view of the park. Every year, the park has about 300 kilometres of game tracks. These pass through a variety of landscapes where one has a good chance of seeing wildlife.
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The Ishasha sector
The Ishasha sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park occupies the southern part of the park near the DR Congo border. The Ishasha River, from which the sector takes its name, runs from the southwestern part of the sector to the northeastern side. The area is characterized by rolling grasslands and some acacia trees, with the land gradually rising in altitude towards the west. To the south of the sector is the Maramagambo forest, a large tropical forest that provides a habitat for a variety of animal and bird species. The Ishasha sector attracts numerous visitors and tourists due to its big cats – the tree-climbing lions. The section’s proximity to both the town of Kihihi, and the Mweya Peninsula, a well-visited place within the park which offers additional attractions on game drives. The Ishasha sector is accessible to visitors by road. A dirt road that leads from Kihihi through the northern part of the park can be used to enter the sector.
