Flying safaris to Queen Elizabeth national park
Flying safaris to Queen Elizabeth national park are designed for those that have less time or those that want to avoid the 7-8 hour journey from Kampala/Entebbe. Travelers that are intending to have a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park should know that this is very possible. The national park has Mweya airstrip which in the western side of the park and then Kasese airstrip located outside the park.
Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most loved and visited protected areas in the western side of the country. This national park was gazetted in 1952 making it one of the oldest in the country and it does act as a home to over 95 mammals, 10 primates, and 600 bird species.
It’s in Queen Elizabeth national park that we find the largest water body connecting two lakes and this is Kazinga channel connecting lake Edward and lake George. Queen Elizabeth has a lot to offer and we can’t forget the tree climbing lions which are seen in Ishasha sector of the park.
For travelers that want to have a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth park, we are going to look at different information whivh is necessary for the flying safari to happen, the activities you can be part of while in the park, and the best time you can visit this loved national park
Booking a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park
When it comes to flying safaris, tourists must inform their tour operators in advance that they would like to fly to the park. This is because when it comes to airline companies you must book your seats earlier for proper planning. A tour operator will ask you the dates of the month and year you want to travel and these shall be sent to the airline company to check for the availability of seats.
Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda are companies that organize flights to Queen Elizabeth national park. If they check and find seats available, they will inform the tour operator who will send you the total cost and if you do agree with it, your seats shall be booked after you have confirmed the safari by paying a deposit.
Flights to Queen Elizabeth national park
Different airline companies among which include Bar aviation Uganda and Aerolink Uganda do help tourists access Queen Elizabeth national park in the shortest way possible by helping them fly. The flights to Queen Elizabeth national park last 1 hour and 15 minutes and two airstrips are used which are Mweya airstrip in the park and Kasese airstrip outside the park.
Flights to Queen Elizabeth national park start from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport and land at Mweya airstrip in the west of the park or Kasese airstrip outside the park. Tourists will be picked up from the airstrip by their driver guides to their booked accommodation facility.
Activities to do on flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park
Game drives: This is the most done activity by tourists on a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park. Queen Elizabeth national park is home to over 95 mammals 10 primates and 600 bird species most of which can be seen during the game drives in different areas of the park. There are day game drives and night game drives which are guided by armed ranger guides.
The game drives on a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park will give you an opportunity to see animals such as tree climbing lions, Uganda kobs, bushbucks, buffaloes, lions, duikers, giant forest hogs, topis, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, leopards, elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, waterbucks, sitatungas, side-stripped jackal, olive baboons and monkeys among others.
Bird watching: Over 600 birds have been recorded in Queen Elizabeth national park making it one of the best birding areas in the country. On a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park, bird lovers can be part of the birding activities and armed ranger guides will lead them through the best spots to see several bird species.
Birding in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in areas such as Kyambura gorge, Kasenyi area, Kazinga channel area, Lake George area, Maramagambo forest area, Katunguru bridge area, lake Edward area, Katwe area, among others. June to September, and is the best time to see birds, and maybe April to November for the migratory birds.
Birds of Queen Elizabeth national park include spur-winged goose, yellow-billed duck, Egyptian goose, crested guinea fowl, scaly francolin, red-necked spur fowl, greater flamingo, little grebe, emerald-spotted wood dove, African olive pigeon, laughing dove, common swift, red-knobbed coot, grey crowned and African finfoot among others.
Boat cruise: On a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park, a boat cruise is an activity you don’t miss have to miss out on. The boat cruise is done on Kazinga channel which goes through the park connecting Lake Edward to lake George. The Kazinga channel is home to aquatic animals, birds, and source of water for different park animals.
The Kazinga channel boat cruise goes for 2-3 hours and tourists are able to know different information about the Kazinga channel, Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Gorge, and Lake Edward. The boat cruise gives participants an opportunity to see hippos, crocodiles, and water birds such as wattled plovers, squacco herons, fish eagles, pied kingfishers, African jacana, and open-billed storks among others.
Nature walks: On a flying safari to Queen Elizabeth national park, tourists can be part of nature walk activities during their free time probably after a successful major activity. The nature walks in Queen Elizabeth national park are guided and tourists walk on foot while exploring different areas of the park.
The nature walks are done in areas such as Maramagambo forest, Mweya peninsula, and Ishasha river. Participants are able to see different mammals, primates, birds, vegetation, equator crossing, lake George, Lake Albert, Kazinga channel, craters lakes, and much more.
When to have flying safaris to Queen Elizabeth national park
Travelers can have flying safaris to Queen Elizabeth national park at any time of the year however there are certain months that are better than the rest. The dry season is not only the best season to fly to Queen Elizabeth national park but also the best time to visit the park. Flying safaris are enjoyable from June to September and December to February when there is little or no rainfall with the sky favoring flights, game trucks dry and the vegetation inside the park short with good views of the animals.
Travelers can still have flying safaris to Queen Elizabeth national park in the rainy season of March to May and October to November and it’s the budget travelers who benefit this season because the flights, tour packages, and lodges are discounted. The rainy season comes with a lot of rainfall which can fly flights, game trucks are slippery, and the vegetation is tall with unclear views of animals.
