National Parks Africa » Queen Elizabeth National Park

Situated on the edge of the majestic Ruwenzori mountains on the border with Zaire, Queen Elizabeth National Park (QEP) is the jewel in Uganda’s crown. The park, with its exceptional mixture of plains, lakes, mountains, craters and tropical forest spread over 1,980 square kilometres (792 square miles), is one of the most beautiful and versatile spots in Africa.

The park is surrounded by other conservation areas: the Ruwenzori mountains in the west, Virunga National Park of Zaire in the south, Kigezi Game Reserve in the south-west, the Rift Valley and Lake George in the west, and Kibale Forest Corridor and Game Reserve in the north.

The varied natural land features have endowed QEP with a rich variety of fauna. Elephants, hippo, waterbuck, bohor’s reedbuck, bushbuck, Uganda kob, warthog, sitatunga, baboon, chimpanzee, lion, leopard and topi are just a few of the mammals that can be found.

Four hundred and ninety-two species of birds have already been identified, mainly along the 32-kilometre (20-mile) Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake George with Lake Edward. The same channel is the abode of hundreds of hippos. The Mweya Lodge, built on a bluff overlooking Lake Edward, has been recently restored.

Poaching problems:
Tragically, heavy poaching during the 1970s turned QEP into something of a nightmare for conservationists. Elephant, buffalo and hippo were the main victims. The number of elephants dwindled from 3,884 in 1966 to a paltry 153 in 1980. These days, however, the numbers are slowly increasing and have almost reached the magic 1,000 mark. This is mainly due to improved security, more efficient anti-poaching units, and better cooperation with the local population.

The position of hippo and buffalo, which also suffered from mass butchering, is somewhat less alarming. Many young animals survived and both species are capable of making a quick recovery, provided sufficient protection continues to be given. The second problem facing QEP is encroachment of land, which indirectly gives rise to poaching. A large number of fishing villages have appeared over the last 20 years, resulting in over fishing of the lakes and overgrazing, with park land illegally taken over for agricultural use.

Natural beauty:
Nevertheless, QEP’s natural beauty will always remain. To drive along the Kikorondo craters route with the mountain massif of the Ruwenzorions one side, and on the other the bright green plains, will be forever a blissful experience. The craters, numbering over 80, including seven lake craters, are mainly found in the north and east. They were formed approximately 20 million years ago during the mid-Pleistocene era. One of the biggest, Lake Katwe, is currently used for salt mining.

Just as spectacular is a trip on the Kazinga Channel, which is more like a lake and is fed by numerous streams. Here, spotting a hippo is as easy as spotting a star on a cloudless night. Bird lovers will have a field day watching the largest concentration of birds in Uganda. Large white and pink-backed pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus and P. rufescens) are worth looking out for.

Vegetation in the park is dominated by bush thickets mixed with short grass and grassland. But savannah, swamps and semi-deciduous forest can also be found.

Nature has divided the atea into three sections: north and south of the channel, with the south side split by the thick, nearly impenetrable Maramagambo Forest. Despite its relative proximity, it is no longer possible to reach the Ishasha side (south of the forest) from the Mweya side.

Although difficult to reach Ishasha in the south, this section of the park should definitely be included in a safari since it is widely described as the most unspoilt game area south of the Nile. Apart from one small village, there are few signs of human habitation.

The main attractions within these 70 square kilometres (28 square miles), which can only be reached by four-wheel drive vehicle from Kabale or by aircraft, include tree-climbing lions, the highest density of Ugandan kob in the world, the only place in QEP where topi roam, two pools literally jam-packed with hippos, and a gallery forest along the rivers. This is the habitat for monkeys, chimpanzees and giant forest hogs and numerous forest birds such as turacos and hornbills.

Branching out: Lions have chosen the fig tree for their uncommon behaviour. No good explanation for this curious habit has yet been given, although some zoologists claim that it may have something to do with avoiding flies that carry diseases. Others think that the lions climb to relax after feeding because it is cooler in the trees. Whatever the reason, it is indeed bizarre to see a huge, lazy lion resting on a tree branch with his belly bulging over. The only other place in the world where tree climbing lions can be found is Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania.

Topi, which feature only on the Ishasha side of QEP, have been heavily poached by Tanzanian troops after they ousted Idi Amin in 1979. Conservationists claim that one year of Tanzanian soldiers on the rampage did more damage to the topi population than eight years of Amin.

At certain times of the year, when cloud cover is scarce, it is possible to see from Ishasha both the Ruwenzori mountains and the Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda.

At present, QEP especially the northern side is Uganda’s main tourist attraction. It is virtually the only place in Uganda that needs advance booking during Christmas and Easter.

Both sides of the park have enormous potential for tourism, if only the roads to Mweya and Ishasha and between the Far left, various sectors can be improved. There inquisitive is an airstrip for light aircraft at Mweya, ground while larger planes can land at Kasese. squirrel.