Organizing a fly-in safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Organizing a fly-in safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Organizing a fly-in safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Situated in southern Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is bordered by Kibale Forest National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. It is the second-largest conservation area in Uganda, behind Murchison Falls National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is also one of the best savannah national parks in Uganda for wildlife viewing, and as a result, you have a chance of seeing all four of the Big Four animals on a safari there. Those interested in visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park by domestic aircraft for wildlife watching, boat cruises on Kazinga channel, and community visits, among other things, may arrange a fly-in safari.

Activities and attractions available on a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

On our safaris through Queen Elizabeth National Park, we’ll visit Mweya in the park’s northern section, where you can go on game drives through the Kasenyi plains and take a boat ride on the Kazinga channel. During these activities, you can see a variety of animals, such as elephants, antelopes, waterbucks, topis, lions, leopards, and large herds of buffalo. Those with a passion for primates may embark on a morning or afternoon trip with chimpanzees at Kyambura Gorge.

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.

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.

Cultural Journey

You can see for how the locals are making a livelihood off of the park’s resources by visiting Lake Katwe on your wildlife safari with Queen Elizabeth. 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.

Visitors interested in learning more about local life can participate in the Kasoga community experience project, where members of the community will be happy to share their stories of surviving in close proximity to the park and the challenges they’ve faced in maintaining harmonious relationships with the animals that call it home.

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.

Directions for a fly-in safari into Queen Elizabeth National Park

The quickest way to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park is by plane, since the flight takes around 1 hour and fifteen minutes. The domestic airline operator’s availability and the route you want to take will determine which airport—Kasese, Mweya, or Kihihi—you will need to land at in order to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park. From the mentioned airstrips, you will need to drive a short distance to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park.

From Kasese Airstrip, it is approximately 1-2 hours, from Mweya Airstrip it is 45 minutes (depending on the lodge you are staying at), and from Kihihi Airport, it is 3 hours. You may reach the park sooner if you travel to Mweya Airstrip or Kasese Airport instead of Kihihi. Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield are the starting points for all flights to Queen Elizabeth National Park; the specific airport your flight departs from is determined on the airline you booked with.

Setting up a safari into Queen Elizabeth National Park by plane

A flying safari to the Queen Elizabeth National Park may be arranged and scheduled by us. To begin, please let us know when you intend to travel so that we can inform the local flight operators to see if there are any available routes to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Once we hear back from them, we will tentatively book your flights while you 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. Flights to Queen Elizabeth National Park are offered by many local companies, including fly Uganda and Aero Link Uganda.

Organizing a fly-in safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The price of a one-way ticket to Queen Elizabeth National Park starts at USD283 and a return flight costs USD472, 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.

Accommodations for a safari that takes place in Queen Elizabeth National Park by air

If you’re planning to fly into Queen Elizabeth National Park for 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 plenty of time to get to and from the park, and it will also help you avoid missing your flight due to things like lost luggage or a missed connection.

There is a wide spectrum of prices and quality of accommodations at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Pumba Safari Lodge and Elephant Hab Lodge are two examples of budget alternatives; their nightly rates vary from $90 to $100. Buffalo Safari Lodge and Bush Lodge are two examples of mid-range options; their rates range from $100 to $300. And last but not least, there are 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.

At what times of year is Queen Elizabeth National Park most suited for a fly-in safari?

Since the equator runs across both Queen Elizabeth National Park and Uganda, the country experiences a modified equatorial climate with two distinct rainy seasons; hence, most people believe that the park is at its most beautiful during the dry seasons.

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 fly-in safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, followed by March–May and November, which are the rainiest.

safaris with Katland

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