Driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park is scenic drive you would not want to miss! Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western part of Uganda second largest park after Murchison falls national park. The area is dominated by crate lakes, forest, wildlife and birds, it is managed by the Uganda wildlife authority lying under the shadow of the mountains of the moon, tree climbing lions are the major highlight of visit, it is among the most sought tourism destinations of the country once known as the Kazinga channel in the 1952, it was however renamed Queen Elizabeth national park after Queen Elizabeth the 2nd visited the national park. Its contrast sectors (Kasenyi plains, crater lakes circuit, Kazinga channel, Mweya peninsular and the Ishasha sector).
Driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park is done from different directions, one can choose to begin the journey from Entebbe international airport, Kampala city, Bwindi impenetrable national park of from Kibale forest national park, the transfers can be by private means or public transport, its strategic location makes easier to be accessed by any means, routes via the Kampala -Masaka-Mbarara high way are ideal, it takes approximately 7 hours’ drive to reach the destination, from Lake Mburo the park can be accessed from Mbarara-Ntunganmo or through Katunguru a small village around the park premises.
The drive to Queen Elizabeth national park is not a so easy journey make, it is a long drive is implying that one will have to at least spend 2 days in the park, travelers can easily combine trips to the west. It is recommendable for one to use a tour operator, safari land cruisers are used to access and beat the tough terrain of the national park. There is a mandatory fee charged for one to be able to access the national park, for example a Ugandan registered vehicle is charged 30,000 shillings, foreign nonresidents $40, foreign residents $30 and east African citizens 20,000 shillings only to be allowed in the park.
Popular things to do in the national park include game drives in the Kasenyi plains, there is a chance to see the so called big four of the wilderness (Lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants) these are conducted using 4*4 wheel car drives, other animal species can be sighted through the well distributed game routes of the park, Boat cruise along the Kazinga channel is a highlight of safaris to queen Elizabeth national park expect to see wildlife up close.
Queen Elizabeth national park is approximately 375 kilometers from Kampala, it is a scenic drive, road conditions are both good and fair times, some of the parts toward the western Uganda are under construction hence bumpy sometimes and those inside the conservation area. It is advisable before driving to ensure that he vehicle going to be used should be in good working conditions, stock eats enroute despite the fact that you can stop over for a meal in the local restaurants, pack other items of personal nature.