Lion tracking experience in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Experience lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Situated in the western area of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri districts, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second biggest and most popular attraction in Uganda. Over 95 mammal species, including the big four of the big five—buffaloes, elephants, lions, and leopards—as well as other creatures like Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks, and bushbucks, primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and more than 600 bird species, can be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Only Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda provides visitors with the thrilling lion tracking experience, in which they drive across the park accompanied by a researcher assigned by the Uganda Carnivore Project to assist them in spotting the lions.
Only the Kasenyi plains are used for lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Researchers can drive through the park in the morning, around 8:00 am, or in the evening, using radiation trackers to locate lions wearing radio collars around their necks. You will enjoy the experience, get the opportunity to drive up close to the lions, see and learn about their activities, and more during the one to three-hour Lion Tracking tour at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The price of a permit to monitor lions
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, a lion tracking permit costs 140,000 UGX per person for East African citizens and 110 USD per person for foreign residents and non-residents. Tourists are urged to make reservations in advance for the lion tracking experience since it is restricted to a certain number of people in order to prevent disturbing or interfering with the lions’ tranquility and to allow visitors to snap clean pictures of the animals.
When is the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park to go lion tracking?
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, lion tracking is possible throughout the year, but the ideal time to go is in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February, which is also known as the peak season. Because there is less rainfall in the park during the dry season, there will be less foliage, making it easier to see lions and other animals.
In addition to the opportunity to monitor lions, Queen Elizabeth National Park provides additional fascinating activities like as
During game drives, a qualified driving guide will accompany you as you explore the park in a cozy 4WD safari vehicle. Game drives at Queen Elizabeth National Park begin extremely early in the morning, at about 6:00, while the animals are still moving. They are conducted in many locations, including the Kasenyi plains, Mweya peninsula, and Ishasha sector. Elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, and predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas, among others, may all be seen during the game drive. If you’re fortunate, you can also see a variety of birds.
The Kazinga Channel, a stretch of water that links Lake Edward and Lake George, is the destination for boat cruises. There are two schedules for boat tour activities at Queen Elizabeth National Park: an early morning schedule that begins at around 9:00 am and an afternoon schedule that begins at approximately 2:00 pm.
Large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles can be seen in the water during the two to three-hour boat ride. You can also see animals like elephants, waterbucks, buffaloes, and warthogs drinking water along the shores, as well as water birds like cormorants, hornbills, kingfishers, fish eagles, and bee-eaters. Among other things, you will be able to see fisherman along the shoreline getting ready for night fishing while on the boat ride on the Kazinga canal.
Observing birds
One of Uganda’s top birding attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to more than 600 known bird species, including migratory, savannah, and water birds. Many bird species, including the swamp nightjar, squire-tailed nightjar, pygmy kingfisher, red-chested sunbird, martial eagle, black-crowned tchagra, white-tailed lark, double-toothed barbet, Senegal plover, Nubian woodpecker, black bishop, African finfoot, African emerald cuckoo, helmeted guinea fowl, and others, can be seen during bird watching, which is conducted in various locations such as the Maramagambo forest, Kasenyi plains, Ishasha sector, Mweya peninsula, and Kazinga channel.
Nature walks
With the assistance of a knowledgeable park guide and an armed park ranger to keep them safe, visitors may venture out of the security of a safari vehicle and explore the park on foot during a nature walk or hike. You may get up close and personal with a variety of animal species during the guided nature walk, including buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, and warthogs. You can also capture lovely photographs, listen to the lovely sounds of birdsong in trees, and see vibrant butterflies.
Chimpanzee trekking
Trekking with chimpanzees involves visitors walking through a tropical jungle in pursuit of the primates and spending an hour with them in their natural environment. The Kyambura Gorge is the site of chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey begins early in the morning with a lecture on the guidelines.
Because chimpanzees like to roam about in search of food, trekking with them might take anything from thirty minutes to four hours, depending on their location. In addition to seeing other monkey species and birds while trekking, you will get the opportunity to spend an hour with chimpanzees in their natural environment, where you may capture pictures and films and learn about their routines and activities.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park when tracking lions
There are several different types of lodging options available in Queen Elizabeth National Park for your lion tracking trip. Elephant Hab Lodge, Marafiki Safari Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Pumba Safari Lodge, Park View Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp, Enganzi Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Mweya Hostel, Kyambura Tented Camp, Lake Chibwera Camp, King Fisherman Lodge Kichwamba, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Katara Lodge, and Ihamba Safari Lodge are just a few of the affordable, midrange, and luxury lodging options.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park travel route
Located in the western region of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is accessible by road. It takes around seven to eight hours to travel from Kampala to the park headquarters via Masaka, Mbarara or Mubende, and Fort Portal.
Booking domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport to Mweya or Kasese Airstrip and then connecting by vehicle to the lodge or park headquarters is another way to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park.