Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and spans through the districts of Kasese, Rukungiri, Kamwenge, and Rubirizi. The national park covers a distance of approximately 1,978 square kilometers. It was formerly Kazinga National Park, which was founded in 1952, combining Lake George and Lake George Game Reserves. Two years later it was renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit.
The park is known for abundant wildlife; it boasts of over 620 bird species, 98 mammal species, and other wildlife, for example, the famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, leopards, buffalo, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, Uganda kobs, and chimpanzees, among others. The park is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game drives
The park is known as Uganda’s top tourist destination with a lot of wildlife, so tourists on their visit the park get to see a lot of wildlife, for example, buffalo, lions, bushbucks, leopards, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, and giant forest hogs, among others.
Boat cruises on the Kazinga channel
This is one of the most interesting activities one should not miss while on safari to the park. Seeing animals come out of the bush to drink water along the Kazinga Channel and beautiful sceneries of the surroundings
Birdwatching
The park boasts of over 650 bird species, hence making it a great spot for bird watchers.
Best time to visit the Park: December to February or June to August for optimal wildlife viewing