Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game drives are one of the primary activities that are done within the Queen Elizabeth National Park. The activity is done in a 4×4 safari van with a pop-up for easy wildlife viewing. It is also done within the designated routes of the park by the park authority. Going off trucks requires permission. In case caught off the truck, travelers are required to pay a fine. These game drives are done on several occasions, which include morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. Travelers are required to plan accordingly when the game drives are to be done.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda at the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the second-largest park in Uganda. The park was gazetted in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, and later, in 1954, it was named after the Queen of England after her visit. It is also among the most visited parks in Uganda. It experiences a tropical climate characterized by wet and dry seasons of the year. The park is also covered by savannah-type vegetation.
Do you know where I can do Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives?
In the Queen Elizabeth National Park, there are several areas where game drives can be done, and some of these include;
Ishasha sector
Located in the southern part of the park towards the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ishasha sector is a unique destination. It is famous for its tree-climbing lions, a sight that never fails to intrigue and excite visitors. The sector is 100 kilometers from the Central Park headquarters, which is about a 2 to 3-hour drive to the sector. Game drives in this sector will take you through wildlife like leopards, lions, elephants, buffalo, kobs, and antelopes. This sector is usually the exit point for travelers on safaris to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The sector also hosts the Ishasha River, one of the primary water sources supporting ecosystems in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kasenyi sector
The Kasenyi sector, located within the northern part of the park, offers open plains for wildlife viewing. This sector is near Lake George and the Kasenyi village for salt mining. The industry has flat plains to allow the concentration of wildlife in the park. While in this sector for a game drive, the wildlife that will be seen includes lions, elephants, buffalo, warthogs, kobs, and many other species. But what sets this sector apart is the experiential game drive, which offers travelers a close encounter with the lions and their prides. This activity uses trackers to find the lions in the different parts of the sector, providing an adventurous and daring experience for those who dare.
Kazinga Channel circuit drive
This is also within the park in the northern part of the Kazinga Channel. This circuit is covered by thickets and cactus-type savannah vegetation. While in this area, travelers have fewer chances to see the park’s cat species since they usually hide from human beings. The wildlife that is usually spotted includes elephants, hippos, kobs, warthogs, leopards, and lions.
Types of game drives done in Queen Elizabeth National Park
In this park, travelers engage in two significant forms of game drives. These include: Guided game drives and Self-game drives
Guided game drives
This is the most popular form of the game drive travelers on their Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park usually engage in. It can be done with a privately hired van or the Uganda Wildlife Authority vans, which are specialized for the game drive. This kind of game drive is usually done by travelers accompanied by private or ranger guides. These kinds of guides are knowledgeable about the park’s fields. The guided game drive is more rewarding since the information is all obtained from the right person, travelers get to meet new people, and also have more time for photography.
Self-game drives
A self-guided drive is done by travelers who wish to engage in an extensive wildlife adventure independently without any guide. These travelers prefer engaging in this game drive without knowing what others want. Travelers on their self-guided drives usually hire safari vans. This kind of game drive is good for photographers, travelers are required to know how to read maps, and this is cheaper than the guided game drive and many others.
Would you be able to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park?
The park is located in the western part of Uganda and it is mainly accessed by road and air transport. While using air transport, travelers use the scheduled flights from the Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe International Airport to the Mweya Airstrip, Kasese Airstrip, and the Kihihi Airstrip. All these airstrips are near the park and it’s upon the choice of travelers and the schedule of the flight where it will land.
Alternatively, travelers can use road transport, the routes Kampala-Kasese highway via Fort Portal which takes about 6 to 7 hours of the day to reach the park. The Kampala -Rubirizi via Mbarara which is also about 7 hours to reach the park. The park can also be accessed via Kigali where travelers will engage in the Kigali -katuna border and from katuna using the Kabale- Kihihi highway to reach the park which is about 6 hours. Read an itinerary to Queen Elizabeth National Park from Kigali.
What is the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for game drives?
Queen Elizabeth National Park is open for travelers throughout the year. The best time to visit the park for the game drive is during the year’s dry season. The period runs from June to September and from December to February. This is the best time for a game drive since the park is dry. More so, the park is clear for game viewing during the safari. Also, the wildlife can be seen near the park’s water sources during this time. Travelers are recommended to plan accordingly for a game drive in the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
