Leopard Tracking In Queen Elizabeth national park is known as an exquisite park that spans on an average area of 1978 square kilometers with a quite range of mammal species such as forest hogs, buffaloes, elephants, bushbucks, Thomson gazelle, Hippos, crocodiles, primates, reptiles, birds and many others and because of its diverse nature, the park has a lot going on for adventure. Leopard tracking was yet added on one of the experiences in Queen to supplement Lion tracking along with other interesting activities.
Leopard tracking is currently only in queen Elizabeth national among the 10 existing national parks, the leopards roam freely within the park and at other times tourists hardly spot any. There fore this experience was introduced for those who would not want to leave the park without spotting the big cat.
This activity is done as you track the leopards fitted with a collar on the radio tracking them from their hide out with the help of experienced guides and rangers together with researchers, this experience helps to note the distinctive nature of the leopards, they are shy and calm. The researchers will help you spot out a few distinctive features of the leopards, during mating you will be able to spot a male and female together or else the female with its young ones.
Leopards stop hunting for their young ones when they wean, they leave them to survive on their own. In brief, leopards are solitary in nature and loners. Most times you will spot only one leopard unless it’s a mating season. Leopards wear a skin of beautiful dotted rosettes with fierce eyes, they are small in size compared to other cats’ families, they also belong to the big 5 families, therefore spotting a leopard is a dream come true on an African safari. Leopards live in the open savannah. Other than leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park, they can still be spotted in Murchison falls national, Lake Mburo national park, Kidepo valley National park, and on rare occasions in Kibale forest national park on an evening guided nature walk.
Cost of leopard tracking
Leopard tracking in Queen Elizabeth cost usd 100 for non-foreign residents and 100,000 ugx for East African citizens. Reservations through a tour operator at Africa Tours Adventure at the park office quarters or at Uganda wild life offices. This helps to organize a well tailor made itinerary when you book with a tour operator.
Other activities in Queen Elizabeth national park
Game drive viewing, the only way to feel you are in an open savannah park is if you participate in game drives. Queen has over 70 mammal species possible to spot have of them during a game drive along Mweya peninsula and kasenyi track. Some of the mammal species to see include Buffaloes, elephants, kobs, impala, gazelle, Elands, bushbuck, waterbuck, warthogs, mongooses, lions, hyenas among many others. The game drives are either early morning before predators return to their hideout and in the evening as nocturnal get out of their caves,
Primate walk, the diverse park is not only for mammals but also a quite number of primates including our little small cousins the chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, patus monkeys, and many others. Chimpanzee takes place in kyambura gorge, the deep narrow valley with a dramatic view. Alternatively, you could also track the primates in Kariju Forest with Queen Elizabeth national park managed by National Forest Authority. During the primate walk, it’s possible to discover the adulating landscape of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Launch cruise, cool of the day with yet another yet thrilling experience on kazinga channel where Lake Edward meets Lake George. While on the launch cruise you will be able to spot Hippos, crocodiles, variety of waterbird species such as Open-Billed Stork, Pink-Backed Pelicans, saddle bill stork, African Shoebill, Yellow-Billed Stork, Long-Tailed Cormorants, Darters, pelicans, Jacana, and African Fish eagle, several mammal species gathered at the bank of the lake for irrigation.
Birding, queen has a big number of bird species in a total of over 600. Several bird spots with in the park enable see birds on your check list. Some of these places include kasenyi plains, kazinga channel, maramagambo forest, lake katwe Salt Lake, kyambura gorge, and many others. Notable birds are papyrus gonolek, saddle-billed stork, African skimmer, Black-headed gonolek, Chapin’s flycatcher, African broadbill, papyrus canary, white-winged warbler, Flamingo, Black bee-eater among others.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth national park
The park is located on the western border of Uganda, it can be accessed by road and Air transport.
By road, the queen is accessed through Mbarara-Bushenyi, Kasese route in 6 hours’ drive time you are in the park
Alternatively, through Mubende, Fort Portal, Kasese about 4-5 hours you are within Queen National park. There are also other access routes in case you are in a circuit tour from other national parks.
By Air, there are scheduled charter flights direct to the park with Aero link from Entebbe or kajjasi airstrip to Mweya and kasese airstrip.
