Boat cruise on Kazinga channel Queen Elizabeth national park; Boat cruise on Kazinga channel is an interesting and one of the top activities in Queen Elizabeth national park which is the second largest national park in Uganda located in western region in Kamwenge, Rubirizi, Kasese and Rukungiri districts. Queen Elizabeth national park is a home of about 95 mammal species including the famous tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector, buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, leopards, hippos, giant forest hogs, topi, primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons and over 600 bird species.
Kazinga channel is a 32 kilometers long water channel that connects Lake Edward and Lake George and the boat cruise can either be done in the morning at around 9:00am, 11:00am or in the evening at around 2:00pm. During the boat cruise on Kazinga channel which takes about 2 to 3 hours, you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view animals like buffaloes, warthogs, elephants among others drinking water along the shores, view water birds like the African shoebill, open billed stork, marabou stork, pink-backed pelican, black crake, great and long tailed cormorants, hornbills, black bee-eaters, saddle bill stork, African skimmer, Papyrus gonolek, malachite kingfishers, fish eagles among others. During the boat cruise on Kazinga channel, you will also be able to view the fishermen who will be preparing their fishing gears for night fishing, enjoy views of the beautiful scenery, landscape, sunset among others.
Cost of a boat cruise on Kazinga channel
A boat cruise on Kazinga channel costs 30 USD per person for foreign non residents, 25 USD per person for foreign residents and 30,000 UGX per person for East African citizens. School children in a group are charged 450,000 UGX per group and 15,000 UGX per person.
Launch cruise in Queen Elizabeth national park takes a maximum of 40 people and minimum. Boat charge is 120 USD for foreign non residents and foreign residents and 120,000 UGX for East African citizens for a minimum of 4 persons.
Best time to do a boat cruise on Kazinga channel
Boat cruise on Kazinga channel can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February because during this period there is less rainfall in the park therefore many animals will gather around the Kazinga channel to drink water which helps you to view abundant wildlife species and take beautiful pictures.
Boat cruise on Kazinga channel can also be done in the rainy season during the months of march to May and October to November because that’s the best time for bird watching where bird lovers will be able to view variety of colorful, migratory and water bird species.
Other activities in Queen Elizabeth national park
Apart from Kazinga channel boat cruise, Queen Elizabeth national park offers other interesting activities that tourists can engage in during the safari such as game drives where visitors will be able to explore the park in a comfortable safari vehicle, bird watching where visitors will be able to view variety of bird species as Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the top birding destinations, guided nature walks where visitors will be able to explore the park on foot, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge where you will be able to spend time with the chimpanzees, cultural tours, lion tracking experience among others.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park is located in western part of Uganda and can be accessed by both road and air transport means. When using road transport means, you will drive from Kampala via Masaka, Mbarara or Mubende Fort Portal and then to the park headquarters which takes about 7 to 8 hours’ drive in a 4WD safari vehicle.
When using air transport means to access Queen Elizabeth national park, you will book scheduled or charter domestic flights with Aero link Uganda or Bar aviation from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kasese or Mweya airstrip and then connect to the park headquarters by road.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth national park
During your safari in Queen Elizabeth national park, there are a number of accommodation facilities ranging from luxury, midrange and budget where you can stay including Buffalo safari lodge, Twin Lakes safari lodge, Lake Munyanyange Cave Resort, Queen Elizabeth Bush lodge, Irungu Forest safari lodge, Marafiki safari lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Kasenyi Safari Lodge, Pumba safari cottages, Elephant Plains safari lodge, Park view safari lodge, Elephant Hab lodge, Katara lodge, Enganzi lodge, Simba safari camp, Kyambura gorge lodge, Kingfisher lodge, Lake Chibwera camp, Jacana safari lodge, Ihamba safari lodge, Kitandara Hippo Hill lodge, Queen Elizabeth safari lodge, Kazinga Channel View Resort among others.
Boat cruise on Kazinga channel is an exciting activity that shouldn’t be missed during your Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth national park.
