Queen Elizabeth National Park

The highlight of the national park is a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel. Additionally, in the southern part of the national park, you can even observe tree-climbing lions (though unfortunately, we won’t be able to see them)!

We start with the boat tour and are not disappointed! On the shores of the channel, we witness a true spectacle. Numerous hippos are lying comfortably together, followed closely by a herd of buffalo. 

Next, we observe a single large elephant wading through the shallow water. It is grazing on the bushes at the water's edge. Additionally, the water provides a welcome refreshment. By the way, elephants are excellent swimmers despite their size! Who would have thought 😊

In a small cove, an entire group of elephants is enjoying a bath day. 

The little ones are having a huge amount of fun, joyfully jumping over each other. 

Nile crocodiles are enjoying the view while lying in the bright sun. They could pose a danger to the babies of the hippos and elephants.

However, they are not left unattended.

After that, we set off for an afternoon game drive on land. Whether cranes, waterbucks, gazelles, or buffalo, the area is well populated with various animals.

For this drive in the national park, we have hired a local guide with the rental car. He stays in contact with other safari guides via phone. With his help, we can catch a glimpse of a small pride of lions just before the park closes, albeit from a distance! The grass is quite tall in some areas...

The next day, we embark on a walking safari in the Maramagambo Forest, which is located within the national park. A ranger guides us through the quiet, somewhat secluded forest. We are the only tourists here. 

The forest is home to several species of monkeys, as there are many fig trees here! They are highly sought after by most monkeys 😋Right at the beginning of our hike, we spot red-tailed monkeys in the trees. These monkeys are very shy and quickly hide among the branches as we notice them.

Our guide explains that fig trees colonize other trees like a parasite, slowly wrapping around them and sucking out their nutrients. This struggle can last for years until the host tree eventually dies and the fig tree remains as the shining victor.

Small streams run through the forest. Visually, we feel a bit like on a hike in Altenberg…

Eventually, we arrive at a bat cave. Thousands of bats gather here, and there is a wild commotion!

We keep our distance - the Marburg virus was once discovered here. Since then, cave expeditions are not the best choice 😁

After that, we take a turn above the cave and look down at a lower-lying lake. At this point, the forest looks a bit enchanted. 

In the treetops above us, we spot black-and-white colobus monkeys curiously watching us.

Close by, there is also a group of baboons in the underbrush. As soon as we approach them, they retreat.

 

This walk with the ranger was very beautiful and a great contrast to the safari in the savannah…

After a short break, we drive off to another game drive towards the peninsula at Mweya.

The peninsula juts into the Kazinga Channel. There, we stop at a luxurious lodge. The view of Lake Edward is fantastic, and we are also joined by several warthogs that graze on the lush grass. An overnight stay here probably costs several hundred euros…

It's getting late, and we drive back toward the main road! Halfway there, we have a truly magical encounter: A leopard strolls leisurely along the dusty roadside. We stop with our car - face to face with this majestic big cat!

This awe-inspiring moment lingers with us as we leave the park and continue on the main road toward the town of Fort Portal. We briefly stop while crossing the equator.

What a trip that was! 🤩