Explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa by opting for a combined Rwenzori mountaineering safari and wildlife safari in Queen Elizabeth national park. During the combination, you will have your hike up to the highest summit of the mountain – Margherita on mountain Stanley that is protected by Mountain Rwenzori national park and later spice up with a game viewing experience to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Rwenzori hiking is done on the Rwenzori Mountains legendary known as ‘’Mountains of the moon’’ that are protected by Rwenzori mountains national park in the western region of Uganda. With almost 1000 square kilometers in size, the park protects the Africa’s third highest mountain peak – Margherita with many other features like waterfalls, lakes, rivers and glaciers.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park was established in 1991 and later in 1994, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its outstanding natural beauty. It is located in the south-western part of Uganda on the eastern side of the western African rift valley lying along the Uganda’s border with Democratic Republic of Congo. It is situated in the districts of Bundibugyo, Kabarole, and Kasese hosting a number of species like over 70 mammals, and 217 bird species where over 19 of them are Albertine Rift endemics.
Rwenzori hiking experience
Most Rwenzori tours involve trailing through different vegetation zones of the mountain as you cross several natural features like rivers, valleys, rocky hills and lakes. Mountain Rwenzori is made up of various campsites that act as resting places enabling the hikers gain energy for the next day hiking experience. During the hiking process, expect to spot a number of species including mammals, primates, birds and insects. For one to get to the summit of the mountain, you will have to climb through some junior mountain summits including Mount Speke at an altitude of 4,890m, Mount Baker at 4,843, Mount Emin at 4,798m, Mount Gessi at 4,715, and Mount Luigi di Savoia at 4,627 meters.
After or before the mystical challenge on the glaciated mountains, you can combine a wildlife safari at Queen Elizabeth national park in the western region of Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the best destinations in Uganda and Africa at large that offers an exclusive game viewing experiences during park activities. Standing as the second largest national park in Uganda after Murchison falls national park with a size of approximately 1,978 square kilometers, the park spans in the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri.
Queen Elizabeth national park is known for its abundant wildlife including the 4 of the big five African animals – African elephant, African buffalo, lion and leopard. Other animals in the park include the waterbucks, Uganda kob, hippos, topis, and giant forest hog, spotted hyenas, Nile crocodiles, chimpanzees, and others. With an overall of 95 mammal species, the park also provides a home to over 600 bird species like collared prantincole, palm nut vulture, shoebill, swamp flycatcher, pel’s fishing owl and many others.
Activities to do while in Queen Elizabeth National park
There are a number of game viewing activities to do while in Queen Elizabeth national park as add on for the Rwenzori hiking safari. Among the activities include;
Game drives
With over 95 mammal species, Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the best destinations for game viewing experiences in Africa. The experience takes place during different park activities including game driving that involve driving through the park trails and trunks. Game driving can be done at different times of the day like morning, afternoon and evening times. Among the animals to spot during the drive include the 4 of the big 5 African animals – lion, elephants, leopards, and buffalos. Other small animals in the park include Uganda kobs, zebras, antelopes and others.
Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Done on a 32 kilometer channel that links Lake Edward to Lake George – Kazinga channel, boat cruise is also another game viewing activity in Queen Elizabeth national park. The channel is known for attracting variety of water animals such as crocodiles, hippos, elephants and others. Also, Kazinga channel host a lot of birds including the malachite, black bee-eater, long-tailed cormorants, martial eagle, black-rumped and others. Boat cruises at the channel are offered in two sessions and every cruise takes 2 to 4 hours.
Safari walks
As you stretch your muscles during the nature walks in Queen Elizabeth national park, you can as well spot several wildlife species such as warthogs, elephants, zebras, giraffes and many others.
