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Queen Elizabeth National
Park is Uganda's most popular game reserve and certainly one
of the most scenic. It stretches from the crater-dotted
foothills of the Rwenzori range in the north, along the shores
of Lake Edward to the remote Ishasha River in the south,
incorporating a wide variety of habitats that range from
savanna and wetlands to gallery and lowland forest.
Almost 100
mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species makes this
superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos,
the elusive giant forest hog and handsome Uganda Kob all
regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya
Peninsula - which also boasts a marvelous waterfront setting
in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. |
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Elsewhere, the remote Ishasha Sector is famed for its
tree-climbing lions, the Kyambura Gorge harbours habituated
chimps, the Maramagambo Forest is home to an alluring selection of
forest monkeys and birds, and flocks of flamingo are resident on
the crater lakes.
Game safaris start from your doorstep and one of the main routes
from Mweya is the 'Kob Route' or 'Plains Route'. This is where all
the breeding Ugandan Kobs are located and since Kob are the
favourite prey of Lions in this area; you stand a reasonable
chance of seeing these elusive predators. There is also another
route known as 'Leopard Loop' for obvious reasons. This is a good
track to take in the late afternoon, possible after you have taken
a boat ride along the Kazinga channel.
The Kazinga channel boat cruise is one of the highlights of a
visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. There are four departures
per day with the first leaving at 09:00 and the last at 17:00.
Although the light can be harsh in the middle of the day, this
tends to be the time that large numbers of elephant are drawn to
the water to quench their thirst. You will observe a large number
of hippos, elephant, buffalo and crocodiles. The Kazinga channel
is a magnet for water birds a launch cruise reveals species such
as great-white and pink-backed Pelicans, great and long-tailed
Cormorants, common Squaco Heron, African open-billed Stork and
African fishing Eagle.
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