Queen Elizabeth Safari – This 3 Days Uganda safari takes you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a world biosphere reserve in Western Uganda. Located at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth National is one of the best wilderness areas where travelers enjoy game viewing in Uganda. The park is famous for the tree climbing lions, large herds of buffaloes, elephants and more. The park also hosts an incredible diversity of antelopes.
The Queen Elizabeth Safari will give you an opportunity to spot Africa’s top mammals, beautiful forests, sprawling savannah and stunning landscapes. Queen Elizabeth national park is found in the western part of the country and was named after Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. The park is found in an area covering over 1,900 square kilometers and has two Lake Craters Edward and George which are connected by the Kazinga channel. Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s second largest and most visited park. The park lost many animals during the liberation war that toppled Uganda’s famous dictator Idi Amin Dada in 1979. However the population of animals is back to where it was with 95 species of mammals which include buffaloes, hippos, Elephants, warthogs, African lions, hyenas, cave bats, leopard, crocodiles, bush pigs and antelopes like the Uganda Kob.
DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION
Kampala City (Google Map)
DEPARTURE TIME
Set Off time is usually very early in the morning.
INCLUDED
Depending on where you will will be traveling from, our professional drivers and tour guide shall pick you up from Entebbe International Airport, the largest airport in Uganda. From there, we will drive you to your hotel for the night, ensuring a comfortable stay before the safari adventure begins the next day. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
An English speaking guide from Tafari Safaris will pick you up from an agreed point (usually your hotel) at around 6am. Breakfast for day one will be provided at the hotel or your place of residence, followed by a meet, greet and briefing on the 3 days Queen Elizabeth Tour by our driver. The journey to the park takes about 6 hours but you will be treated to great views of the beautiful countryside. You will stop along the way to take photos at the equator.At the equator, you will be able to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres and also experiment how water swirls in different directions when placed in the northern and southern hemispheres. Take photos and even buy some of the beautiful souvenirs.As you approach and leave Mbarara, get ready to see great physical landscapes, valleys and terrain that are dotted with tea plantations and grazing long horned Ankole cattle. Lunch will be in Mbarara town after which you will head to the park and lodge. In the evening hours, you will be taken to tour the Crater Lake Katwe and the salt mining activities therein. Embark on an evening game driver before you retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight will be at the booked safari lodge.
You will wake up very early to take tea/coffee then go for the early morning game drive at the Mweya peninsular around the Kazinga Channel. The safari is for about 3 hour and you will follow different trails to spot Jackals, buffaloes, forest hogs, warthogs, the Uganda Kob, Elephants, lions and the elusive leopard. Take an afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel the spot with the largest concentration of Hippos in Africa as well as a number of birds including migrant birds. On this day you should see land and water adapted hippos yawning, the National Geographical society killing machine, the Nile crocodile, gaping along the banks and savannah version of pigs, the warthog-Pumba are a hallmark sign in this animal home. With your binoculars along the peninsula, you’ll have a magnificent view of birds and animals like the ever-playing African elephants in waters. The two hour afternoon launch cruise at the Kazinga channel will give you opportunities to spot several bird (Kingfishers, pelicans etc) species, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodile and other water animals. Dinner and overnight will be served at the safari lodge.
You will wake up to heavy breakfast and then head for the Kyambura gorge. The underground forest in the Kyambura gorge is home to Chimpanzee, Baboons and many other primates. Enjoy the walk through the forest and the fascinating meeting with the chimpanzees.The forest also has many plant, tree and bird species. After visiting the Kyambura gorge, the guide will take you back for lunch as you also checkout from the lodge. You will then start the journey back to Kampala passing through Maramagambo forest to spot more mammals and primates. Expect to reach Kampala in the evening for your departure flight or to your hotel.
Accomodation: Irungu Forest Safari Lodge
Mid-range lodge located just outside Queen Elizabeth NP
NB : The park in addition has one of the largest areas of tropical forest in Uganda – the Maramagambo forest translated as “the forest beyond description”. There are also bat caves which are home to Pythons that prey on these bats; these pythons can easily be seen.
You will also see the stunning crater lakes dispersed throughout this park, the Katwe Explosion craters being the most notable.
This group of extinct volcanoes just north of the Mweya peninsula may be explored on the 27 km winding crater drive which offers amazing views of these craters. For inquiries reach at [email protected]
