Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the Western Region of Uganda, in the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri. The park is bordered to the east by the Kyambura Game Reserve, which borders the Kigezi Game Reserve to the northeast and thus the Kibale National Park. The park was established in 1952 as Kazinga National Park by merging the Lake George and Lake Edward Game Reserves. Two years later it was renamed to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The national park covers an estimated 1978 square kilometers. It is known for its rich wildlife, including African Elephant, African Buffalo, Ugandan Kob, Hippopotamus, topi, waterbuck, warthog, Giant Forest Hog, Nile Crocodile, leopard, Spotted Hyena, chimpanzee and lion. In total, the park is home to 95 mammal species and more than 600 bird species. The Ishasha area in Rukungiri district is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, the males of which often have black manes. Queen Elizabeth National Park, along with the adjoining Virunga National Park, was designated a 'Lion Conservation Unit' by the IUCN in 2006. The population of lions here is actively monitored by the Uganda Carnivore Program and the Uganda Wildlife Authority through radio collars and other conservation initiatives. The park is also renowned for its volcanic features, which include volcanic cones and deep craters, often with crater lakes, such as the Katwe craters, out of which salt is extracted. The Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Uganda, welcoming one of the highest numbers of visitors of any national park in the country each year.