How big is Queen Elizabeth National Park? Queen Elizabeth National Park is found in western Uganda. It covers a large area of about 1,978 square kilometers. The park is home to many water bodies that together stretch across about 250 kilometers. These include Lake Edward, Lake George, River Ishasha, Kyambura River, and others. During the dry season, many animals gather around these water sources in search of food and water.
Some of the animals you may see in the park include spotted hyenas, topis, African buffaloes, Uganda kobs, African elephants, Nile crocodiles, leopards, giant forest hogs, chimpanzees, lions, warthogs, and hippos.
The park also has over 600 bird species such as the African skimmer, martial eagle, pink-backed pelican, Chapin’s flycatcher, Verreaux’s eagle owl, black bee-eater, white-winged warbler, and papyrus gonolek. Because of its rich wildlife and natural beauty, the park was named a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Queen Elizabeth National Park also lies close to the Rwenzori Mountains and the flat lands of the western section of the East African Rift Valley. This location has helped form the different ecosystems found in the park.
The park was created by joining Lake Edward and Lake George Game Reserves in the 1920s. In 1952, it was named Kazinga National Park, but later changed to Queen Elizabeth National Park after the visit of Queen Elizabeth II. At one point, former president Idi Amin tried to rename it Rwenzori National Park, but the name did not change, especially after he lost power in 1979.
Today, Queen Elizabeth is one of the most visited parks in Uganda. It is about 400 kilometers from Kampala, the capital city. By road, the journey takes about six to seven hours.
The size of Queen Elizabeth has made it an important place for both wildlife and tourism. Visitors enjoy many activities such as boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, guided nature walks, and game drives. Game drives are especially popular because they are comfortable and allow visitors to see many animals, either in the morning or late afternoon.
