Combining Kalangala Island beach holiday with a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

A combo of Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island allows you to enjoy wildlife and feel the tranquility of the Island life.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a biosphere reserve sitting on the floor of the Rift Valley. Queen Elizabeth  National Park hosts more than 95 mammals and over 612 bird species including Albertine rift endemics. Queen Elizabeth National Park has different vegetation types including forest, grassland, bushy grassland, acacia woodland, and Lakeshore vegetation.

Most Popular Safaris

3 Day fly in Safari

5 Day Rwanda Chimp & Congo Eastern Lowland gorillas safari

3 Day fly in safari to Murchison Falls National Park

3 Day fly in gorilla habituation tour

7 Day Nyungwe Forest National Park & Kahuzi Biega National Park

4 Day Murchison falls fly in safari

2 Days DRC Eastern lowland gorilla safari

5 Days gorilla and game fly in safari

3 Days DRC Eastern lowland gorillas

8 Days Kidepo & Murchison game fly in safari

5 Days gorilla and chimp fly in safari

The backdrop of over 30 miles of jagged Rwenzori ranges form the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The floors of Queen Elizabeth National Park are also dotted with both dry and wet crater lakes. The most outstanding activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park is the launch trip on the Kazinga channel.

Kalangala Island is composed of 84 Islands and it is one of the stunning getaway destinations for a weekend in Uganda. Some of the Islands that make up the Kalangala district include Bungala, Ngamba Island, Selinya, Bukasa, and others. The main means of transport to get around these Island is by water. 

How To Plan Queen Elizabeth National Park And Kalangala Island Beach Holiday

Day 1: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Rise early for breakfast and head to Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. on the way, you may stop at the Equator for a photographing moment while standing in the northern and southern hemispheres. Break the journey for lunch and carry on to the Park.

Enjoy a game drive as you drive into the park if your accommodation is within Queen Elizabeth National Park. During the game drive in this park, you may spot animals like cape buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, hyenas, lions, Uganda Kobs, and others.

Check into your accommodation 

Queen Elizabeth National Park accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Bush Lodge, Jacana Lodge, Elephant Plain Lodge, Katara Lodge

Day 2: Game Drive And Launch Trip In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Get up early for a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park as early risers get out of their high hideouts. When you take a game drive using some of the tracks like Kasenyi, north Kazinga in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot several wild animals like lions, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, leopards, hyenas, topis and others, the Isasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is famous for hosting the tree climbing lions.

Taking a drive in the crater lakes area is amazing as you get to spot different crater lakes on the floors of the Rift Valley including Lake Nyamunuka with a putrid smell.

Look out for several birds like the saddle bill stork, African skimmers, martial eagles, shoebill stork, and others.

After lunch, proceed to the pier for the Launch trip on the Kazinga channel. This 40-kilometer-long channel connects Lake Edward to Lake George. This is the prime wildlife spectacle where several animals move to the shore to quench their thirst and bathe to cool off the day’s heat. The Uganda Wildlife Authority Kazinga Launch trip normally runs from 1500 hours to 1700 hours. 

Look over the Kazinga channel shoreline which is a magnet to various birds including foreign migrants that may fly from as far as Europe. Some of the bird species that may be spotted on the Kazinga channel include greater and lesser flamingos, Egyptian geese, pink pelicans, African skimmers, papyrus canary, corncrake, and others.

Return to the lodge to relax

Day 3 Chimpanzee Trekking In Kyambura Gorge

After breakfast, head to Kyambura Gorge where you can start the chimpanzee trekking adventure. Chimpanzee trekking is an adventure where a fully habituated chimpanzee community is followed by tourists to have just one hour with them. chimpanzees are the closet human relatives with about 98% human D.N.A

Kyambura Gorge which is 100 meters deep is a gorge on the floor of the Rift Valley. The Kyambura Gorge results from the flow of River Kyambura towards the Kazinga channel. This forested part of the rift valley floor hosts a community of chimpanzees and is quite challenging.

Some level of patience and following the rules of chimpanzee trekking is required to enjoy the entire experience. Look out for other primates that live in Kyambura Gorge including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, and others. Upon finding the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. 

Get back to your lodge to relax.

Day 4 Drive to Entebbe

Queen Elizabeth National Park is mesmerizing but carry on to Entebbe town where you spend the night.

Entebbe accommodation: Protea Hotel, Boma Guest House

Day 5 Ferry to Kalangala Island

Wake up early for breakfast and later head to the pier at Nakiwogo to catch up with the ferry to Kalangala Island. Sail on Lake Victoria and enjoy the cool breeze of this freshwater lake and its stunning surroundings.

Kalangala Island is a combination of about 84 Islands within Lake Victoria. If you are looking for a getaway from the chaotic life of the city, this would be a great choice. Most of the activities in Kalangala Island are outdoor and the main means of transport to use to connect with these Islands is by boat.

 Some of the activities on Kalangala Island include agricultural visits, swimming, sports fishing, village walks, swimming, forest walks, and bird watching to mention but a few.

Dinner and overnight in Kalangala Island.

Kalangala accommodations: Brovad Sand Beach, Ssese habit Resort, Hornbill Camp, Panorama Camp, Banda Island .

 Day 6 Kalangala activities 

After breakfast, you can engage in activities done on the island like swimming, bird watching, nature walks, sports fishing, village walks, forest walks, and others. You may get the opportunity to a campfire by the lake shore which is refreshing after a long day of activity.

Day 7 Kalangala Island activities

Take breakfast and start on the Kalangala activities you may have missed the previous day or relax by the beach.

 Day 8 Departure to the Main Land

Rise early for breakfast and head to the pier to catch up with the ferry back to the land.

How Much Is The Cost Of Safari To Kalangala Island And Queen Elizabeth National Park

The cost of a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island is categorized into luxury, mid-range, and basic. The cost of park entrance fees into Queen Elizabeth National Park cuts across all budgets and at the moment the park entrance fee is $40 per person per 24 hours.

Other items you may consider when costing the Kalangala Island and Queen Elizabeth National Park include the number of people traveling, the number of days on safari, activities to engage in, time of safari, and much more.

Our safari consultants are ready to work with you to tailor the best itinerary that suits your needs and interests. From the details you provide about the safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island, the right quotation can be made depending on the time you have on holiday.

When Is The Best Time to Book Kalangala Island And Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari?

The safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island holiday can be arranged any time of the year but the dry season is most preferred. The dry season is normally June to October and December to February when the clouds are clear and animals walk freely in the wilderness.

The dry season too is the peak tourism season in Uganda. During game safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the grass is lower and most of the wild animal activities are quicker to spot. Tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park are easier to navigate while on game drive in this park.

Based on the fact that most Kalangala Island activities are outdoor and require active participation like swimming, forest walks, community visits, and others, the best time for a holiday in this area is the dry season. The Lake Victoria water look is brighter as a reflection of the sun. Even when you wish to enjoy a boat cruise on the lake, the water is calmer in the dry season.

Since this is the peak tourism season, expect to share the same space with more people, and even options for accommodations and other logistics that support tourism run out in advance. It is best to book these safari services in advance. 

Are Uganda safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island holiday safe?

Both Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island are safe for a holiday because on the ground there are well-trained ranger guides from Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the wild animals and other dwellers. They also routinely patrol the National Park to ensure that security is kept in the park and snares set within the park are removed.

Other Uganda security agencies are on the ground in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island to keep law and order in these destinations. These cooperate with the locale security to keep law and order in and around these destinations.

As a tourist, personal security is important so that you and your belongings are safe from bad characters in most destinations. While on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, do not get out of your vehicle because this is dangerous. In case you are not a good swimmer, do not swim into the deeper ends of Lake Victoria.

Can I See The Big Five In Queen Elizabeth National Park

 Although Queen Elizabeth National Park is a biosphere reserve, four of the big five are conformed living in this park that is elephants, lions, buffaloes, and Leopards. There is no guarantee that you will see all their wild animals in one go. This is because they are wild animals living freely in the wilderness.

Open your mind to seeing other wild animals so that you do not get bored while on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other animals you may get a chance to see in Queen Elizabeth National Park include hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, giant forest hogs, warthogs, mongoose, and others.

Birders on safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park have plenty of birds to spot as about 612 bird species have so far been recorded as residents of this park.

What To Pack For A Safari In Queen Elizabeth National Park And Kalangala Island Holiday?

• Insect repellant to apply in case you have to walk in the forests of Kalangala Island or during a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
• Camera to take photos and keep memories of this holiday experience.
• Safari hat with a large foldable brim to protect your head from buzzing insects.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the strong sunrays.
• Sunscreen to cover your body from Ultra Violet rays
• Backpack or rack sack to keep in your belongings so that they do not scatter in the wilderness.
• Some hard cash for on-ground purchases as credit cards are not easy to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of collecting money from them.
• A torch for lighting while at night solar energy is the main source of power in both Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalangala Island. Sometimes the sun is not so bright to fill the batteries to enable them to last the entire night.
• Flip flops to change into after a long day
•  Extra clothes to change into after a long day of activities
• Warm wear because it gets so sold very early morning and afternoon
• Beach wear to use for swimming in the Lake
• Pair of stockings to tack in your trousers during the walk in the wilderness.
• Safari shoes are like a canvas to protect your feet.
• A pair of binoculars to capture closer visibility of far-ranging features.
• Some snacks to munch as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire day
• Extra batteries are fully charged in case one runs low on power.
• Charger and travel adapter in case you need to recharge 
• Raincoat in case it falls
• First aid kit for any emergency while on this Uganda safari

Contact us for more information and let us plan your safari today.