New Mating Track in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The new mating track is a recently created track that was developed in the Kasenyi sector of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. This track was discovered by the park authority as a great place to see wildlife during a game drive. There are several wildlife spotted when you take a game drive in the new mating tracking track in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Some of these wildlife include lions, leopards, elephants, kobs, warthogs, and many others. The new mating track is the best place to spot leopards in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This track has cactus trees and small shrubs that make a perfect environment for both grazers and hunters. While grazing fancy the rich green grass, hunters love shrubs that provide a perfect environment for camouflaging and surprising prey. This implies that all the interesting wildlife drama takes place in the new mating track of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The vegetation in the New Mating Track in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The New Mating Track is made up of an open savannah characterized by tall grasses, scattered acacia trees, and occasional baobabs. This is a prime habitat for large herbivores like elephants, buffalo, and hippos. More so, the track has a wooded savannah vegetation. A mix of grassland and woodland, with denser vegetation and more diverse tree species, including acacias, fig-trees, and combretums. This habitat supports a variety of wildlife, including lions, leopards, and hyenas.
The mating season in Queen Elizabeth National Park
As the name states, the New Mating Track is a perfect area for seeing animals mate while on a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Nothing is better than a Uganda safari in the mating season.
Mating season in Queen Elizabeth National Park is not a fixed period, as it can vary depending on factors like rainfall and food availability. However, some general trends can be observed. Uganda kobs are known for their spectacular mating displays, which can be seen throughout the year. However, the peak mating season for Uganda Kobs is typically during the dry season, which falls between June and September. While not as dramatic as the Uganda Kobs, other animals in the park also have their mating seasons. For example, lions may mate year-round, but their breeding season is often influenced by prey availability.
What is the best time to visit the New Mating Track in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park is open for travelers throughout the year. The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for a chance to see wildlife mating behaviors is during the dry season (June to September). During this time, the vegetation is less dense, making it easier to spot animals. Additionally, the dry season often coincides with the peak mating season for some species, such as the Uganda Kobs.
Tips for observing mating behavior in the New Mating Track of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Hire a knowledgeable guide: A local guide can help you identify the signs of mating behavior and increase your chances of spotting animals in action.
Be patient: Wildlife mating can be unpredictable, so it’s important to be patient and observe quietly.
Respect wildlife: Always maintain a safe distance from animals and avoid disturbing them during mating.
How much is a game drive in the New Mating Track of Queen Elizabeth National Park?
All tourists must pay park entrance fees if they are to do a game drive on any track of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Park entry fees to the new mating track are as follows; 40 USD for foreign nonresidents, 30 USD for foreign residents, and 20,000 UGX for East African residents. The prices mentioned above do not include other expenses like a safari vehicle and fuel. Contact us for a full package price.
Other activities done in Queen Elizabeth National Park
On a safari to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, there are other activities that you can engage in. Some of them include;
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge
This activity involves an encounter with chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge also known as “The Valley of Apes”. Chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park takes about 2 to 4 hours including the one hour spent in the presence of these apes. You must have a chimpanzee trekking permit before participating in this activity. A permit to track chimps in Kyambura Gorge is 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 50 USD for foreign residents, and 50,000 UGX for members of the East African Community.
Nature walks
Nature walks or safari walks are another activity that you can do to encounter several attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is done under the guidance of a park ranger who ensures safety during a safari. Several wildlife like elephants, buffaloes, kobs, water backs, and many others.
Birding tours
There are over 600 bird species. These species are scattered around the park. The bird species in the park include the African fishing eagle, Martial eagle, pied kingfisher, African skimmer, African finfoot, pink-backed pelican, long-crested eagle, black bee-eater, and many others.
Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
This is another activity that travelers shouldn’t miss on their safaris in the Queen Elizabeth National Park on the Kazinga channel and Mweya Peninsular. It involves the use of motorized boats so that travelers can encounter the wildlife on the water and the shores. The wildlife that is usually encountered during the boat cruise includes hippos, elephants, buffaloes, water-backs, crocodiles, and many others.
Cultural encounters
The park has several communities that travelers can encounter to learn more about the lifestyle of the local people. The most visited community in the park is the Kasoga community that lives within the Kasenyi land site. In this community, travelers encounter several activities like cultural dances, storytelling, preparation of the local cuisine, and many others.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park has several accommodation facilities that travelers encounter on their safaris. These facilities are rated midrange, luxury, and budget facilities. These facilities include the Mweya Safari Lodge, Mweya Acacia Wilderness Lodge, Kasenyi Plain Lodge, Elephant Hub, Elephant Plains Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Pumba Cottages, Kyambura Game Lodge, Twin Lakes Lodge, Katara Lodge, Bul Bul Lodge, and many others.
How to access Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park can be accessed by road or transport. While using air transport, travelers are supposed to use the domestic scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip to the different airstrips near the park. These airstrips near the park include the Kasese Airstrip, the Mweya Airstrip, and the Kihihi Airstrip.
Whereas using road transport, travelers can use the Kampala – Fort Portal – Kasese highway to access the park. which takes about 6 to 7 hours. The other route is the Kampala -Mbarara -Rubirizi highway to access the park which takes about 6 to 7 hours of the day.
Travelers can also access the park through Rwanda Kigali. This takes about 7 to 8 hours through the Katuna or Cyangungu border to reach the park. Accessing the park, there are several gates of the park that travelers can use to get into the park. These gates of the park include the Kabatooro Gate, Kasenyi Gate, and Katunguru Gate.
