Kazinga Channel Boat Launch
Edward and George are the 915-meter, 36-kilometer Kazinga Channel, a wildlife magnet for species sheltered inside Queen Elizabeth National Park renowned to have the largest population of hippos worldwide, on the rift valley floor linking lakes in western Uganda. Popular tourist destination and main highlight of the park is Kazinga Channel.
Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park
A boat launch on Kazinga Channel defines every safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Visitors may see pods of hippos at close range, observe over 60 waterbird species, and marvel at the well-known sunbathing Nile crocodiles, elephants, and many other species that go to the channel for drink.
Kazinga creek divides the attractions of the park into two uneven visitor loops. The Ishasha sector, which is rich in wildlife and famed for its tree-climbing lions, Maramagambo Forest, Kyambura Gorge—a chimp tracking destination, and Katunguru settlements stretches more broadly south of the canal.
The most fulfilling areas for animal watching on the smaller north of the canal include Kasenyi, Katwe, Katunguru, Mweya, Kikorongo, and the Kichamba Escarpment.
Linking the two sides is a 50km length of paved Kasese-Ishaka Road across the Kazinga Channel at Katunguru Bridge between Kikorongo in the north and the Kalinzu project in the south. With a few outliers going off the main route up to 20km, almost all camps and lodges catering the northern region reside beside this road; visitors may drive to Kazinga Channel from any camp within one hour.
Kazinga Channel Boat safari
The most often sought-after activity in Queen Elizabeth is the two-hour boat launch in Kazinga Channel. Starting from the pier below Mweya Safari Lodge northeast of Lake Edward, the boat excursion follows the 35-km waterway to Lake Gorge.
A fantastic journey, the boat launch offers a terrific chance to go near to nature in the comfort of the boat. Hippo pods, elephants, buffalo, Uganda kob, and waterbuck are readily seen by visitors. Suddenly one may often find the enormous forest hog, leopard, and lion. One with a sharp eye will find the large monitor lizards in the riverine vegetation and the crocodile lazing in the midday heat.
Viewing water birds—which throng the coastlines such the pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed stork, plovers, pink-backed pelicans, and white bullied cormorants typically requires Kazinga Channel.
The two boat launches on the waterway are run by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Mweya Safari Lodge; UWA charges $30 per and Mweya a bit less but with more luxurious boats.
While the Mweya boats depart at 1100, 1400, and 1615 additionally at 0800 and 0900 by special request, UWA boat cruises on Kazinga Channel leave everyday at 0900, 1100, 1300, 1500, and 1800.
Particularly on dry, hot days when the blazing sun pushes towards the Kazinga Channel to drink and wash, you are more likely to have excellent elephant sighting if you catch on the 1400 and 1500 departures.
The dry heat also greatly increases the chances of seeing predators.Getting Here
Passing via Masaka, Marara, and Bushenyi cities, a trip from Kampala along the 309km evenly paved road takes 6-8 hours. On the other hand, you may travel the 400 km Mubende-Fort Portal-Kasese route, which roughly takes the same time. The latter makes sense for chimpanzee treking safaris in Kibale National Park close to Fort Portal city.
Ideally, you may drive 40 km (30 minutes) to Kazinga Channel after cutting the travel time with a regional scheduled aircraft from Entebbe International Airport and Kasese Airstrip, which takes around 1.5 hours.
Kanzinga Safari Choices
Any safari visitor to Queen Elizabeth National Park should not miss Kazinga Channel. Particularly along the Mabara-Kasese highway, the north and southern sections of the park provide excellent hotel choices.
Usually including on Uganda gorilla safari itineraries from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park allows guests to observe the amazing tree-climbing lions. A couple of these excursions will fly south to the bigger Murchison Falls National Park; most of them continue north to Kibale National Park for the chimpanzee tracking experience.
Adventurers will explore Kazinga Channel, stay a few nights in Queen Elizabeth National Park, then continue west to Rwenzori Mountain National Park to test mountain climbing.
We provide tailored safaris to Queen Elizabeth National Park, and almost all of our excursions will have a boat launch on Kazinga Channel. To help you create a unique safari in Uganda that fits your tastes, contact our committed travel specialists. We will provide you the most recent information on visiting this amazing wilderness paradise and organizing all ground transportation for your trip.
