You cannot visit Queen Elizabeth National Park and miss sailing on the Kazinga Channel. This water body links Lake Edward to Lake George. It is part of the African Great Lakes system and stretches for about 40 kilometers.
The channel is home to many wild animals. Elephants often come to its shores to drink water and cool themselves. Hippos are also commonly seen, although in 2005, a group of them died due to an anthrax outbreak.
This happened because they fed on contaminated vegetation during the dry season, taking in bacteria from the soil. Even with that event, Uganda still has one of the largest hippo populations in the world. The channel is also home to many crocodiles, which attract tourists, along with birds that are very sensitive to noise. That is why visitors are asked to stay quiet and avoid loud devices during the boat ride to enjoy the best views and moments.
Tourists can explore the Kazinga Channel through boat cruises led by trained guides. These guides share helpful information during the trip and make sure everyone wears a life jacket. A cruise lasts about two to three hours.
The two lakes connected by this channel support a lot of aquatic life, including fish. Lake George is smaller and has an average depth of about 2.4 meters. It is fed by streams from the Rwenzori Mountains. Its outflow passes through the Kazinga Channel and drains into Lake Edward, which is a freshwater lake located west of the channel and covers about 2,000 square kilometers.
For those planning to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, road transport is the most common option. The distance from Kampala is about 420 kilometers. Park entry fees are USD 40 per day for non-residents and USD 30 for East African residents. A boat trip on the Kazinga Channel costs USD 32 per person.
Some of the best activities on the Kazinga Channel include game viewing, birdwatching, and photography.
The Kazinga Channel is a key attraction in Queen Elizabeth National Park and should not be missed.
