
The incredible Kazinga channel boat cruises
Kazinga channel is found within Queen Elizabeth national park one of the most visited national parks in Uganda for wildlife safaris, bird watching and boat cruises. Queen Elizabeth national park is found in the western part of Uganda in the Kasese district. The boat launch in queen Elizabeth national park is done on the Kazinga channel which is a 40 km water-long channel linking Lake Edward to lake George. The boat launch is done by professional guides that will give you all the information you need pertaining to this safari. Kazinga channel hosts the highest number of hippos in the world.
Whys visitors must be at Kazinga channel for boat cruises when visiting Queen Elizabeth National park
The highlight of any safari in Queen Elizabeth national park is a boat launch on Kazinga channel that connects Lake Edward to Lake George. It’s on Kazinga channel that people on a boat cruise can watch schools of hippos at a close range, see different water birds such as African skimmers, kingfishers, African spoonbills, African fish eagle, papyrus gonolek, martial eagle, crocodiles sunbathing, and some of the park animals like the elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, and many others that come to drink water.
Kazinga channel separates queen Elizabeth national park into 2 tourist circuits. The first sector includes Ishasha sector which is famous for tree-climbing lions, Kyambura gorge where chimpanzee trekking can be done, Maramagambo forest, and Katunguru villages. The smaller sector found in the north contains the largest population of park animals and this includes Kasenyi plains, Katunguru, Mweya, Katwe, Kichamba escarpment, and Kikorongo.
Incredible Kazinga channel boat cruises
After the game drives, the boat cruise is the most thrilling adventure safari you shouldn’t miss and the second-best done activity in Queen Elizabeth national park. The boat launch is done in the morning and evening hours for 3 hours. The boat launch on Kazinga channel starts from Mweya safari lodge to the northeast of Lake Edward and Lake George.
The boat cruise on Kazinga channel gives you an opportunity to explore the lakes George and Edward, the water animals like hippos and crocodiles, water birds such as papyrus gonolek, yellow-billed stork, martial eagle, malachite kingfisher, pink-backed pelicans, black bee-eater, plovers, black crake, white bullied cormorants, and some of the park animals on the lake shores like the elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, lizards and many others drinking water most especially in the dry season.
What is the price of Kazinga channel boat cruises in Queen Elizabeth national park?
Uganda wildlife authority organizes boat cruises on Kazinga channel at a fee of $30 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents while East African citizens pay 30,000.
Where to stay after boat cruises on Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park
There are several accommodation options in Queen Elizabeth national park but where to stay after a boat cruise depends on the budget for your safari. These range from budget to mid-range to luxury options. Some of the lodges in Queen Elizabeth national park include Mweya safari lodge, Ishasha safari camp, Enganzi safari lodge, Mweya cottages, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Park View Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Elephant Hub Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Pumba Safari Cottages, Kasenyi Safari Camp, and Ishasha Jungle Lodge among others.
What is the best time for boat cruises on Kazinga channel?
Queen Elizabeth national park can be visited at any time of the year for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel but the best time to do a boat cruise is the dry season which happens in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season, there is little or no rainfall, and the water levels are low.
Other activities to do in Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park has a wide range of fascinating activities which can been done on your safari in the park such as;
Game drives
Ishasha game viewing in queen Elizabeth National Park are the best. The game drives are best done in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up giving you clear views of the animals. Queen Elizabeth national park is a home of 95 mammals and some of these can be seen on a game drive such as lions, tree-climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, hyenas, leopards, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, hyenas, topis, olive baboons, warthogs, bushbucks, hippos, bale monkeys, vervet monkeys, and waterbucks among others.
Birding
Queen Elizabeth national park has over 600 bird species making it one of the best birding spots in Uganda. Birds in Queen Elizabeth national park include Shoebill, Martial Eagle, grey krestel, Africa emerald cuckoo, chapin flycatcher, Pink-backed Pelican, Papyrus Gonolek, African Broadbill, Black-rumped Buttonquail, barbets, papyrus gonolek, African Skimmer, Chapin’s Flycatcher, White-tailed Lark, pied kingfisher, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Black Bee-eater, brown illadopsis, Bar-tailed Godwit, White-winged Warbler, marsh tchagra, Papyrus Canary, Corncrake, Greater Flamingo, and lesser swamp warbler among others. Apart from Queen Elizabeth national park, most tourist opt to go bird watching in Mabamba wetland to spot several shoebills
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in Kyambura gorge located on the northeastern side of the park. Taking a visit to Kyambura gorge gives you an opportunity to see chimpanzees in their natural habitats for a maximum of 1 hour. Trekking chimpanzees in Kyambura gorge requires one to have a valid permit from the Uganda wildlife authority which costs $50 for both foreign non-residents and foreign residents and UGX30,000 East African citizens. The permit should be bought in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences.