Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP)
The 1,978 sq. km Queen Elizabeth National Park is characterized by open savannah, large areas of swamp around Lake George, the extensive Maramagambo Forest in the southeast, and the forested Kyambura Gorge along the border with Kyambura Game Reserve. In the park are more than 10 crater lakes including a highly accessible cluster immediately north of the main road to Mweya Lodge, as does the entire Ugandan shore of Lake Edward, the northern and western shores of Lake George and the connecting Kazinga channel.
Wildlife status of Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Over 95 mammal species has been recorded in QENP, the highest of any Ugandan national park. Ten primate species are present, including chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, spotted hyena, Defassa waterbuck, and vervet, blue, red-tailed, black-and-white colobus and olive baboon, the elusive semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope in papyrus swamps around Lake George. Buffaloes are present but are primarily restricted to Maramagambo forest. The park’s elephants display affinities with the smaller and slightly hairier forest-dwelling race of elephant found in the Congo. The Ishasha and Mweya form a sanctuary for the tree-climbing lions.
Birding:
More than 606 bird species have been recognized as existing in QENP believed to be the highest total of any national park in Africa, if not the world. The bird list includes virtually every water-bird species resident in Uganda. The park is a sanctuary to the rare and most sought-for shoebill. Other key species include: the African fish Eagle, martial eagle, and papyrus gonolek. Along the Kazinga Channel one is able to watch for resident African Mourning Dove, Swamp flycatcher, black-headed gonolek, grey-capped warbler, grey-headed kingfisher and Brimstone Canary. In the short grass towards the airstrip, the following birds are common: Temminck’s Courser, Collared pranticole and red-capped Lark.
Main activities in QENP:
- Birding in Maramagambo Forest
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge.
- A boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel-as one appreciates the hippos, crocodiles and rhinos along the shores of Lakes George and Edward.
