Nature Walks and Hiking Adventures in Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of those protected areas that offer unique nature walks and hiking adventures in Uganda. It is the oldest and most popular park, spanning 1,978 square kilometers across four districts of Rukungiri, Rubirizi, Kasese and Rubirizi. It is the second largest national park in Uganda after the mighty Murchison Falls National Park.
The park is known for its rich biodiversity with adverse wildlife such as tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hippos, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, topi, giant forest hogs, primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and several species of birds.
Hiking and nature walk sites in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kyambura gorge
Kyambura Gorge, or the Valley of Apes, is in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Kyambura Gorge offers unique hiking and nature walk experiences, where visitors can have the opportunity of seeing various wildlife species, including chimpanzees as the gorge’s highlight, several monkeys, forest elephants, bird species, butterflies, and several tree species.
This Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a nature walk with an experienced guide and armed ranger, allowing visitors to explore the park on foot. The walk includes various hiking trails, including those in Mweya peninsula, Kyambura gorge, Maramagambo Forest, Kasenyi plains, crater lakes, and Ishasha River, ensuring safety and enjoyment.
Maramagambo forest- Nature Walks and Hiking Adventures in Queen Elizabeth Park
Maramagambo forest, located in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s southern part, offers a guided nature walk where visitors can interact with various wildlife species, including primates like chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, and baboons. The walk offers stunning views of Lake Nyamasingiri, Kyasanduka, River Kajojo, Kilyantama waterfall, bird species in trees, bat caves, and a variety of plant and tree species.
Mweya peninsula
The Mweya peninsula, located on the northern shores of the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, offers a guided nature walk with stunning views of the Kazinga channel, Rwenzori Mountain ranges, wildlife species, Katwe Crater Lake, Lake Edward, and the banded mongoose, and others.
Ishasha River
Ishasha River is in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, southern Uganda. This area is known for tree-climbing lions found resting in acacia and fig trees. Guided nature walks along the channel offer views of elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, Uganda kobs, and various bird species.
Other activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers various activities for visitors. These include guided game drives, lion tracking and sight viewing, where you can spot animals like leopards, buffalos, elephants, lions, hippos, several antelopes, among others. You can also enjoy bird watching, as the park is known for its many bird species. A boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel allows visitors to see hippos and Nile crocodiles. Additionally, you can go chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge and take community tours to meet local people.
Best time to go for nature walks in Queen Elizabeth national park
Nature walks in Queen Elizabeth National Park can take place all year, but the best time is during the dry season which runs from June to September and December to February. In this season, there is less rain, making roads and trails easier to access. Thinner vegetation also makes it clear and easier to see various wildlife species.
Assessing Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is in western Uganda and can be reached by road from Kampala, taking about 7 to 8 hours via Mubende, Fort Portal, or Masaka and Mbarara. You can also get there from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through the Ishasha sector in 3 to 4 hours. Additionally, the park is accessible by air, with scheduled or charter flights from Entebbe International Airport to Mweya or Kasese airstrip, followed by a road trip to the park headquarters.
Accommodation in the Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a variety of places to stay for visitors on a nature walk safari. Accommodation ranges from Luxury, mid-range and budget options. Some of the available lodges and camps are Park View Safari Lodge, Buffalo safari Lodge, Kazinga Channel View Resort, Elephant Plains Lodge, Enshama Safari Lodge, Elephant Hab, Mweya Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Enjojo Safari Lodge, Twin Lakes safari Lodge, among others. Each facility provides different experiences to suit various preferences and budgets for a comfortable stay while exploring the park.
Conclusion
Nature walks and hiking in Queen Elizabeth National Park offers amazing experiences and can be combined with activities like game drives, boat cruises on Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
