Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Introduction Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular tourist destination, approximately 400km by road southwest of Kampala Uganda’s capital city. This National Park is Uganda’s second largest conservation area after Murchison Falls National Park with an area cover of 1,978 square kilometers which is a diverse ecosystem comprising of sprawling savannahs, shady humid forests, sparkling lakes, fertile wetlands, and many more that are habitats to the Park’s vast wildlife species. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. Animals to look out for in Queen Elizabeth National Park include large herds of buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, lions, spotted hyenas, side stripped jackals, leopards, sitatungas, hippopotamuses, oribis, topis, mongoose, giant forest hogs, servals, crocodiles mentioned but a few making the Park a perfect place for game viewing. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are one of the most remarkable activities one should experience on a safari to Uganda. Game drives are done in in a comfortable 4WD popup safari vehicle with the guidance of a professional driver guide and a game ranger who are always helpful in spotting different wildlife species as well as explaining information to visitors in detail. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be done during the day as well as in the night. Day game drives include morning game drives that occur from 6:30 am to around 10:30 am3:00 pm and afternoon game drives running from 3:00pm to 6:00 pm which are all rewarding since animals are found very active in the morning before the sun heats up in the afternoon. Afternoon and evening game drives offer a unique experience since animals are easily spotted grabbing their day’s last meal while predators and nocturnal animals find their way out of their hideouts to start hunting for prey. During the evening hours, grazers such as Waterbucks, Uganda kobs, and many more are always seen gathering to match to their resting places which are so magnificent to watch. Night game drives occur between 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm offering visitors an opportunity to explore the Park at night with the help of spotlight torches to easily see nocturnal animals that become active in the night. Night game drives are specifically done with the guidance of armed rangers for security while visitors look out for animals like leopards, lions, hyenas, serval cats, side stripes jackals, hippopotamuses grazing, and several other animals roaming the wild while others are resting waiting to catch up with the day ahead. However, night game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are only restricted to the Mweya peninsular because the Kasenyi plains and other game drive circuits are always flocked with frequent visitors during the day therefore night game drives are prohibited as a way to minimize disturbance and stress on the animals. Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park Kasenyi game drive circuit This game drive circuit is just 30 minutes drive away from Mweya crossing the bushy plains running east from the Kasese-Ishaka road to Kasenyi fishing village along the western shores of Lake George. Kasenyi game drive circuit is the most famous game drive circuit due to its resident herds of antelopes like Uganda kobs, elephants, buffaloes, and prides of lions that prey on them making it one of the best sites to spot the magnificent African lions in their natural habitat. Kasenyi plains is also a perfect place to see several hippopotamuses and colonies of water birds that are often hosted from the Bunyampaka crater that lies just 2 kilometers west of the Kasenyi village. This circuit is not only best for game viewing safaris but also other tourist activities like birdwatching, and community and cultural tours to mention but a few. Ishasha game drive circuit The Ishasha game drive circuit is situated in the southern section of the Park popularly known for harboring the tree-climbing lions that are often perched up in the huge fig trees while lazily resting as they also try to trace for their prey from a distance. The Ishasha game drive circuit is made up of two game drive circuits that run through Ishasha namely the southern and northern circuits. The southern circuit offers the best and most rewarding game viewing experience since it offers a clear vision of distinctive tree-climbing lions. It is made up of an open countryside with boundless horizons comprised of the antelopes’ breeding area best for spotting the lions’ trick hunting skills and the best techniques antelopes use to escape their predators. However, the northern circuit is also perfect for game viewing since it offers an experience of Uganda’s wildlife such as red buffaloes that are related to forest buffaloes of the Democratic Republic of Congo, elephants, topis, waterbucks, kobs, and many more. This is also a perfect place for birding since it is composed of papyrus-occupied wetland that runs to the north of Lake Edward. This wetland harbors several bird species for example plovers, herons, shoebill storks, and many more. Other sections within the Ishasha game drive circuit where visitors can enjoy game viewing include the Ishasha River campsite and the Edward flats. Channel game drive circuit This game drive circuit is close to the Mweya peninsular running in a parallel direction from the Kazinga channel’s northern shores. This circuit provides excellent viewing of Uganda’s wildlife most notably animals like elephants, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, and buffaloes that often find their way to the Kazinga water channel. The Channel game drive circuit is also famous for hosting night game drives that are often arranged from the Mweya visitors’ information center for tourists interested in viewing the Park’s nocturnal animals. Crater game drive circuit This circuit is made up of a landscape north of Mweya dotted with dozens of volcanic craters that were a result of vulcanicity in the Albertine rift. Game drives within this circuit run along a 27-kilometer track between Crater Gate and the Kabatooro gate following an awe-inspiring route close to the edges of crater lakes. This section is also famous for the Queen’s Pavilion situated beneath the crater gate on the eastern rim of the crater area. A game drive in this game drive circuit is best in the morning when the rising sun brightens the forested craters. The crater game drive circuit attracts large herds of elephants and buffaloes as well as the best place to spot woodland bird species. Best time for game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park Queen Elizabeth National Park is open to visits all year round though the best time for game drives and wildlife viewing is during the dry season in June to September and December to February. During this period of the year, the Park receives less or little rainfall implying that access roads and game drive tracks and trails are dry, passable, and easy to penetrate. Animals are also easy to locate and see because the vegetation within the Park is always sparse and thin compared to the wet season when the vegetation is dense and thick. Animals also concentrate around permanent designated water places during the dry season which makes game viewing easy compared to the wet season when animals gather around several water holes deep in the jungle. This season of the year also offers the perfect opportunity for wildlife photography and videography as one easily gets close to animals through the passable tracks.