QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

In 1979, Queen Elizabeth National Park was designated as a biosphere reserve with the furthest objective of harmonizing human activities with the conservation and protection of wild life, wet lands and natural resources. There are eleven fishing village enclaves within the protected area. The ethnic groups virtually attached to this area are; Banyankole Bakiga, and Bakonjyo.

Queen Elizabeth National Park QENP together with Kyambura and kigezi Wild life reserves form one of the most diverse Eco systems in Africa. Here, the melting glacier waters of the Rwenzori Mountains create a vast wetland system comprising for two main lakes George and Edward being channeled by the mighty Kazinga Channel to the remote Ishasha River in the south. This park gathers an extensive diversity of habitats that range from savanna and Wetlands to gallery and lowland forest. This remarkable diversity is reflected in its bird list of over 550 species and that's why I may not be wrong to name it the birders' Paradise, the largest of any protected area in Africa. The lake shore lines congregate thousands of hippos as the patent Savannah speckled with Acacia and Euphorbia trees which furnish a dwelling for Elephants, Lions, Leopards, big herds of buffaloes, the Uganda Kob, and many others.

Facts about Q.E.N.P
It covers approximately 2056sq-km2 Kyambura wild life reserve covering about 154sq. km2 and Kigezi wild life reserve covering an area of 256sq. km2. It receives an average maximum temperature of 28deg Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius. The park lies on an altitude range of 910 m at lake Edward to 1845 m above sea level that is at the top of the escarpment of the western rift
It is a habitat for a medium altitude moist semi-deciduous forest, riverine bush land,, moist thicket, riparian forest, open grassland, seasonal and permanent swamps, open woodland, lakes and rivers.
This place can be best timed from December - February and the tour can be for at least 2-3 days.
It has recorded about 95mammal species and 606 bird species.

THE KEY BIRD SPECIES IN THE PARK INCLUDE:

Grey-headed Kingfisher, Grey-capped Warbler, African Mourning Dove, The beautiful Black-headed Gonolek, Swamp Fly-catcher, Collard Pranticles, Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars, Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, Pin-tailed Whyda Martial Eagle, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Common Squaco Heron, Shoebill Stork, African Fish Eagle, African Open-billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, African Skimmer, White-tailed Lark, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Black Bee-eater, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Great white and Pink-backed Pelicans,Papyrus Canary, White-winged Terns.

TOURISTS ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS
Game Drives
This is the act of driving through the park for the purpose of viewing animals. It is best done in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Q.E.N.P provides well-maintained tracks, which give visitors access to the park's game. The tracks pass through the mating grounds of the great Uganda Kob. The allegorical giant forest hog is seen moving around the bush. See the hungry lions looking for prey. In hot days, Elephants make their way down to the water while bush backs and buffaloes can be found on the channel track and juxtaposed circumference. The out standing panorama along the crater track brings you to a volcanic craters at the foothills of the misty mountains of the moon, of course The mighty Mt. Rwenzori.
One who has experienced this game drive in Q.E.N.Pgame drive will be forced to believe that it is awe-inspiring and remarkable.

Nature Walks In Maramagambo Forest
Marvel waits! A diversity of long to short guided nature walks are offered at the mighty Queen's park.. Observe the pythons in the ostracism of the bat caves floor and their prey the bats. This bat's cave is near the picturesque blue lake and hunter' cave. Other trails lead you to the hear t of the surrounding craters and habitats to some primates like the Chimp and many forest birds.

A Nature Walk To The Kyambura Wild Life Reserve
This is found in the eastern part of the protected area and supports similar mammals to the rest of the park.
It ha three saline crater lakes, which attracts a large n umber of flamingoes- not found anywhere else in Uganda. The steep Kyambura gorge, formed by the turbulent waters of the roaring Kyambura River, provides a luxuriant riverine forest, home to chimps. Black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and other primates as well as plenty of forest birds. Lions snakes and many others. Visit the gorge with a great opportunity to see chimps in their natural habitat.

The Launch Cruise
A boat trip along the hippo crowded banks of kazinga channel gives visitors a unique unmatched wild life experience. Crocodile have become a common sight and occasionally a common leopard may be seen. Many buffaloes rest in the water while the big herds of elephants enjoy themselves drinking and playing along the channel banks. See the Hippos and surrounded by vast numbers of migrants and resident birds, the boat put one, right in the hearts of nature.

Visit Ishasha
The true pearl of southern part of the park! See the tree climbing lions a on the large fig tree.
See the Topi, Uganda Kob and Buffaloes graze in the acacia studded savannah.

Visit The Traditional Salt
See the way the salt ore looks like since the 14 century, salt has been mined by traditional method s and it is still in use today. Check how the salt mine have been sub divided and distributed to various tribes in Uganda. Your guide will explain to you the cultural strings attached to the salt mines, so interesting.