Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular and diverse wildlife reserve, located in the western part of the country along the Great Rift Valley. Spanning over 1,978 square kilometers, it is renowned for its stunning landscapes, ranging from savannah grasslands to crater lakes and lush forests. The Uganda Safari park is home to over 95 mammal species including lions, elephants, hippos, and the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha and more than 600 bird species, making it a paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers. Its scenic beauty, rich biodiversity, and the iconic Kazinga Channel boat cruise make it a top safari destination in East Africa.
Game Drive Tracks In Queen Elizabeth National Park
These include; Ishasha game drive circuit, Channel drive circuit and Crater drive circuit.
- Kasenyi game drive circuit is the major and most famous game drive circuit due to the large herds of antelopes in this area and the lions that prey on them. The area is about half an hour’s drive from Mweya and goes along the eastern side of the Kasese- Ishaka road up to the kasenyi fishing village on the western shores of Lake George. Kasenyi is one of the best places to see the kings of the jungle, the lions. It is home to 3 lion prides which be spotted in the morning hour after sunrise. The plains are home to numerous wildlife including buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, and waterbucks. The kasenyi village is also vital while on a game drive in the Kasenyi plains for viewing hippos and many water birds. The beautiful Bunyampaka Crater Lake which is about 2kms from Kasenyi village is a magnificent place for scenic viewing and souvenir shopping while supporting the local community.
- Ishasha game drive circuits offer great opportunities of seeing the rare tree climbing lions. These kings of the jungle perched lazily on big fig tree branches in the heat of the day are a breathtaking site. Two game circuits run through the ishasha sector; the southern circuit is a more rewarding expedition with clear sightings of the tree climbing lions. It runs through the kobs’ main breeding area showing how lions stick closer to their prey while the northern circuit is perfect for general wildlife viewing. The circuit is located just 5kms from the main road to Katunguru and overlooks the flood plain of Ntungwe river. From this circuit, you can spot buffalos, Uganda kobs, elephants, bushbucks, waterbucks, black and white colobus monkeys and numerous bird species like herons, shoebills, plovers, black caucols, and compact weavers among many others. The Edward flats is a remote circuit that offers views of large breeding elephant herds and is also a migration corridor for birds like storks, waders and raptors.
- The channel drive circuit runs parallel along the shores of the Kazinga channel. It basically connects Katunguru to Mweya. On this track, you can spot waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, elephants and if lucky, you can spot a lion or a leopard on this track. Also Mweya safari lodge runs night game drives along this circuit with many adjoining circuits.
- The crater game drive circuit covers the north of Mweya which is dotted with dozens of volcanic crater lakes. The 27km circuit runs between Kabatoro gate and crater gate. The circuit offers beautiful views especially in the morning when the sun rises, lifting the fog uncovering the misty ranges of Rwenzori. The area is inhabited with large herds of buffalos and elephants especially in the dry season together with many woodland bird species.
Best Time For Game Drives In Queen Elizabeth National Park
The game drives are scheduled for both day and night on self or guided basis. The day game drives are done both in the morning and afternoon.
- The morning game drives start at 6:30am to 10:30am with rewarding views of the wildlife as they start their feeding and hunting.
- Afternoon game drives start at 3:00pm to 6pm offering beautiful views of wildlife as they swam around drinking holes to quench their thirst in the heat of the day. Some of the animals to see on these game drives include; elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda Kobs, warthogs and birds like vultures, herons, eagles, storks, grey crowned cranes, turacos, plovers and sunbirds.
- Night game drives start at 6pm and end at 9pm around the Mweya peninsular. This drives allows you to see nocturnal animals like hyenas, bush babies, Aadvarks, civet cats, genets, lions, leopards, hippos and jackals.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is accessible all year round but the best times to visit are the dry seasons of June to September and December to February when the tracks are dry and the animals are more active.