Queen Elizabeth National Park, Queen Wildlife Park

The park was gazetted as the Kazinga national park in !952 to protect the varied landscapes of prolific wildlife of the Albertine Rift Valley between Lake Edward and the Rwenzoris. It was named Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in 1954 to commemorate the visit by the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth.

QENP is the most popular and accessible savannah reserve in Uganda. With a protected area of 1,978km2 the park accommodates 95 mammal species, the highest for any Ugandan national park. 10 primate species including chimps, L’Hoest’s monkey, blue, red-tailed, vervet, black-and-white colobus monkeys and boons are present. The park also accommodates over 20 predators including, among others, lions, leopards, side-striped jackal, and spotted hyena. Some of the antelope species present include bushbuck, Uganda kob, topi, Defassa waterbuck, four duiker species and sitatunga. Buffaloes and elephants are plenty.

Over 610 bird species have been recorded in QENP, possibly the highest figure of any national park in Africa. Besides the 54 raptors, the checklist includes almost every water-bird species present in Uganda plus a variety of woodland and forest birds. The Kazinga channel acts as a natural magnet for water-birds whereas the Mweya vicinity acts as a trap to migrant birds flying along the Albertine Rift Valley. Some of the key species include the shoebill, martial eagle, African Skimmer, Black bee-eater, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Papyrus gonolek, Papyrus Canary and white-tailed lark among others.

Tourists’ activities in QENP

  1. Chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge
  2. Maramagambo Forest Walks
  3. Kazinga Channel launch cruise

Where to stay in QENP
Luxury

  1. Mweya Safari Lodge
  2. Jacana Safari Lodge

Budget

  1. Institute of Ecology Hostel
  2. Maramagambo Campsite
  3. Fig Tree Camp
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