One of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s most striking features is the Kazinga Channel in Uganda. This little lake connects to the bigger Lake Edward by this narrow river. Streams that originate in the Rwenzori Mountains provide the water in the waterway. These streams supply water to the smaller Lake George, which empties into the bigger Lake Albert via the Kazinga Channel.
The 32-kilometer-long Kazinga Channel is home to a sizable population of hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and birds. It is a fantastic spot to see animals because the majority of the park’s large mammals gather around the channel’s edges to drink, eat, and bathe. The population of hippos one of the three biggest populations in the world is found in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kazinga Channel (1,600).
Regardless of how many you have seen elsewhere, you will be greatly astonished by the sheer quantity here. Aside from hippos, it is easy to spot buffalo, elephants, crocodiles in the Nile, monitor lizards, and other antelope species close to the Channel’s borders. With Naleyo excursions and adventures, the Kazinga Channel draws nearly every species of animal you might imagine seeing on an African safari.
One might even be lucky enough to see lions and leopards relaxing by the channel while they drink with over 58 species, including the African Shoebill; the Kazinga Channel is one of the best places in Uganda to go birdwatching. One of the three biggest populations in the world is found in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kazinga Channel (1,600).
Regardless of how many you have seen elsewhere, you will be greatly astonished by the sheer quantity here. Aside from hippos, it is easy to spot buffalo, elephants, crocodiles in the Nile, monitor lizards, and other antelope species close to the Channel’s borders.
With Naleyo tours and travels, the Kazinga Channel draws nearly every species of animal you might imagine seeing on an African safari. One might even be lucky enough to see lions and leopards relaxing by the channel while they drink.With over 58 species, including the African Shoebill, the Kazinga Channel is one of the best places in Uganda to go birdwatching the slow boat cruise has been organized for tourists to spot several large mammals that come to drink, feed and bathe around the shores.
The boat trip is available in shifts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $30. Each cruise lasts for two hours and starts from a landing site near Mweya Safari Lodge. There are two boat options available for visitors – One can use the smaller but more expensive boat owned by Mweya Safari Lodge or the double-Decker boat owned by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The boat owned by Mweya Safari Lodge is more comfortable and suitable for those who wish to have a more private cruise.One of the interesting things about the slow boat cruise apart from the animals is the chance to stroll by the nearby fishing communities.
As they get ready to depart for the waters in the night, fisherman can be seen getting ready in the late afternoon. Because of the danger posed by hippos, no fishermen are out on the water in the early afternoon. On the other hand, hippos graze on land at night, which gives fisherman the freedom to fish fearlessly. The dry season is the ideal time to visit the Kazinga Channel. More domestic and park animals congregate along the channel during this period, turning it into an oasis where they can drink, cool themselves, and find food. To take quality pictures, it is crucial to bring a good camera on the boat excursion. Of the aquatic life and creatures. Late afternoon is the ideal time to snap pictures.
A three-day Queen Elizabeth Tour, typically arranged by Naleyo Tours & Travels, combines game drives to the park is other regions with a boat ride down the Kazinga Channel. You can opt the 2-day safari in the Queen Elizabeth Package if you think the 3-day excursion is too long. We strongly advise visitors to take advantage of the launch cruise as well as the morning and afternoon game drives through the park’s Ishasha and Kasenyi plains.
The Kasenyi lowlands provide incredible chances to see wildlife amid the stunning natural terrain and plains. The huge animals include elephants and buffaloes. The best is available on the Eastern Kasenyi Plains. Find the typical African lion, which hunts the Uganda Kobs that wander the region. The lions that climb trees are the main draw in the Ishasha area. You can opt for the lion tracking adventure in the Kasenyi area if you are on a 4-day tour of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
How the Kazinga Channel boat tour is organized
Tourists visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park need to sign up for the activities they wish to take part in at the park offices. The activities include game drives in the different part of the park, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge or a launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel.
One needs to select which shift they prefer before there is a reserved seat. Most travelers use a local tour operator to arrange their safari. Using the services of a Tour company is convenient as they help arrange everything (accommodation, transportation) including booking the boat trip. Before setting off to the water, visitors are led to the shores and allocated seats.
Once everyone is on board, an announcement is made in which the captain, crew and guides are introduced to everyone. The guide is very important during the cruise as they help answer all questions related to the channel and the game park.
They are able to give visitors all the facts about the park, birds and animals. After the spotting, all the animals during the two-hour launch cruise; it is time to return to the lodge and park headquarters. By now, everyone has seen all the creatures and is giddy with excitement.