Queen Elizabeth National Park Animals: A Wildlife Spectacle in Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park, located in the southwestern region of Uganda, is renowned for its incredible biodiversity, featuring a diverse range of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. It is the second-largest national park in Uganda, covering approximately 1,978 square kilometers.
These boast a diverse ecosystem including open savannah grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands, to lakes and rivers. These habitats provide a perfect home to different wild species making this park a prime destination for Uganda Wildlife Safaris.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to 95 mammal species, ensuring adventurers exceptional game drives and it also boasts over 600 bird species, inclusive of the rare and iconic Uganda bird. This makes it one of the best safari destinations for birding in Uganda, and a prime choice for all types of travelers, from wildlife enthusiasts to nature lovers.
Explore with us the fascinating animals of Queen Elizabeth National Park, highlighting the various species and their unique characteristics.
Big Five Animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to four of the Big Five animals in Uganda including Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, and Elephants. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to around 250-300 lions, 80-100 leopards, 3,000 elephants, and 2,000 buffaloes, offering rich wildlife experiences to adventurers.
Lions: Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the national parks in Uganda with a significant population of tree-climbing lions making it one of its major attractions.
These are primarily spotted in its Ishasha sector and are best enjoyed during guided game drives. There are unique and rare lion species found in a few parks in the world making them a great deal for all African Wildlife safaris.
They are unique because of their natural adaptations of resting in the tree branches offering visitors an extraordinary wildlife experience. They are best seen active in the morning, evening at night roaming around their habitats in search of prey.
Leopards: These apex predators due to their elusive nature, are usually spotted in the park’s dense woodlands and outcrops most especially during a guided night game drive.
African Elephants: Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a significant population of healthy African elephants seen roaming across its vast plains in herds and forests. They are often spotted near the Kazinga Channel cooling off by the shores and in the Mweya Penisula. This park provides a perfect habitat to these giant mammals on earth making it a great destination to catch a glimpse of them.
African Buffaloes: Queen Elizabeth National Park holds the largest population of buffaloes in Uganda and is often seen grazing in herds along the Kazinga Channel and open savannah grasslands. These herbivores play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem by controlling vegetation and serving as prey for predators such as lions and leopards.
Herbivores in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park is home to an impressive variety of herbivore animals and among those that strictly rely on fruits, plants, and vegetation include the African Elephant, African Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Topi, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Common Warthog, Hippopotamus, Giant Forest Hog, Oribi, Bohor Reedbuck, Sitatunga Antelope, Common Duiker, Yellow-backed Duiker, Red Duiker, and Blue Duiker are some of the prominent herbivores in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Smaller herbivore animals in this stunning park include the Cape Hare, African Savanna Hare, Crested Porcupine, African Brush-tailed Porcupine, Cane Rat, Gambian Pouched Rat, Tree Hyrax, and Rock Hyrax.
Other herbivorous and partially herbivorous animals thriving in the park include Jackson’s Hartebeest, White-bellied Pangolin, Long-tailed Pangolin, African Grass Rat, African Mole Rat, Servaline Genet, African Bush Squirrel, Striped Ground Squirrel, Ruwenzori Sun Squirrel, and Carruthers’ Mountain Squirrel.
Additionally, omnivorous species with a significant herbivorous diet include the Marsh Mongoose, African Civet, Side-striped Jackal, Greater Cane Rat, Thomas’s Bushbaby, Senegal Galago, and African Palm Civet. These species contribute to the park’s rich biodiversity, making it a prime destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
Primates in Queen Elizabeth National Park
In addition to large mammals, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to various primates including Vervet Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Red-tailed Monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys, Patas Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, and Anubis Baboons, which rely largely on plant matter. The notable primates in the park include;
Chimpanzees; These are tracked in the Kyambura Gorge, which is also known as the”Valley of Apes“. This offers visitors an exceptional opportunity to encounter these intelligent primates in their natural habitats.
Vervet monkeys: These are often seen in the park’s less dense woodlands and near lodges going about their daily activities. They are known and loved for their playful nature and black faces.
Baboons: Olive baboons are abundant in the park, living in large troops. They are highly adaptable and can thrive in both forested and open areas.
Birdlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National is a haven for bird lovers boasting over 600 bird species. Notable waterbirds and waders include the iconic the Shoebill, African Open-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, African Spoonbill, Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, and Hadada Ibis are among the remarkable waterbirds found in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park also hosts a variety of herons, including the Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Goliath Heron, Green-backed Heron, Squacco Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Great Egret, and Black-crowned Night Heron.
Waterfowl species such as the White-faced Whistling Duck, Spur-winged Goose, and Egyptian Goose add to the park’s avian diversity.
Additionally, the wetlands and lakes provide a habitat for waders and fish hunters like the African Jacana, Pied Kingfisher, and Malachite Kingfisher.
Raptors and birds of prey in this park include the African Fish Eagle, Palm-nut Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Bateleur Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Martial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Augur Buzzard, African Goshawk, African Hobby, and Grey Kestrel, making it a haven for raptor enthusiasts.
Game Birds & Ground Dwellers include theHelmeted Guineafowl, Crested Francolin, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-bellied Bustard, and Denham’s Bustard, which thrive in its diverse landscapes.
Kingfishers & Bee-eaters include the woodland Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and Northern Carmine Bee-eater, adding bursts of color to its rich birdlife.
Hornbills & Barbets include the African Grey Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Speckled Tinkerbird, Double-toothed Barbet, and Black-billed Barbet.
Weavers & Sunbirds include the Black-headed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver, Village Weaver, Red-billed Quelea, White-browed Robin-Chat, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Green-headed Sunbird, and Variable Sunbird.
Cuckoos & Turacos include the white-browed Coucal, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, Diederik Cuckoo, and Klaas’s Cuckoo, enhancing its rich birdlife with their striking colors and unique calls.
Swallows & Rollers include the Wire-tailed Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Mosque Swallow, European Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, and Broad-billed Roller.
Woodpeckers & Drongos include the Cardinal Woodpecker, Nubian Woodpecker, Grey Woodpecker, African Paradise Flycatcher, and Common Drongo, enriching their birdlife with their distinctive calls and behaviors.
Pigeons & Doves include the African Green Pigeon, Speckled Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Laughing Dove, and the Emerald-spotted Wood Dove.
Miscellaneous includes the Fork-tailed Drongo, Black Cuckoo-Shrike, African Pied Wagtail, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Grey-backed Fiscal, and Pied Crow, adding to its remarkable avian diversity.
Reptiles and Amphibians in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park is also home to numerous reptile and amphibian species. Reptiles in Queen Elizabeth National Park include the Nile Crocodile, African Rock Python, Leopard Tortoise, Red-headed Agama, Nile Monitor, Plated Lizard, Puff Adder, Black Mamba, Gaboon Viper, Boomslang, Green Mamba, Common House Gecko, Tree Skink, Speckled Padloper Tortoise, Brown House Snake, Green Tree Snake, Horned Viper, and Bibron’s Gecko.
Amphibians include the East African Bullfrog, Mottled Leaf Frog, Common Reed Frog, Xenopus (African Clawed Frog), African Tree Frog, and various species of toads, enriching its diverse ecosystems.
Conservation Efforts in Queen Elizabeth National Park
To protect the park’s wildlife, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has implemented various conservation measures, including anti-poaching patrols, community engagement programs, and sustainable tourism initiatives. These efforts aim to preserve the park’s rich biodiversity for future generations.
Best Time to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for Wildlife Viewing
The best time to see Queen Elizabeth National Park animals is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February, when animals congregate around water sources, making wildlife viewing easier.
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness a diverse array of wildlife in their natural habitat. From the iconic tree-climbing lions to the abundant birdlife and thriving hippo populations, the park provides an unforgettable safari experience. Whether you are interested in large mammals, primates, or birdwatching, this park has something for every nature lover.