Do not be surprised if some visitors call the Kasenyi Plains “Mweya” because they refer to the same general area in the northeastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This part of the park is home to climbing lions, mammals, reptiles, birds, vegetation, and water sources.
Tracking animals is easier during the dry season when the roads are clear and easy to use for both people and vehicles. However, the wet season also makes it easier to see animal footprints on the soft ground, unlike in the dry season when the tracks can disappear quickly.
The plains are flat and covered with open Savannah grassland. They sit at an altitude of about 930 meters above sea level and offer clear views of Lake George, the Kazinga Channel, and many wild animals and birds. Photographers often enjoy taking pictures here in the open space.
Not only tourists enjoy this area. Predators like lions also use the wide view to spot antelopes running through the grassland. This creates a food chain that may be exciting to some but scary to others. That’s why during campfires, tourists are asked not to talk about past animal attacks, as it may make others feel uneasy.
One of the special things about this area in the Rwenzururu Subregion of Kasese District in western Uganda is the chance to see some of the Big Five animals. These include lions, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. The plains also stretch to the Mweya Peninsula, which covers about 10 kilometers of land and protects the Kazinga Channel, part of Lake Edward.
The plains have thick vegetation made up of thorny bushes, candelabra trees, and shrubs. Activities here include mongoose tracking, game drives (done in shifts to suit different visitors), and nature walks, where you can walk near some wild animals and feel more connected to the land.
Bird-watching is also enjoyable, especially near the water sources like Kazinga Channel, Lake Edward, Lake George, and Lake Bunyampaka.
