Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari – Uganda

Savannas, extinct volcanoes, lakes, and of course lots of animals, birds, bat caves, chimpanzees all in the shadows of the tallest mountain range in Africa, the Rwenzori Mountains.  One of the larger parks in UgMweya Lodge at Queen Elizabeth Parkanda and one of the most popular ones since it is located near Kibale Forest with its chimpanzees, Bwindi Forest with its gorillas and you can also visit Lake Mburo either on the way to Queen Elizabeth or on the return journey.

There is a budget facility and also an upscale one at Mweya, which is also home of Mweya Lodge where Queen Elizabeth has stayed and other famous people.

There is a diversity in this park from bat caves to tree climbing lions in one section of the park, from flamingoes to chimpanzees, from elephants to giraffes, from the highest concentration of hippos in all of Africa to leopards, along with all kinds of antelopes, warthogs, hyenas, birds of all kinds, butterflies and much more.

Both budget and upscale lodging are in the same location and as one sits at Mweya lodge you can overlook Kazinga channel with all of its wildlife and just take in the African wilderness.

Below you will find a three day safari that most people choose, you can however stay another day and visit the chimpanzees, bat caves and search for tree climbing lions in one section of the Park.

The difference between Budget and up-market Safari is this one thing, the accommodations.  The price for transport, safari vehicle, driver and entrance fees, game drives remains the same, the only thing that changes is the accommodation cost.

Budget or up-scale, the game drives will be the same for you, the viewing of animals is no different as you move along the game drives or launch trip on Kazinga channel

Day One:  Depart Kampala preferably at 6 am (prompt) in the morning so that we can check in at lunch time at your budget accommodation or Mweya Lodge by one pm for lunch, take a snack along, and we provide bottled water for the journey.  The vehicles we use are proper safari vehicles with pop-up roofs that maximize your ability to view animals and also take the best pictures.

Check in at your lodging at Queen Elizabeth Park and enjoy lunch, take a rest and if you are at Mweya Lodge you can dive into the pool and cool off.

Toward late afternoon you are off on your first game drive – off to see the animals with a guide who knows where to find the animals that you have come to see. Hopefully you will see your share of lions, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes and many others, including birds, monkeys, baboons.  Keep your camera ready.  The drive is two to three hours and then you head back to your lodging facility where you will relax and enjoy a well deserved rest.

Day Two:  Early breakfast and off or your second game drive for more animals in different locations some up hills and you will be looking down at some extinct volcanoes that have become crater lakes with animals coming to find water.

Lunch at the place where you are staying and then in the afternoon it is the Kazinga Channel with the largest concentration of hippos in all of Africa (one factoid is that they kill more people than other animal in Africa). Kazinga channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and you will be staying close to the shore for maximum animal and bird viewing, there will be lots to see for you and once again the camera is best kept ready, including swarms of pelicans, elephants, hippos, buffaloes and lots with more birds such the Fish Eagle.  This is one boat ride you do not want to miss.

Dinner back your lodging facility and rest for the night.

Day Three:  It is breakfast and off to Kampala with a stop off for lunch at Mbarara at the Lake View Hotel and back on the road with a stop-off at the equator at Masaka for picture taking and also a visit to the drum makers of Masaka who are the best in Uganda.

You will arrive late afternoon early evening in Kampala.