North of Bwindi lies the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Named after the British monarch, the golden grasslands and pristine landscapes of this park connect several regions and two lakes (George and Edward), with the scenic Kazinga channel, which runs through it. Whether explored on a leisurely river cruise or in a safari vehicle, the park now boasts four of the Big Five, with steadily increasing populations of lion, elephant and leopard, as well as great herds of buffalo. This is also one of the few places in the world known for tree-climbing lion, similar to those found in Lake Manyara National Park across the border in Tanzania. The southern part of the park is volcanic and is pocked with crater lakes that are rich in minerals.
Chimpanzees can be tracked all year round, although they are easier to track in the dry season. The migratory birds visit during the wet season.
Why Visit?
- The park covers an area of about 1978 km2, including Lake Edward the Kazinga channel.
- The park lies 5-6 hours from Kampala on a surfaced road via Mbarara, and can be reached on a dirt road.
- The Ishaba region of the park is famous for tree climbing lions.
- Commonly spotted predators include lion, leopard, side striped jackal and spotted hyena, while antelope species such as kob, bushbuck, topi and waterbuck are often encountered.
- The park provides the ideal habitat for a number of primates, including chimpanzee as well as black and white colobus monkey, while its Ishasha area is also notable for the world’s highest concentration of hippos.
Climate
Summer (November-May)
Min 16°C/48°F Max 26°C/78°F
Winter (June-October)
Min 16°C/48°F Max 26°C/78°F
Uganda and Rwanda are both near the Equator. As a result the climate does not change much, this makes both countries all year round destinations. Tropical with temperatures averaging about 26ºC (78ºF) during the day and about 16ºC (48ºF) during the evening. The warmest period is December to February. The rainy season in the South is April to May and October to November with the wettest month being April. In the North the wet season is April to October and the dry season is November to March.
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