Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The top attractions to see visit in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Kazinga Channel, The tree climbing Lions, The Big Five Wildlife(Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Buffaloes, Leopards), the Mweya Penisula, Chimpanzees in Kyambkura Gorge, Salt Works In Lake Katwe.

Queen Elizabeth national park  “Amedley of Wonders”, is the most popular and visited Park out of 10 Uganda national Parks. With a total are of 1978 square kilometers, the park is a home of numerous habitats including Savannah grasslands, woodland, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands, which all together protects wide range of wild game, about 10 primate species and more than 600 bird species.

The park was established in 1952, hosts many wild game including; Cape buffalo, Uganda Kob, waterbuck, warthog, lion, leopard, hyena, giant forest hog and elephants. Lions can only be discovered in Ishasha region, forest primate in Kyambura gorge and Maramagambo forest. While the birds exceeds the total range in Virunga National Park among others are; African skimmer, Chapins flycatcher, Pink-backed pelicans, Papyrus canary, Shoebill stork, martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail and the great flamingos.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, is highly combined with Kibale National Park’s Chimpanzee trekking, 7/8 day Rwenzori trekking  in Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park boasts of attraction including; Kazinga Channel, Mweya Peninsula, Kyambura Gorge, Katwe salt works, the crater lakes, wildlife, tree climbing Lions, Kazinga channel, Local communities, Omwani Coffee plantation, the equator, and accommodation, Tree climbing Lions in Isasha.

#Highlights Of The Top Attractions In Queen Elizabeth National Park

  • The Kazinga Channel.
  • The Mweya Peninsula
  • Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge.
  • Wildlife
  • Tree Climbing Lions
  • Salt Works in Lake Katwe

Detailed Guide to Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Kazinga Channel.

The Kazinga Channel is a 32 kilometer long fresh water channel that connects Lake Edward to Lake George. The Lakes are named after Queen Victoria’s son King Edward VII, and his own successor, King George V.

The Kazinga channel is Queen Elizabeth National Park’s primary feature , that’s famous for tourism.

The channel is a home to numerous animals, birds,  and has a diverse population of hippos and Nile crocodiles too. Large herds of elephants, Buffaloes, more species of water birds and the African Skimmer can also be spotted.

The Mweya Peninsula

Mweya Peninsula  is situated in Kasase in the Rwenzururu sub-region. It is the most attractive and frequently visited location in Queen Elizabeth national park, because of the Mweya Airport, numerous accommodation facilities and the vast biodiversity.

Its location in the northern bank of the kazinga channel offers access to Lake Edward and Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward with Lake George.

Mweya peninsular has many tracks for game drives, due to the thick forests and bushes, but also acts as an information center where most of the Park’s activities can be done. The peninsular also offers beautiful views of the Katwe bay  of Lake Edward.

The Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge.

The Kyambura gorge is the breathtaking spot for chimpanzee tracking in the Eastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Gorge overlooks the equator, and has about 16 chimpanzees, as well as magnificent views of the surrounding rainforest.

Apart from Chimpanzees, Kyambura gorge is also home to wildlife, birds and more primates like Olive baboons, White colobus monkeys, Red colobus monkeys. The birds that are endemic to this gorge are Flamingoes, shoebill, papyrus gonolek vereux, eagle, owl, white tailed lark, African Skimmer among others.

Wildlife

Queen Elizabeth national park has 95 mammal species, more than 600 bird species and primates.  The tree climbing lions in the Isasha sector are a major icon by which Queen Elizabeth national Park is famous, while other predators include; hyenas, leopards. Other animals in the park among others include Elephants, Buffaloes, warthogs, waterbuck, Giant Forest Hog, antelope, the Uganda Kob, Oribis, Topi, bushbuck, Sitatunga.

While kazinga channel hosts about 5000 hippos, crocodiles, not forgetting the habituated chimpanzees and other primates such as Black & white colobus monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, mongoose.

Tree Climbing Lions

Attractions to see in Queen Elizabeth National Park Safaris Uganda

Tree climbing lions are in the southern part of the Isasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda. These Lions though rarely spotted, lie on acacia and cycamore fig tree branches, especially during the afternoon game drives.

Sighting these tree climbing lions, lazily lying on the Acacia or Cycamore branch is a unique memory that is here to last for a lifetime.

Normally, it is uncommon seeing lions climb up trees in other National parks,  as it is witnessed here. Yet, you will see the cubs as well as the older lions playing and hanging in the tree branches.

Not only do these lions climb the tree branches to play, but for shelter during rainy and dry season, keeping away tsetse flies, to get clear view of their prey on the wide plains among others. However, the lions, never trees at dawn, unless when the sun rises.

Salt Works in Lake Katwe

Lake Katwe is a saline crater lake, located North of the  mweya Peninsular, in Northwestern region of Queen Elizabeth national park. The Katwe salt crater lake  has only inlets but without outlets, which makes the lake water so highly concentrated, thus forming salt pans beneath  and crystallized salt on the surface.

The drive around this place is spectacular, and you can also pay a visit to find out why the Germany salt factory discontinued its operation.