QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
The area is clearly marked by a geological history that has been very active over millions of years. In the landscape around you there are volcanic hills, crater lakes, folds and not least the "young" Rwenzori Mountains that lie there like a massive wall between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is almost impossible to imagine what the western parts of Uganda looked like 15 million years ago. There were no signs of obvious valleys, the Rwenzori Mountains or the sources of the Nile. In all directions the horizon stretched over a 500 million year old plateau, about 500 m above sea level. About seven million years ago the mountains in the eastern part of the Rift Valley were so high that they affected the weather.
SAFARIS
On the way to QENP we cross the equator. Together with the Kyambura and Kigezi Wildlife Reserves, Queen Elizabeth National Park forms one of the most species-rich ecosystems in Africa.
KAZINGA CHANNEL
The Kazinga Channel is a wide, 40km long natural channel that connects Lake Edward in the west, to Lake George in east. The channel is a dominant feature of the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda’s most popular reserve covering a total of 1,978km2). The Kazinga channel attracts a various range of animals and birdlife, with one of the world’s largest concentration of hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles.
ISHASHA
Ishasha is located in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here we make a couple of attempts to find the now famous tree-climbing lions. Apparently this is one of two populations in Africa that have this as a regular behavior. In Ishasha there are many old fig trees that these lions prefer. We know where the trees are, and we will visit most of them.