QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK.

This is the most popular park in Uganda located in the south western part of the country and covers an area of 1,978 sq km. the park is blessed with abundant game reserves which attracts thousands of tourists. The vegetation which varies from open savannah to rainforest, dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward makes it the most attractive biodiversity conservation game reserve in Africa.

Getting to the park
On a surfaced road via Mbarara- Kasese fort portal highway, Queen Elizabeth national park lies 5-6 hours from Kampala for about 410km. And it can also be reached on a dirty road from Bwindi. A private charter plan from Entebbe to Kasese airstrip can also be arranged for travelers interested in going to the park by air.

Accommodation
Both up market and budget visitors can use Jacana safari lodge, Mweya safari lodge and Ishasha wilderness camp offer up market accommodation well as Mweya hostel at Mweya and Ishasha bands provide budget accommodation.
For those interested in camping, Maramagambo and Ishasha make it possible. Also convenient options just outside the park include Hippo hill camp close to Katwe and kingfisher camp on a lovely Kichwamba wildlife reserve.

Flora and fauna
Queen Elizabeth National park a home to over 95 mammal species and 612 bird species. This diversity makes it the best safari destination in Uganda. With big herds of elephants, hippos, the elusive giant forest hog which are all regularly sighted around the tourist village of the Mweya Peninsula.
The notable bird species in the park include Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, White-winged Terns, Swamp Fly-catcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Jacana, Pin-tailed Whydah Martial Eagle, Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars, Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, the rare Shoebill Stork, African Skimmer, African Fish Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Black Bee-eater, White-tailed Lark, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonalek, Papyrus Canary, Great white and Pink-backed Pelicans, African Mourning Dove, African Open-billed Stork, etc.

Around the park
The Kyambura gorge
This area is also found in this park and harbours habituated chimpanzees which live 100m deep gorge. This remote Ishasha region is famous for its tree climbing lions which are rare in other parts of the world. Guided walks to search for them start at Kyambura’s fig tree camp at 08:00 and 14:00.

Maramagambo forest
This is a typical tropical rain forest found in Queen Elizabeth National park and is notable for its primate and bird population. Also home to forest monkeys, elusive forest elephant, rare birds, and flocks of flamingos that are resident on the Crater Lake, The bat colony and the blue lake are some of the exciting and memorable features found in the forest.

Mweya peninsula
This peninsula is known for tourism activity and accommodation in the central section of the park. A nature walk with a larger guide enables you to explore the remote areas of the park.
Katwe
This is one of Uganda’s oldest industries. Salt extraction from this place using evaporation beds is done even up to today.