Queen-Elizabeth-Nationalpark

The Queen Elizabeth National Park ( QENP, unofficially also QEP ) is located in western Uganda. It was founded in the year 1952. The park has a size of 1978 km ² and is bordered on the west by Lake Edward and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the north by the Rwenzori Mountains. Parts of the park are in the districts of Kasese, Rubirizi, Rukungiri and Bushenyi.

The plant and animal communities include the areas of life the open savannah, the rainforest, dense papyrus swamps, crater - landscapes and lakes, as well as the two lakes of the East African grave breach, Lake Edward and Lake George. The park is particularly rich in species with about 100 species of mammals and over 600 species of birds.

The best developed is the area around the visitor center on the Mweya peninsula between Lake Edward and the " Kazinga Channel". This flows from Lake George in the East with little slope to Eduardsee in the west of the park. When boating on these natural waterway to provide excellent viewing opportunities for hippos and pelicans as well as migratory birds that spend the winter in Europe here ( migratory birds ).

In areas located on the east of the park gorge " Kyambura Gorge " can be observed habituated chimpanzees and other primate species. In Maramagambo forest, there are also several species of monkeys and giant forest hogs, in the south of the park, in the " Ishasha area ", one can observe crowned cranes, the birds coat of arms of Uganda, and topi. There Lions have the habit of climbing trees. Also interesting is the " Crater Area", there exists grassland before. The crater lakes and salt lakes appear from a distance because of the high Flamingo stocks sometimes pink.

Other typical or known species of the national parks are, for example, Uganda Kobs, African buffalo, elephants, lions and banded mongoose and various kingfishers, fish eagle and Goliath heron.

Buffalo, hippos and birds in the Kazinga Channel Guest

Elephant herd on the Kazinga

Crater Lake National Park

Uganda Kob in the savannah