Game drives

Game drives are the most commonly done activities in the park. They are rewarding with sightings of a number of wildlife the park has. Queen Elizabeth National Park has different game drive sectors including Kasenyi, Ishasha, and the Mweya peninsular area. The best time for game drives in the park is early mornings to catch up with the early risers, especially the predators as they return from hunting.

Evenings are also great times for game drives as you get to enjoy the views of the African sunset. Here you can also get to enjoy bush breakfasts or sundowners that are arranged by the different accommodation facilities in the park.

While on game drives expect to see animals like buffaloes, a number of antelope species, elephants, warthogs, and a number of birds.

Birding

The Park is one of Uganda’s best birding destinations. It’s one of the few places in Uganda where you can see flamingos that occur at Lake Munyayange. Other notable bird species in the park include the African Finfoot, Swamp Flycatcher, Black bee-eater, and great blue turaco among others.

Most of these birds are seen while on game drives or guided nature walks and birding expeditions. Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is doable any time of the year but for the best birding experiences visit from May to September. Those interested in migratory birds can visit the park from November to April.

Boat Cruises

Boat cruise experiences are very enjoyable in Queen Elizabeth National Park, especially along the Kazinga channel. The channel joins Lake Edward to Lake George and is most famous for its hippo population. Other notable wildlife seen along the channel include Nile crocodiles, birds, and major savanna animals that come down the channel to take water.

The 2 to 3-hour cruise here is very rewarding and highly recommended for those interested in true African wildlife.

Crater Drives

Queen Elizabeth National Park has a number of explosion craters. These are very magnificent and offer great scenic views. Some have lush vegetation with woodland and others have water to form Crater lakes.

The Katwe explosion crater is among the most visited in the park. It has rock salt that Is mined by the locals in the area and a visit to Lake Katwe enables you to learn about the local salt mining methods.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is done in the Kyambura Gorge forest. The forest is situated in an underground gorge and is home to chimpanzees and other primates. It is traversed by River Kyambura and it’s a great place to explore for nature lovers.

Adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park is Kalinzu forest which also has chimpanzees. The forest can easily be accessed especially for those staying at the edge of Kyambura escarpment. Those staying in Mweya and the Kasenyi area can also access the forest in about 30 to 40 minutes.

Nature Walks

These give one an opportunity to get close to wildlife. The bat cave in the Maramagambo forest adjacent to the park is a great place for nature walks. Other beautiful places for nature walks in the park include the Twin Lakes area, the Kyambura forest, and the Ishasha River areas.

Community Visits

Queen Elizabeth National Park has a number of local communities that offer great cultural and community visits. Here you will get to know about the local peoples’ ways of life by visiting people’s homesteads. You can also engage in a number of home activities like cooking.