Organizing A Game And Boat Safari To Queen Elizabeth National Park From Mbarara City

Organizing a game and boat safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park from Mbarara City. Suppose you are destined for a Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park from Mbarara city. In that case, you can take the route from Mbarara city take a detour to Lake Mburo National Park in case you wish to arrive in Mweya the main hub of this park. The drive time from Mbarara City to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 2 hours and 15 minutes, covering about 119 kilometers.

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Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its great fauna and flora, with stunning views of the floor of the Albertine Rift Valley. Enjoying a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park is best done early morning and late afternoon. During the game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can drive through the different tracks especially North Kazinga and Kasenyi areas which are one of the main game drive tracks.

This elusive game park lies at the flow of the Rift Valley, covering about 1978 square kilometers between Lake Edward and Lake George. This park has a backdrop of thirty miles of blue Rwenzori, which is a jagged mass of mountains at 5100 meters above sea level. 

Other than the game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can be part of launch trips on Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, a forest walk in Maramagambo forest, the volcanic crater lake drive in a cluster of extinct volcanoes, the game drive in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is amazing.

What Can I Do in Queen Elizabeth National Park?

Game Drives In Queen Elizabeth National Park 

During the early morning and afternoon game drives in the tracks of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you get an opportunity to spot a wide range of wild animals. By driving on the network of tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park you find a number of animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, giant forest hogs, lions, leopards, hyenas, topis and others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park can be accessed using tracks like open Kasenyi plain tracks, Crater Lake Drive, and Ishasha tracks in the far South where you may spot the tree-climbing lions and others. The prime game viewing area is Kazinga channel as animals love refreshing from the Kazinga channel.

 As you plan your Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may do the game drives early on the second day in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The highlight of your visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park is the Launch trip on Kazinga Channel. This starts from the Mweya Peninsular for about three hours return trip. Enjoy watching the regular occupants of the Kazinga shoreline, often graced by crocodiles and schools of hippos. Sometimes, you may spot herds of elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, leopards, Uganda kobs and others that love quenching thirst from the channel banks and beyond.

From the game drive in the morning, you may connect for a launch trip on Kazinga channel in the afternoon. This is a relaxing moment, especially after the game drive in the scorching sun and dusty, bumpy tracks.

Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura Gorge, about 100 meters deep, is home to a community of chimpanzees. This gorge results from erosion as River Kyambura makes its way to connect with Kazinga channel. You need to book a chimpanzee trekking permit from Uganda Wildlife Authority. 

You need to carry your chimpanzee safari gear like safari boots and safari clothes in wilderness-friendly colors like tan and Khaki. Pack insect repellants, sunscreen and others.

Two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen each day in Kyambura ,Gorge, which is at 0800 hours and 1400 hours.

You may also schedule chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Forest walk in Maramagambo forest of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

A walk in the shady Maramagambo forest may offer you chance to spot a number of forest bird species and grassland bird species too. The dark depth of Maramagambo forest contrasts starkly with the sunny plans around the Kazinga channel. Maramagambo forest is famously known for its large tracks of Uganda's tropical environment enjoyed by a number of primate species and a plethora of birds.

 The copper-filled blue Lake called Nyamusingire offers a superb view.

The Maramagambo forest walk is refreshing, and with the help of a professional and experienced team of safari consultants, we can tailor the most suitable itinerary for your stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Kazinga channel is the hottest spot for birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is like a magnet that attracts even the foreign birds on there way. While on a birding adventure in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may spot some water birds, rare species in Maramagambo forest and others.

Some birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park include papyrus gonolek, African fish eagle, great blue turaco, African fin foot, white-backed night heron, Pel's fishing owl, black-rumped button quail and others.

 Having a professional birding guide gives you an opportunity to see a number of birds in the wilderness.

The Volcanic Crater Visit In Queen Elizabeth National Park

You can drive for approximately 24 kilometers in the crater area where you may get an opportunity to enjoy a scenic cluster of extinct volcanic craters filled variously with Lake, forest and savannah. Chances of spotting flamingos are open in this area.

Driving to Katwe salt lakes is an opportunity to visit the ancient salt mining industry as they extract salt from the salt pans and dry it by evaporation. 

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can work with you to tailor the most suitable itinerary inclusive of these Queen Elizabeth National Park activities depending on your wish to do activities. We can reserve accommodation during the Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. With our professional and experienced driver guides, you get the best Uganda safari experience. 

How To get to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western part of Uganda about 420 kilometers from Kampala when you pass Mbarara route.

You can get access to Queen Elizabeth National Park by road or air.

By Road.

From Mbarara city, the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park is about 2 hours and 15 minutes covering 119 kilometers. Using a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition is the most appropriate choice because of the nature of tracks that get slippery in the wet season and dusty in the drought period. 

You can take a circuit on departure via Fort Portal in case you are returning to Kampala. The drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala or Entebbe Airport is about 410 kilometers. You enjoy what you may not have seen on your arrival day at the park. You may even do chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park en route.

 By Air

From Mbarara airstrip, you may charter to Mweya or Kasese airstrip. You must secure a transfer vehicle to your lodge.

When is The best Time To book a Uganda safari To Queen Elizabeth National Park from Mbarara City?

All year round, Queen Elizabeth National Park is open to public visits, but the dry season is most preferred. The wild animals are feeding in open spaces and can easily be viewed because the grass is lower. Queen Elizabeth National Park sits at the floor of the rift valley and from its environs, you may see the a year round snowcapped Rwenzori peak on a clear day.

The dry season which serves as the peak season that is June, July, August, September, December and January is often populated. So expect more cars on the tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park during the game drives.

You must secure peak season accommodation to use in Queen Elizabeth National Park in advance because all choices are available, and due to high demand, these accommodations in the peak season are overbooked.

Expect some dusty and bumpy roads during the game drives in the high season so carry a mask in case you are allergic to dusty atmosphere.

During the wet season, which serves as the low Uganda tourism period that is March, April, May, and November, there are fewer vehicles on the tracks of Queen Elizabeth National Park. If you wish to have some quiet and exclusive time on the floor of the Rift Valley surrounded by beautiful views, you may grab this opportunity.

Chances of spotting infants are high in the wet season since there is plenty to feed on and grass is grown to hide and protect infants from carnivores.

 How Much Is Uganda Safari To Queen Elizabeth National Park

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our Uganda safaris according to luxury, mid-range and budget. For every tourist, you must purchase the park entrance fees, which are levied per head and last 24 hours. At the moment, the cost of park entrance fees into Queen Elizabeth National Park is $40 per person.

The park entrance fees contribute to park maintenance, ranger guide fees, and others. The cost of a Uganda safari package varies with the number of days on the Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the number of people on the safari, additional activities to combine with this Uganda safari, the time of booking the Uganda safari, and the safari package you choose.

With the help of our tour consults, you can work with you to tailor the most applicable itinerary to cover your days on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and your budget. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority. 

What To Pack For Game and Boat Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park

• A travel Journal to keep record of every detail that you may get to see in the park.
• Binoculars to get a clear picture of fur-hidden animals and birds.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburns and to apply while at the pool in case your lodge has one.
• A torch just in case lights go out at night, and because most accommodation facilities use solar, sometimes the panels may run short of power.
• When the dry spell heats Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is expected between June to September and mid-December to mid-January, temperature may rise to about 28 degrees centigrade. You need to pack some light wear like sleeveless and shorts with flip flops. The color of clothes to pack must be dirt friendly like Khaki.
• Avoid bright colors because they may look suspicious to some wild animals and cause them to charge at you. The wild is dusty at times, which may make your clothes dirty in case they are brightly colored. 
• A camera for taking memories of your safari adventures in Queen Elizabeth National Park 
•  Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need an on-ground transaction.
• Carry an extra fully charged battery to switch with in case one runs low.
• Insect repellant as the wilderness has stinging insects that may hurt your skin. 
• First Aid kit for just in case of any illness that is known to you.

 Is Queen Elizabeth National Park Safe For A Safari?

Queen Elizabeth National Park is safe for a safari because there are trained Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides to help you navigate the park. You must also cooperate by not getting out of the safari vehicle while on a game drive, as there are canning carnivores that may feast on you. Only enter the game park with a ranger guide as you may be hurt or stuck while on game drive.

 In night, only walk outside in the dark alone with informing the lodge authority, as you may make a meal for carnivores in the wilderness.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger guides work with other Uganda security agencies to keep law and order in the park.

 During the game drives, do not dangle your limbs outside the vehicle, as they may be grabbed

We are ready to plan your safari today. Contact us for more information.