Description
Queen Elizabeth safari Uganda, 3 Days 2 Nights tour
Day one:
Early departure out of Kampala or Entebbe on your Queen Elizabeth Safari with Travelust African Safaris. Then drive through the Busega swamp and on Masaka road where the paved road passes through the local drum makers. Take pictures of the Ugandan mixed farmlands of coffee and bananas. Later, proceed to the Uganda Equator where the guide will demonstrate anti and clockwise water flows. The toilets flush anti clockwise on a different side, while on the other, water flows clockwise. The Equator guide will then demonstrate how the water then drains straight down right at the Equator line.
To Queen Elizabeth National Park
We will proceed to Mbarara for lunch at a designated restaurant before heading to Queen Elizabeth national Park. Before arrival, the safari takes you through herds of the Ankole longhorns and the Tea growing areas of Kyamuhunga. At the Rift Valley in Buhweju, the game drive starts in the park as you look out for Elephants. Other animals are, Cape Buffalo, Uganda Kobs and other wildlife. Later, proceed through a game drive in the Leopard Loop in search of the baboons, Giant Forest Hogs, Bush buck. If lucky, vervet Monkeys and Leopard before heading to your overnight accommodations. Arrive for dinner and overnight at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge. Meal Plan – Lunch and Dinner.
TRANSIT TIME 6 – 7 HOURS.
Day Two: Morning game viewing safari
If required, please book a wake up call from the reception and be ready for the Queen Elizabeth safari which starts at around 06:30 in the morning. Your guide then drives to the Kob mating grounds where most of the Lion Hunts take place. On the game drives, it is possible to see herds of the African Cape Buffalo, Elephant, Spotted Hyena. See prides of lions hunting Uganda Kob, as well as Deffasa water buck close to water sources. It is also possible to spot White Backed Vultures on carcasses. The striking black headed Gonolek, white browed coucal,yellow throated long-claw, sooty chats and the colorful sooty chat are plentiful.
Kazinga channel boat ride
After the game drive, transfer back to the Hotel for breakfast and relaxing by the pool then have the afternoon drive down to the Jetty where the waiting boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel starts. Aboard the boat, you sail through crocodiles, huge schools of Hippo, Cape Buffalo by the banks, monitor Lizards. African Fish eagles, whiskered Terns, cormorants and other bird species line the banks of the fishing communities. You may also see the local fishermen catching fish using nets. Finally, the boat safari ends with a transfer to Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan – Lunch and Dinner.
Day Three:
Breakfast in the morning and check out of the Lodge. Have a mid morning game drive to see more of Queen Elizabeth before heading to Mbarara with a picnic lunch. Proceed past the Lake Mburo area where you could see Zebras, Impala and Eland along the main road. Thereafter, a lunch break along the way, proceed through Masaka and return to Kampala arriving by late evening.
Meal Plan – Breakfast and Lunch.
TRANSIT TIME 6 – 7 HOURS
Tour price for the Queen Elizabeth Safari
Price per person at Luxury accommodations starts at USD899
Cost price per person at Semi Luxury accommodations starts at USD740
Safari price per person at affordable accommodations starts at USD669
Included in the Queen Elizabeth Safari of Uganda tour:
- Accommodation,
- Meals,
- Queen Elizabeth Park entry fees,
- Wildlife viewing drive on northern tracks,
- cruise on the Kazinga Channel and
- private 4×4 ground transportation with an English speaking driver guide.
Excludes:
- Beverages,
- tips, and
- personal expenses.
QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
Queen Elizabeth National Park formerly Kazinga , was re-named after the Queen of England during her first safari in 1954. The National park is blessed with a variety of Eco-systems ranging from semi-deciduous, tropical forests to green meadows, savanna and swamps on an area of 2000sq. km. The park comprises of the endangered flora and fauna species and has recently been designated a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity under UNESCO.
The park also boasts of the famous tree climbing lions, the Uganda Kob, and other antelope species, elephants, buffaloes, baboons, chimpanzee among others. The Queen Elizabeth national park provides sanctuary to over 500 species of birds which include the Rare Shoe-billed stork, Carmine, Black bee-eaters, 11 types of King fishers, African fish eagle, raptors, including falcons, eagles and migratory birds. Several Crater Lakes in the northern parts of the park attract wild animals like the Cape Buffalo while others are very popular for the Migrating Flamingos.
A safari to the Queen Elizabeth Park can never be complete without indulging in the launch cruises that are offered on the Kazinga channel. This section of water joins Lake Edward and George and hosts several thousands of hippo, pink backed and white pelicans, African elephants, Cape buffalo as well as the occasional lions, Hyenas or leopards hunting at the water holes. Guided safari walks in Kyambura gorge, Maramagambo forest or the nearby Karinzu Chimp Safari sites offer visitors treks through tropical forests while trailing Wild Chimpanzees on foot. A game drive safari to the Ishasha Sector offers visitors unique experiences of seeing the Tree Climbing Lions and the Topi. Other wildlife includes; Bush buck, Water buck, African Civet, Mongoose, Giant Forest Hog and others.
Queen Elizabeth Safari park attractions.
Lake Katwe This is a community village across the Lake Edward from the Mweya Peninsular. The main activity is salt harvesting, which is the main economic activity for the local population living in the park. The locals own salt pans in the nearby Crater Lake and visits are possible during the salt harvesting seasons. The lake is divided in different pans where the salt production process will be observed as an extension from the morning day trip from the safari of Queen Elizabeth Park. It may also be possible to visit the dilapidated factory that has since lost its former shine, following the reduction in the salt supply in the late 1970s.
Apart from the salt industry of Lake Kate, other tourism activities include visiting the local fishermen arriving to sell Tilapia at the nearby fish market. Game viewing in this area also includes: rare sightings of the seasonal flamingos, Hippo, Elephant as well as the lions which may be spotted in the undergrowth of the euphorbia trees stalking for warthogs.
Maramagambo and Karinzu Forests
This is a large belt of tropical rain forest which contains high numbers of endangered primates, including the chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys and rare l’hoest monkeys. At Maramagambo, the walking trails lead from the ranger post to the famous caves. See African rock pythons from an enclosed viewing cabin emerging from the crevices. They feed on the thousands of the bats that live here. Another area of Interest, is the Blue Lake which is accessed through a forest of numerous buttressed trees and vine canopies. Over 18 species of butterflies, as well as the endemic species of birds not seen anywhere in the country.
Chambura gorge: This is an area in the East African Rift Valley comprised of a typical rain forest that covers the entire gorge at Chambura. The trees grow as tall as 40 metres as they compete for the sunlight towards the top of the gorge. The main activity in the Chambura gorge is chimpanzee trekking with daily treks offered in the mornings and afternoon sessions by the resident ranger guides. Several animals access the Chambura gorge to find water during the drier months. These include; Uganda Kob, Hyena, Hippos seen on the course of the 10kms Chambura River floor of the gorge. The canopies of the forest hosts a healthy number of forest species of birds and butterflies.
