Crater Drive Safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Crater Drive Safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Crater drives in Queen Elizabeth National area are located in the Uganda’s western province in Kasese District. Queen Elizabeth National Park is a savanna grassland area. The park is Uganda’s second biggest national park, covering roughly 1,970 square kilometers.

Queen Elizabeth National Park offers game watching in the Kasenyi, Mweya, and Ishasha Sectors, nature hikes, chimp trekking in the exciting Kyambura Gorge, a boat tour on the Kazinga Channel, birding, and other activities. Among the fauna that may be viewed during these activities are water bodies, savanna grasslands, primates, mammals, and bird species.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to several crater lakes which were formed by the vulcanization of molten rock (lava), which entails a strong eruption that reaches the peak of a volcanic cone, which is then blown off, producing a vast basin surrounded by lava, a harsh environment, and rock debris. The ultimate effects of the crater are extremely unique, and a visit to Queen Elizabeth is gratifying since you get to view so much beauty in one spot.

Crater Drives Safaris in Queen Elizabeth

These crater drives in Queen Elizabeth are known as the Explosion Crater drives, and they last around two hours. Seeing the splendor of these craters is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Travel early in the morning or late at night, when visibility is best and temperatures are lowest. Lake Katwe, a big body of water adjacent to Lake Edward, is famous for its salt mining history. Visitors to this lake may learn about the salt mining process in the area, from the construction of the salt pans to the actual entry into the water.

During the dry season, visitors may also see how salt is made from super-concentrated salty water at the lake’s old salt plant. You will be able to see the craters, the Rwenzori Mountains, the Kazinga channel that connects Lake George to Lake Edward, the two lakes, and a variety of creatures that live in the craters as you travel through the carters.

Elephants, buffaloes, and other hippos are common in the area. When it rains, the path may be difficult, rock-strewn, and slippery, necessitating the usage of a 4WD vehicle. Driving around the Crater lakes is wonderful when the weather is favorable.

Other Safari Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game drives

During your Uganda safari tour, you will be able to view a variety of interesting things thanks to many game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Safari game drives are conducted in three sessions in the Park: morning, afternoon, and evening game drives. The morning game drive, which begins at 06:30 a.m., allows you to witness a variety of herbivores catching their first feed of the day in the park. You will also be able to catch the predators when they return to their hiding places. Elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, oribi, impalas, lions, leopards, and a variety of other amazing species may be expected.

During night game drives safaris at Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may view a variety of nocturnal animals, including lions, leopards, and hyenas, taking their prey in the wild. While in the park, you may also go on nocturnal game drives to see how the park comes alive when the sun goes down. Night jars are one of the most common bird species seen on night game drives.

Boat cruise on The Kazinga Channel 

The Kazinga Channel, which is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, provides a completely unique experience for all African travelers. The Kazinga canal is a body of water that connects Lake George with Lake Edward. It’s a 40-kilometer-long river that runs beneath the renowned Mweya peninsular, close to the Mweya safari lodge.

The Kazinga canal boat journey will be unlike anything else you’ve done in Africa. “The boat tour in Kazinga channel is the highlight of every Uganda wildlife safari,” as many tourists visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park would say.

The boat adventure lasts 3-4 hours and is led by skilled and experienced guides. Throughout the boat journey, the guides will provide you with all of the information you need about the boat trip and the history of the Kazinga channel, as well as all of the explanations you need about the creatures along the canal’s banks.

The guides are quite knowledgeable and will gladly answer any questions you have about the animals and birds, the surrounding vegetation, the color of the water, and so on. They will also inform you about the settlements surrounding the Kazinga canal. What a wealth of information to accompany your boat trip!

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Canyon is not tough, but it does require trudging up and down hills in search of chimps, which may be easily identified by their loud cries and hooting that can be heard from afar. If no noises are detected, you can follow their footsteps. When the Chimps are spotted, they may be observed playing, conversing, and mating. These chimps frequently climb down the trees when they spot humans, allowing you to get up close and personal with them.

Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park is divided into two sessions: morning and afternoon. Each session, only eight permits are issued, for a total of sixteen permits each day. If you plan on doing this hike, you will be assigned a guide who will accompany you to the gorge following a briefing. The entire exercise lasts roughly 2-3 hours.

In summary; Uganda’s most biodiverse park. A lovely mix of woodlands, meadows, and waterscapes. Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular Uganda safari location, and it pairs perfectly with a gorilla or chimpanzee trek.