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 viewing of the wildlife. It is also done within the designated routes of the park by the park authority. The 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. The park is the second largest park in Uganda. The park was gazette in 1952 as Kazinga National Park and later in 1954, it was named after the Queen of England the second after her visit. It is also among the most visited parks in Uganda. It experiences the tropical type of climate characterized by wet and dry seasons of the year. the park is also covered by the savannah type of vegetation.
Where can I do game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
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 sector is famous for tree-climbing lions. The sector is 100 kilometers away from the main 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, buffaloes, kobs, antelopes, and many others. This sector is usually the exit point for travelers on safaris to Bwindi impenetrable national park. The sector also hosts the Ishasha River which is one of the major sources of water that supports ecosystems in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kasenyi sector
Kasenyi sector is within the northern part of the park with open plains for wildlife viewing. This sector is near Lake George and also the Kasenyi village for salt mining. The sector 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, buffaloes, warthogs, kobs, and many other wildlife. While in the Kasenyi plains for game drives, travelers will also engage in the experiential game drive which will engage travelers with the close encounter with the lions and their prides. This activity is done using trackers to find the lions in the different parts of the sector.
Kazinga Channel circuit drive
This is also within the park in the northern part of the Kazinga Channel. This circuit is covered by the thickets and cactus type of savannah vegetation. While in this area, travelers have fewer chances to see the cat species of the park since they usually hide away from human beings. The wildlife that is usually spotted include; elephants, hippos, kobs, warthogs, leopards, lions, and many others.
Types of game drives done in Queen Elizabeth National Park
While in this park, there are two major forms of game drives that travelers engage in. These include; Guided game drives and Self-game drive
Guided game drives
This is the most popular form of the game drive that 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 specialized for the game drive. This kind of game drive is usually done by travelers accompanied by private guides or ranger guides. These kinds of guides are knowledgeable about the fields of the park. 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-game drive is done by travelers who wish to engage in an extensive wildlife adventure on their own without any guide. These kinds of travelers prefer engaging in this kind of game drive without knowing what others want. Travelers on their self-game 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.
How 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 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 dry season of the year. The period runs through June to September and December to February. This is the best time for a game drive since the park is dry. More so, the park is clear for the game viewing during the safari. Also during this time, the wildlife can be sited near the water sources of the park. Travelers are recommended to plan accordingly for a game drive in the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
