Travelers have an opportunity to encounter a large number of wildlife compared to the usual game drives. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most visited and popular destinations in western Uganda.
An experiential game drive is one of the interesting and adventurous activities that you can engage in on a Uganda safari in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. This activity offers a close encounter with the wildlife.
The park was introduced in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, but in 1954, after the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, it was renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is the second largest national park in Uganda after the Murchison Falls National Park.
An experiential game drive is one of the best types of game drives you can engage in in the Queen Elizabeth National Park since you see more wildlife than usual. It is done off the tracks from usual game drives, and it focuses more on lions.
This activity lasts about 1 to 3 hours of the day done under the supervision of the rangers and researchers. In the Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is done mainly in the northern sector of the park (Kasenyi sector).
Is an experiential game drive recommended for travelers on their safaris to Uganda?
Yes, an experiential game drive is recommended for travelers on their safaris to Uganda since it offers a close encounter with several predators like lions and leopards in the Kasenyi Plains. You are able to see some of the wildlife that can’t be seen on the usual game drive.
How much is the cost of the experiential game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
For travelers to engage in the experiential game viewing safari, you are supposed to acquire a permit to engage in the activity, which is usually acquired at the Uganda Wildlife Authority offices at the Kasenyi Gate. The cost of the experiential game drive includes 200 USD for the foreign non-residents, 150 USD for the foreign residents, and 200000 UGX for the East African residents.
The cost of an experiential game drive permit is exclusive of the community and vehicle entrance fee.
What are other experiential activities that you can engage in at Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers other experiential activities that you can engage in during a safari, and they include
Mongoose tracking
Mongoose tracking is another experiential activity that you can engage in on a safari to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is carried out in the Mweya Peninsula, where there are over 400 banded mongooses.
The tracked mongooses are usually first habituated to get them used to human presence. There are several habituated Mongoose families, and each family is visited by a group of 4 people plus a researcher.
The cost of the tracking permit for the mongoose is 30 USD for foreign non-residents, 25 USD for foreign residents, and 40000 UGX for East African residents. The cost of the permit does not include park entrance fees.
Hippo census
This activity takes you through the encounter of several hippos on Lake George, Lake Edward, and the Kazinga Channel. The hippo census starts early in the morning at 0830 hours before the temperatures rise, when the hippos can be encountered before submerging into the water.
The hippo census is done using boats where the researchers count the hippos that are visible on the water.
Why are the experiential activity permits high compared to other activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
An experiential activity permit is one of the most expensive permits in the park. 70% of the permit costs go to the conservation efforts put in place by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The other percentage of the permit costs goes to community funding and government revenues. These prices also regulate the number of travelers participating in the activity, promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Where to stay during a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park?
On a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, there are several accommodation facilities from which to choose for your stay. Some of these accommodation facilities are rated budget to luxury.
Some of these facilities include Buffalo Safari Lodge, Acacia Wilderness Mweya, Mweya Safari Lodge, Pumba Cottages, Elephant Hub, Elephant Plains, Volcanoes Lodge, Nature One Lodge, Tabingi Lodge, among others.
What are other activities that you can engage in at Queen Elizabeth National Park?
While on a safari to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, there are other activities that you can engage in and some of these activities include
Boat cruise
This is a water activity that everyone has to include on the bucket list during a safari to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. A boat cruise can be carried out at the Kazinga Channel or Mweya Peninsula.
It takes about 1 to 2 hours a day, and the best time is in the afternoon.
chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is a primate activity that you can engage in at Queen Elizabeth National Park. In this activity, travelers have an opportunity to engage and encounter chimpanzees that live in the Kyambura Gorge.
The activity starts with an orientation where you are highlighted the dos and don’ts about the activity. There are two sessions to engage in chimpanzee trekking, which include morning and afternoon sessions.
The cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit includes 200 USD for foreign non-residents, 150 USD for foreign residents, and 50000 UGX for East African residents. The cost of the chimpanzee trek permit excludes park entrance fees.
