Accessing Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accessing Queen Elizabeth National Park is simple and understandable, as this is due to its improved transport network system within the country. The park is located in southwestern Uganda, spanning the districts of Kamwenge, Rukungiri, and Rubirizi. Currently, visitors can connect from Entebbe, Kampala, or even from other parks such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest, and Lake Mburo National Park to the park using either flights or road transport.
Most places in Queen Elizabeth National Park by road cover about 375 km and 425 km west of the capital city, Kampala. It takes about 7 to 8 hours; however, you will have some stops along the way, as you should consider the possibility of experiencing significant delays. Note that while the Ishasha sector for the tree-climbing lions is rather scattered from the rest of Queen Elizabeth National Park, this Ishasha sector is only a 2-hour drive from the Buhoma sector, one of the most popular gorilla trekking sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Accessing Queen Elizabeth National Park by Road Transport
Visitors can travel 410 kilometers from Kampala via the Mubende-Fort Portal to Kasese route from the north or 420 kilometers from Kampala/Entebbe via the Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi route in the south to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park. The distance to the Mweya Peninsula from Bushenyi is 22 km.
Accessing Queen Elizabeth National Park by Domestic Flights
Enter Uganda at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), which is located 46 kilometres/29 miles from Kampala. Typically, your safari package includes airport pickup and any other transportation arrangements made by your trip operator. Scheduled or charter flights from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) or Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala can take you to the neighbouring airstrips of Kasese, Mweya Airstrip, or Kihihi (for Ishasha). Your travel operator often makes the reservations for these flights. Scheduled flights are operated by airline companies such as Aero Link Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Kampala Executive Aviation. They always have scheduled flights to Kihihi, Kisoro, Mweya, Murchison Falls Park, and Kasese from Entebbe.
Top Places that Attract Tourists in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Mweya Peninsula is one of the most famous and top places to visit in the park due to its scenic views, surrounded by stunning water bodies. The peninsula offers unique and exciting adventure activities like wildlife viewing, birdwatching, nature walks, mongoose tracking, and many others. Other places that attract visitors to the park include the spectacular Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George to Lake Edward; Kasenyi Plains, home to diverse wildlife species; Kyambura Gorge, a deep valley for the intelligent chimpanzees; the Ishasha sector in the southern sector, famous for the tree-climbing lions; and the Katwe salt mining community visit in Katwe, among others.
Big Five Mammals
This refers to the big game or deadliest mammals to hunt, such as buffalo, lion, elephant, leopard, and rhino. However, apart from the rhino, the park offers sightings of the remaining members of the Big Five. Other savannah parks with members of the Big Five include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, home to the southern white rhinos in Uganda.
The Best Time to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park can be visited throughout the year, although some months seem to be better than others. The best time to visit the park is always during the dry season, from June to September, and from December to February. This is because these months have clear weather conditions since they receive little rainfall, making tracking trails passable with short vegetation covers that offer scenic views for wildlife.
The park can also be visited during the rainy season, which occurs from March to May and October to November. However, these months are characterized by heavy rainfall, which may lead to muddy, slick, and slippery roads. This wet season boasts thick vegetation, which may obstruct clear views of the skies and wildlife species.
Accommodation
Accommodation in the park includes Park View Safari Lodge, Topi Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains, Elephant Hub, Enjojo Safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Pumba Safari Cottages, Walujojo Safari Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Aardvark Safari Lodge, Enshama Lodge, and Bush Lodge, among others.
