Many tourists visit Queen Elizabeth National Park because of its special geography and climate. The park is found in the Albertine Rift Valley in the western part of Uganda. It covers an area of 1,978 square kilometers and includes hills, Savannah plains, forests, swamps, and wildlife. It also borders Virunga National Park in Congo. Together, these parks form one of the biggest protected areas in the Greater Virunga Landscape in East Africa.
Tourists are advised to visit during the best seasons. The dry seasons are from December to February and from June to July. These months are best for visiting because the roads are dry and easy to use. The wet seasons are from March to May and from September to November. During the wet season, some roads may become hard to pass.
Rainfall in the park is not the same everywhere. Maramagambo Forest gets the highest rainfall, about 1,250 mm per year, while the Kazinga Channel area gets about 750 mm. These changes in rain are caused by the Rwenzori Mountains to the north and the Kichwamba Escarpment to the east, which affect how air moves in the area.
The climate in Queen Elizabeth is warm during the day and cool in the mornings and nights, especially in the dry months. This is the best time to visit because the animals are more active as they search for food, water, and shade.
Visitors are advised to pack useful items such as a hat, polarized sunglasses, good walking shoes, and light long-sleeved clothing for comfort and protection.
The park is located near the equator, so it gets direct sunlight, making it warmer than places far from the equator. Some parts of the park, such as Kikorongo, are known for being very hot. In the Rukonjo language, “Kikorongo” means “too much sunshine.”
Geographically, the park stretches to a latitude of 0°11’60.00”N. The highest point is around Lake Katwe, which is cooler, while the lowest point is around Lake Edward, which is drier and hotter. The park also lies on a longitude of 30°00’0.00”E and is home to many different plants and animals.
