Queen Elizabeth National park
Named after Queen Elizabeth II and established in 1954, QENP is famous for its wildlife. The park accommodates over 95 mammal species including Leopards, lions, chimpanzees and other monkey species, hippopotamuses, elephants, warthogs, buffalo, rare aquatic sitatunga antelope, giant forest hog, beautifully horned Uganda kob, waterbuck, topi, and leopard. The park lacks giraffes, zebras, impalas or rhinos; and over 606 species of birds.
The park is also characterized with volcanic features, comprising volcanic cones and deep craters, including crater lakes such as Lake Katwe, where salt is extracted.
Queen Elizabeth national park borders with Kyambura Game Reserve, Kigezi Game Reserve, Kibale National Park in Uganda, and the Virunga National Park in the D R Congo. The park boasts of its highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world. It is characterized with open savanna, dense papyrus swamps, brooding crater lakes, and greater lakes – George and Edward.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has a mutual cultural support program with Queen Elizabeth Country Park in England with emphasis on conservation and local communities’ empowerment.
What makes Queen Elizabeth national park unique:-
• Spectacular Mweya peninsula
• Boat ride on the Kazinga Channel
• Warthogs and hippos mowing the lawn at Mweya Safari Lodge
• Chimpanzees in Chambura (Kyambura) Gorge
• Magnificent safari lodges
Tourist Activities
- Game drives
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Chimp trekking in Kyambura
- Nature walk to crater lakes region
Season
It rains anytime from October - December and March - May is the rainy season.
June - September is the driest period when most animals converge near water. January to February is the ideal time to visit Queen Elizabeth national park. Dry season temperatures average is 25°C (80°F).