Activities inside the queen Elizabeth national park;
- Kazinga channel boat cruise: You will be exposed to a long list of birds including migrant species in certain seasons. The ride is an opportunity to witness mammal and other game coolling off along the shores. This evergreen territory is dear to every kind of wildlife from queen Elizabeth national park. (2 hours)
- Game drives and safaris: On the Kasenyi plains, on mweya peninsular or looking for tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector: looking for the big five and other small game; herds of buffalos, antelopes, elephants in the extended savannah of Queen Elizabeth national park. A mixture of ecosystems and landscapes will enable you to explore the varying wildlife of this park on the same journey. (3-5 hours)
- Experiential and research activities such as mongoose tracking, lion and other carnivore tracking, Hippo census etc. you will join the experienced researchers of the park and follow them looking for these animals and doing their research work which may include monitoring or actual treating of causalities.
Activities outside the park. These activities can be done without paying park entrance fees.
- Visiting the equator at Kikorongo: The equator bisects queen Elizabeth national park at kikorongo. tis is an easy to do and sometimes free to visit activity that any one can take. You will have an opportunity to stand in the northern and southern hemisphere at the same time. It is a photo opportunity posing by the equator marks on the two road sides (0.5-1 hour)
- Lake Munyanyange birding tour: Here you can find flamingos during certain seasons of the year. Listen to the story of why and how flamingos move from Kenya on a pilgrimage only to return a few months later. Other bird species of queen Elizabeth national park are common if you choose to take a linger birding tour with the local guides. (2 hours)
- Katunguru community boat cruise: I is a flexible boat option that allows you to watch wildlife on Kazinga channel both inside and outside the park. (2 hours)
These activities in the surrounding wildlife reserves.
These activities may require entrance fees to these specific wildlife reserves.
- Kyambura forest reserve: Here you can do chimp tracking and nature walks as you witness the underground forest. the same entrance fee to queen elizabeth national park wildlife safsri will cover you for the entrance to this forest
- Kalinzu forest: You can participate in chimp tracking and a series of nature walks. The forest is connected to queen Elizabeth national park. during this activity, you will witness one of the oldest and most extended canopy while you look for the primates, birds and the transparent lakes.
- The bat caves in maramagambo forest. This i a unique activity in this area. It takes you through the forest where you will be seeing the jungle wonders as you head to the cave. You will spend some time observing the case with bats. On a lucky day, you may have a chance of viewing the mother python that lives amidst it’s pray in the cave. The key highlight is watching the python feed on the bats that live within the cave
Cultural encounters and other community activities.
These activities are all outside the national park organized by the local communities in and around their residential areas. The income generated by these activities go to the grassroots community members, hence supporting alternative livelihoods to natural resource depletion.
- The equator women traditional dance: Showcasing a selection of music and drama demonstration of the culture around queen Elizabeth national park. The moving performance shows the local heritage as it has been used by generations to entertain and educate the local bakonzo society. (0.5- 1 hour)
- Crafts weaving workshop: With guidance from the local crafts women, a guest is given the tools and trained until being able to make their own basket using the local materials. after the workshop, you can either take the basked to finish later or buy from the finished stock on display. (0.5 – 1 hours)
- Visiting the cave at Nyanziibiri: Located 20 minutes drive from queen elizabeth national par, at nyakasharu, you will chill in the cave besides lake “kamweru” one of the local creators in the famous crater area. You will be listening to the guide on the secrets of this cave and lakes in the surrounding area.
- Kikorongo boda-boda safari: On the back of a mototrcycle (locally called bodaboda) you will go on a Safari through the rustic villages pass by the lake Katwe salt mines and through Queen Elizabeth national park. Great view, scenery and wildlife await every guest on this journey. those intersted can addother acticivite to this sfari, including; katwe salt mining experience lake munyanyange tour or katwe fishing village tour. (2-5 hours)
- Katwe traditional salt mining tour: Witness the traditional and yet scientific mining activity done with bare hands and no modern tools. You can do this either during the bodaboda safari by paying extra of 10$ or separately by getting yourself there. You will learn and be involved in the science and local trade of salt as it has been done hundreds of years back in life. (1.5 hours)
- Kikorongo village trek: From one of the high hills of the community, you will trek to the mountain lake. You will meet the local people in their gardens and homes doing the local trade. During the trek, you have uninterrupted views of Queen Elizabeth national park. With binoculars you will sometimes view wildlife grazing along the edges of the lakes George and kikorongo crater. (5 hours)
- The cotton growing experience (seasonal): Cotton growing is a seven month activity that you can participate in with the locals in this dry equatorial corridor. You will be able to learn how cotton is farmed and how it is protected from wildlife (elephant) raids during the nights. (1 hour)
To get more information or including any of these activities in your safari, please contact us on; info@theelephanthome.com or whatsApp: +256780278010
If you’re looking to get accommodation for your next trip to Queen Elizabeth national park – western Uganda, look no further. The elephant home will give you a perfect memorable safari experience that you have been looking for.
The Elephant home is a budget lodge located in the Savannah bushes within Kikorongo community. It is appropriate for people seeking to visit Queen Elizabeth national park in western Uganda since it is located just opposite from the park. The lodge boasts with one of the largest self-contained rooms you will find in this location. Each room is furnished with twin beds. The prices are set to suite those seeking to travel on budget while endlessly exploring the natural and cultural heritage of Queen Elizabeth national park. The room comes with free breakfast, furnished with bedding and perfect housekeeping services included in the price. the lodge has a restaurant on site where you can order all meals and you will be impressed with our food experience.
Guests can take the self guided walk behind the lodge to explore the plant life and great scenery of the surrounding area including queen Elizabeth national park. Placed within the buffer zone of Queen Elizabeth national park, visitors are able to spot many birds within the lodge property. Besides, the staff will arrange your wildlife safari, boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park at an affordable price. village experiences that give visitors a hint of the local life, can be arranged on request. the list of these experience include; the Bodaboda safari around Queen Elizabeth national park, the community hill trek to the mountain lake, the cotton growing tour, the equator tour and the traditional dancing experience by the local community.
Our bookings are open here online and we will be able to provide further information. it is possible to Contact us and book your stay through our online booking form. bookings and deposits can be done through the Kampala office through Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA).
