Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most popularly visited national parks because the park has several activities worth visiting. Covering nearly 2000 square kilometers this protected area was named to honor the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in the early 1950s.

The park has picturesque features that were left behind by volcanic action decades ago and now form the major attractions of the park. Some of these include Lake George to the northeast and Lake Edward to the southwest boundaries of the park.

These two are connected by a channel referred to as the Kazinga channel which forms one of the attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

There are also crater filled with forests that occasionally remind one of the Jurrasic Park, though there are no dinosaurs here but believed to have been thousands of years ago.

Referred to as the “medley of wonders” the park has a variety of wildlife against the backdrop of natural beauty rarely found anywhere else.

With a variety of wildlife and attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has several activities that tourists can undertake. Here is what to do while at Queen Elizabeth National Park;

Wildlife Safari Game Drives

Activities Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park is so overwhelming and tourists can enjoy game drives around the park with chances of spotting the big cats and several other wildlife species.

The park hosts 4 of the big five with 99.9% chances of seeing them, and these are Elephants, Lions, Leopards, and Buffaloes.

Elephants are very closely knit, usually led by a matriarch, and woe to anybody who tries to disturb their peace.

To enjoy the beauty of wildlife in the park, choose to take Uganda wildlife safari game drive. The trails offer an opportunity to see an array of wildlife. The game drive lasts about 4 hours and can be undertaken in the morning, afternoon, or evening.

Along with the Ishasha sector, one can get a chance to see the rare tree-climbing lions. These are very captivating and gentle yet shrewd while hunting their prey.

Kazinga Channel boat cruise

A boat cruise is another spectacular activity to undertake at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the Kazinga channel, it’s hard to miss the giant hippos’ sun-bathing. The boat cruise brings a breathtaking experience with a riverbank full of birdlife and wildlife.

Birding/ bird watching

Activities Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park has the highest birdlife of all the national parks in Uganda. The park is home to more than 660 bird species recorded within the boundaries of the park.

This makes the park a bird haven. Many of the bird species here follow the migratory trend of breeding in Asia and Europe but wintering in Africa.

The common bird species in the park include the Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged plover, African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, Sacred Ibis, Malachite Kingfisher, Lesser flamingos, African skimmers, and many more. This makes it a hotspot for Uganda birding safaris with a great array to occupy the die-hard bird watchers.

Chimpanzee trekking – Activities Queen Elizabeth National Park

Though not popular as Uganda’s chimpanzee trekking tour destination, one can have an experience of a kind when they trek chimps in the Kyambura gorge. This is a valley at the edges of the park inhabited by a few chimpanzees. It is such a unique experience trekking chimpanzees here since you trek chimps in a gorge about 100 meters below sea level.

When planning Uganda safari tours, don’t miss out on visiting the spectacular Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife viewing, chimp trekking, bird watching as well as a boat cruise.

The visit to the park can also be tailored with a visit to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Uganda gorilla safaris or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The tour can also be tailored with a visit to Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking.