How to organize a flying safari to Mweya and Ishasha.
If you’re interested in seeing animals, taking a boat ride on the Kazinga channel, and seeing local communities, among other things, in both the northern and southern parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park, then a flying safari to Mweya and Ishasha is the way to go. Located in southern Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is bisected down the middle by the Mweya and Ishasha sectors; it shares borders with Rwenzori, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Kibale Forest National Parks.
Although both sectors provide excellent opportunities to see wildlife, including all five of the Big Five, a flying safari to Mweya is the best way to see the distinctive tree-climbing lions in the southern sector, Ishasha.
Among the top savannah national parks in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a variety of animals, including the rare tree-climbing lions, which you may spot on your aerial safari to Mweya and Ishasha. The park is the second-largest conservation area in Uganda, behind Murchison Falls National Park.
A flying safari to Ishasha and Mweya: what to see and do while there.
If you arrange for a flying safari to Mweya and Ishasha, they will transport you to the northern and southern regions of Victoria Falls National Park. On your wildlife viewing and boat cruise on Kazinga channel, you can see a variety of animals, including large herds of buffalo, elephants, Uganda kos, antelopes, waterbucks, topis, and, depending on your luck that day, lions and leopards.
The northern part of the park is popularly known as Mweya. While you’re here, you can also go on game drives in the Kasenyi plains and Mweya. Primatologists may choose between morning and afternoon treks in Kyambura Gorge to see chimpanzees. The southern region is well-known as Ishasha, and it’s a great place to see wildlife like tree climbing lions. If you’re interested in community tours, you can stop by the Ishasha Uplift project, where you can meet locals, learn about the project, and see what they’re up to.
Safaris in the Mweya Sector and the Kansenyi Plains
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Mweya and Kansenyi plains are home to a variety of species, including a large population of the peculiar and unusual Euphorbia, or “candelabra” tree, which is native to Uganda. On your way to see the animals, you may enjoy the picturesque scenery of the surrounding mountain ranges and crater lakes. We can help you plan a plane trip to Ishasha and Mweya if you contact us.
Ishasha Sector Game Drives – Mweya Area of Queen Elizabeth
Among the many species found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ishasha sector is home to the rare Tree Climbing lions. Indulge in a sundowner safari while taking in the breathtaking scenery of the wide savannah and the untamed nature.
Exploring the Kazinga Channel by Boat
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the perfect place for a relaxing boat ride in the Kazinga Channel. You may come across warthog families, elephant herds, buffalo herds, antelope herds, hippos, and crocodiles lounging on the beach. Birds abound along the coasts of Kazinga, especially those species that stop there on their journey south to warmer climes.
The picturesque Mweya Peninsula and the fishing communities that dot its shores are other great sights to see throughout the voyage. There are three times each day when boat cruises may be booked in Kazinga Channel. Two, three, or four o’clock in the afternoon are all viable options for you. These boat tours are offered by several firms, and the rates are all over the map. The Marasa and Uganda Lodges are run by UWA, in addition to the boats. Get in touch with our bookings staff if you need any more details.
Sailing across the Kazinga Channel
Cultural Tour – Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
If you’re on a wildlife safari with Queen Elizabeth in the Mweya and Ishasha sectors, you may stop at Lake Katwe to see how the locals are making money off of the park’s resources. The fact that it is one of the parks where humans and animals live side by side is more proof that Queen Elizabeth National Park deserves that honor.
In Mweya, the Kasoga community experience project and in Ishasha, the Ishasha Uplift project, locals will tell you about the challenges of living near the park and how they’ve learned to live in harmony with the animals. You’ll also get to see traditional dances and cultural encounters.
Witnessing the Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge
One of the main things people do at Queen Elizabeth National Park is track chimpanzees. You may do this at the Park’s Kyambura Gorge. Depending on your schedule and the activities planned, we may arrange for the permits and the journey to see the chimpanzees, which often take place in the mornings and afternoons.
Spending more time at Queen Elizabeth National Park will allow you to engage in all the specified activities, ensuring a terrific and unforgettable experience. Please let us know what you’re interested in, and we’ll send you all the necessary information when you send us an email.
Exploring the Birds
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the top places in Uganda to go birding. The park is home to more than 700 bird species, including endemic birds of the Albertine Rift, water birds, and savannah birds.
The best times to see these birds are during game drives and boat rides on Kazinga Channel. Collared pratincole, Pel’s fishing-owl, Rare swamp flycatcher, Grey-crowned crane (Uganda’s national bird), Giant heron, Shoebill stork, Abyssinian ground hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black-headed Lapwing, Back-bellied Bustard, Giant heron, African jacana, Secretary bird, and many more birds can be found throughout the area.
Guidelines for a flying safari to Mweya and Ishasha
The most convenient way to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park is via plane, since the flight to either Mweya or Kasese takes around 1 hour and fifteen minutes. You may reach either Mweya or Ishasha by taking a domestic flight to Kasese Airport, Mweya Airstrip, or Kihihi Airport; which one you choose will depend on the schedule and routes offered by your airline.
Getting to the park from any of the mentioned airstrips will require a short drive. From Kasese Airstrip, it’s about 1-2 hours, from Mweya Airstrip about 45 minutes (depending on the lodge you’re staying at), and from Kihihi Airport, it’s about 3-4 hours.
You may reach the park sooner if you travel to Mweya Airstrip or Kasese Airport rather than Kihihi. The starting point of your flying safari to Mweya and Ishasha will be determined by the operator you have booked with; however, all flights depart from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield.
Organizing a plane trip to Ishasha and Mweya
Getting to Mweya and Ishasha by air safari is something we can arrange. Please let us know when you’re planning to travel so that we can inform the local flight operators to see if any flights to Mweya, Kihihi, or Kasese Airport are available. Once we hear back from them, we’ll tentatively book your flight while we wait for you to confirm and pay.
If you prefer a more private flight, you can arrange for a charter flight to land at a smaller airfield, which will cut down on the distance you have to drive to get to your lodge after a day of exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Air Uganda and Aero Link Uganda are two of the main domestic carriers that provide flights to Mweya, Kasese, and Kihihi. Flight prices to Mweya, Kasese, or Kihihi start at USD283 for a one-way ticket and go up to USD472 for a return ticket, depending on the route you choose. Once you touch down at the airport, one of our guides or cars will be ready to whisk you away to your lodge, where you may enjoy game drives and other activities.
Accommodation options for a flying safari to Ishasha and Mweya
If you’re planning to fly to Mweya and Ishasha on your safari, it’s a good idea to spend the night in Entebbe or Kampala before your safari starts or ends. This will give you time to adjust to the time of your flight, make sure you don’t miss your connection, and more.
There is a wide price range for lodges in Mweya, from the most affordable (90–100 USD per person per night) to the most luxurious (300 USD per person per night). Some examples of the more affordable options are Pumba Safari Lodge and Elephant Hab Lodge. Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Mazike Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, and Mweya Safari Lodge are just a few of the luxurious alternatives available, with prices ranging from $300 to $400 per person per night.
You may find lodges in Ishasha that are affordable, moderate, and luxurious. From $90 to $100 per night, you may stay at Topi Safari Lodge or On the River Lodge Ishasha, among other budget alternatives; from $100 to $300 per night, you can stay at Ishasha Jungle Lodge or Enjojo Lodge, among other mid-range options; and then there are the more expensive options. Prices for five-star accommodations, such as Ishasha Wilderness Camp, start at $300 to $400 per person per night.
When would you recommend planning a flight safari to Mweya and Ishasha?
People often think that the driest times to visit Mweya and Ishasha are in the spring and fall since Uganda has a modified equatorial climate with two rainy seasons, and the equator runs through both the park and Uganda.
This is correct, since driving into the park to see animals becomes more difficult during rainstorms due to the pathways being too slick. December–February and June–October are the driest months to plan a flying safari to Mweya and Ishasha, followed by March–May and November, which are the wettest.
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