QUEEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

WHEN TO VISIT:
Any time of year.

WHERE TO STAY:
Mweya safari lodge for upmarket visitors, a campsite and budget hostel, camp is found in the Ishasha Sector. One can also reside in Kasese.

In -the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley, the park boasts of the highest biodiversity ratings of any reserve in the world. Every corner is amazing experience the sight of open savannah to rainforest, dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward all in one Park.

Very interesting is the Ishasha sector of the Park via Maramagambo Forest one of the largest surviving natural forests in Uganda. The sector is blessed with the rare tree climbing lions which unique to this area of Uganda. The population of lions living in this sector enjoys resting on the fig trees when the day is warm; the landscape is an open savannah with a variety of acacia trees, the Kyambura Gorge harbors habituated chimps, the Maramagambo Forest is home to an alluring selection of forest monkeys and birds, and flocks of flamingo are resident on the crater lakes.

The park is a home to a variety of wildlife; almost 100 mammal species, commonly sighted are the elephants, lions, hippos, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, baboons, and the elusive giant forest hog. The 606 bird species makes this park a lovely safari territory; these are all typical riverrine and savannah habitats.

The Park boasts of unique boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel and into Lake Edward passes through the highest concentration of hippos and many other wild animals usually come to drink at the water's edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with well over 550 resident bird species, the European migrant birds like the terns and gulls also congregate here in large flocks. The Northern part is traversed by the equator and is dominated by the scenery of crater lakes with lots of flamingos