The expansive savannah plains of rich grassland, forests and wetlands herald one of
the world’s most thrilling wild safari destinations, bisected by the wildlife rich Kazinga
Channel as it plays mediator between Lakes Edward and George, and flanked by the
Mweya Peninsula and Kasenyi plains which offer some of the most exhilarating
game drives known to travel enthusiasts. Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to
Africa’s big five is the quintessence of travel destinations, almost selfishly
singlehandedly stealing the limelight in a country whose rich, diverse beauty of flora
and fauna is the stuff of legends.
Africa’s big five, a collection of the continent’s fiercest and gigantic land animals, the
African elephant, lion, leopard, African buffalo and rhinoceros becomes a stunning
reality inside the 700 square miles that make up Uganda’s perfect safari destination
for both the seasoned traveler and rookie seeking to create memories that will last a
lifetime.
Truly gifted by nature, Queen Elizabeth National Park is also only one of two places
in the world where the wondrous site of tree-climbing lions is as enchanting as it is
intriguing, calling into sharp focus man’s long-held beliefs of evolutional planetary
superiority, the big cats showcasing an adaptation marvel that continues to challenge
scientific notions about the kings of the African jungle. Watching these fantastic
beasts comfortably relaxed atop Acacia and fig trees on a wild Safari along the
Southern Ishasha Sector is a mind-blowing phenomenon that must truly be lived to
be believed.
Like the gift that keeps on giving, Queen Elizabeth National Park delivers East
Africa’s largest collection of bird species, its birding experience offering over 670
Copyright 2024 ©MichealTuryakira
recorded avifauna species, the 6th largest in the world. In the dense tropical forest of
Kyambura Gorge, the soggy wetland habitats of Lakes Edward and George, and the
rolling savannah plains of the Albertine Rift area, a plethora of wings take to the
skies and play their part in the giant ecosystem of which we must all appreciate and
preserve if we are to achieve the generational environmental sustainability crucial to
our very existence.
Every birder’s list has its shimmering ‘crown jewel’, the one they really don’t want to
miss seeing but the trio of Lake George, Kazinga Channel and Kyambura Gorge will
put many such lists to utter shame, delivering an array of rare sightings including the
saddle-billed stork, African Fish Eagle, white-tailed lark, African Jacana and the
African skimmer. As a bonus, passionate birders have a chance to glimpse the
elusive Shoebill stork along the ‘Lake Edward Flats’ in the Ishasha Sector. If ever a
birder’s Utopia existed, Queen Elizabeth National Park would be it.
Inside the Lake Katwe salt mining area, breathtaking wildlife experiences are
replaced with sweat-drenched men, women and children from local communities
who engage in physically demanding and mentally draining traditional salt extraction
practices that have been ongoing for ages in the alkaline lake. At the park’s
northernmost and highest point, the Katwe Explosion Crater Lakes not only deliver a
fascinating tale of their formation but also open out into a sweeping horizon that
captures the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges, western rift
valley escarpments and breathtaking sections of the Queen Elizabeth National Park
area including Lake Edward and Lake George.
The adventure never stops inside Uganda’s finest destination with an already
scintillating trip further complimented by the Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest
Copyright 2024 ©MichealTuryakira
chimpanzee experiences, intimate encounters with the endangered primates whose
vital contribution to the ecosystem and to humanity’s own journey of self-discovery
remains crucial to our survival as a species, forming a core part of the seemingly
endless attractions of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Whether it is watching the hippos and elephants graze along the banks of the
Kazinga Channel during an evening boat cruise or an early morning game drive
through the rugged terrain of the Mweya Peninsula, from tracking chimpanzees deep
inside the dense Kalinzu forest to catching the incredibly rare shoebill stork in the
Mabamba Swamp, a trip to Uganda’s queen of destinations is worth its weight in
gold.
Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park today!