Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the top-ranking destination areas of Uganda. If you are planning on your Uganda Safari, the conservation area is a must-do it is referred to as the Medley of Wonders due to its natural angelic features. The biodiverse region stretches along the floor of the rift valley surrounded by rolling hills of the Rwenzori escarpments, many crater lakes, forests, and gorges, rivers, it covers an area space of approximately 1978 square kilometers rising at an altitude of 1,300m-910m above sea level. It was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, however following the visit of the Queen of England the park’s name was changed to the present-day Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest national park in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park, it is known for its tree-climbing lions,only park where this species can be found to the south of the Ishasha sector, it boasts a variety of ecosystems including crater; lakes, rivers, evergreen forests, wild animals including the so-called big four of the wilderness( Lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes), all of the park sectors are habitats to wildlife, the Mweya peninsula,Kasenyi plains, Ishasha sector, Kyambura gorge and along the side banks of the Kazinga channel a stream. These habitats act as homes to animals for example waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, Uganda kobs, oribi, giant forest hogs, hippos, crocodiles, chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, civets, sitatunga and warthogs mentioned a few. The park is a great location to go birding in Uganda, of the 1000 species of birds recorded in Uganda, 3 thirds of these can be spotted while in the national park.
Key activities of the national park include game drives which are done in the Kasenyi plains, there are lots of wild animals in the sector, the Katwe explosion crater cherried among the savannah, and the amazing wildlife, and wonderful landscapes that have developed over, the water points attract many animal species that can be spotted here, the Ishasha sector for tree climbing lions in the fig trees. The game drives are conducted with the help of an experienced guide together with a Uganda wildlife game ranger, it is one of the few places where night game drives are done in search of nocturnal species mostly the cat family like lions and leopards.
A boat cruise along the Kazinga channel is one of the most rewarding experiences to do while in the national park, the stream of water connects 2 rift valley lakes of Edward and George, and the cruise lasts for 2-3 hours while enjoying the beautiful amazing sceneries of the region, it is popular for its high concentration of hippos in the world. Other things to do in the national park include birding, there are birds everywhere in the park, and about 500 species have been recorded in the park most of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley region. Experiential lion tracking in the park is a must-see of the King of the Jungle. Chimpanzee tracking in the Kyambura gorge.
There is available accommodation in the national park and the surrounding areas ranging from the best budget to luxury, Examples facilities of the park include Ishasha wilderness camp, bush lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge,and Mweya safari lodge among other facilities. The park can be accessed by road from Kampala it takes approximately 6 hours drive to arrive at the destination, and flights can be arranged to land at the Kasese airstrip.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is truthfully an angelic destination of Uganda, it is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, there is a mandatory payment to the enterprise in order to access activities of the national park, $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, and 20,000 shillings for east African citizens.