Queen Elizabeth National Park
Situated in Western Uganda, along the highway that leads to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth is the perfect place to disappear into if you want to see wildlife in a setting where there aren’t crowds of Uganda safari vehicles. It is a big five destination that lies in a rift valley that was formed 25 to 30 million years ago. It is home to 600 recorded bird species, tree climbing lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants, bushbucks, toppi, Uganda kob, hippos, crocodiles….the list goes on.
Forget about Paradise, this 1,978km² gem is such a soulful place, another elemental landscape that serves as a reminder that Uganda is one of the last untamed wildernesses on Africa. It features over 10 crater lakes, two of which are ranked among the world’s 10 most beautifu. It is endowed with an underground forest where chimpanzee trekking excels, a lush savannah where prey and predators congregate. While the sight of Mountain Rwenzori’s ranges is guaranteed though they are usually shrouded in a thick shawl of cloud, so is animal action.
One of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth is surely the lion prides which spend a lot of their time lying in the solitary acacia trees to get the best views of prey roaming the grassland. It is very entertaining to watch, especially that moment when they launch a surprise attack at buffalos wallowing in the mud. This section of the park is also prime leopard territory and apart from wildlife, you should take a chance on a camping experience at the shores of Ishasha River. It overlooks a spot where hippos spend much of the day basking in the sun. If you are a fun of luxury, there are mid-range and high end safari lodge options available.
Nocturnal numbers in Queen Elizabeth are low but they are there, so look hard during the night forest walks.
Chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura Gorge
If you are have to choose between trekking chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and Kibale National Park, the answer mostly depends on your fitness level.
If you want an easy experience, Kibale is bound to make you happier as its terrain is relatively flat. However, if you want an adventure that will get you out of your comfort zone but still end on a good note, then Kyambura is worth a top spot on your bucket list.
This underground forest is scenically impressive on the outside as it is on the inside. It is also worth mentioning that chimp trekking in Kyambura presents a better environment for meditation due to its sense of isolation and limited number of tourists allowed into it per day (16). Trekking permits cost $200 inclusive of park entry fees.
Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
A major highlight of the park is its captivating sightseeing boat cruise along Kazinga, a vast freshwater river that empties Lake Gorge into Lake Edward. Its marshes support an excellent selection of egrets, kingfishers and other water-associated birds. Another highlight of mammals for most tourists is watching forest elephants and forest buffalos half-submerged in the reed beds of the marshes. Here, you will find hundreds of tail-flicking hippos scattered across the river. There is no better way of experiencing all this than by pursuing a two hours’ scheduled and chartered boat cruise.
