Day 7 – Animal Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasese)

We woke up early in Queen Elizabeth National Park and a cup of coffee fueled us for the morning safari drive, where we opened up our Land Cruiser top and to spot animals. Our drive started at 0630 and we returned around 1000. We actually ended up seeing more variety the night before, but here’s what we found that morning:

Sunrise at Queen Elizabeth Park

Morning Animal Safari Morning Animal Safari Morning Animal Safari Morning Animal SafariMorning Animal Safari

We then settled back in for breakfast and a nap. We found some amazing creatures to keep us company over our delicious breakfast (little yellow birds).

Friends at breakfast Friends at breakfast

After, we were transported to the hotel’s dock at 1400 for a boat cruise for more wildlife spotting. The cruise took 2 hours and slowly floated down the Kasinga channel towards Lake George. The channel was rich with animal and bird life – we saw at least 10 different types of birds, elephant herds, a forest boar, buffalo, hippos, alligators, and a monitor lizard.

Kazinga Channel Cruise Kazinga Channel Cruise Kazinga Channel Cruise

Kazinga Channel Cruise

Kazinga Channel Cruise

Kazinga Channel Boat Ride Kazinga Channel Boat Ride

We came back from the boat ride at 1630 and Robert suggested we go on a special “research” experience to find the lions that we had to date missed out on.  The lion experience was $50 per person, and was arranged through the National Park office. We had an armed escort and a tracker with an antenna to locate collared lions (not all lions were collared). We were told that these experiences were part of research activities, but no researcher came with us and it was 100% pure tourism. However, I highly recommend you do this because you are practically guaranteed to be within 30 feet of a lion.

We got to see a lone female, and observed her for about 15 minutes as she cleaned herself and rolled around in the tall grass. Her name was Lina.

Lion experience Lion experience Lion experience

Then we moved on to find another female – but to our surprise the tracked took us to a female that wasn’t collared. Therefore we deduced that the collared one must be nearby. The uncollared female eventually led us to the lion pride, which included the collared female – the “big mama” (grandmother) – and several cubs. 6 in total.

Lion experience Lion experience Lion experience

After observing them for about 30 minutes, through several views and approaches, we rolled off as sunset began, extremely satisfied with what we saw that day.

Lion experience

A huge bbq dinner awaited us at the hotel around 2030 when we finally made it back and showered. A Kenyan Tusker beer was the perfect, well-earned night-cap as we enjoyed our food.

CJ

About therestlessroad

The tar in the street starts to melt from the heat And the sweats runnin’ down from my hair I walked 20 miles and I’m dragging my feet And I’ll walk 20 more I don’t care And I’ll wander this world, wander this world Wander this world, wander this world all alone I’m like a ghost some people can’t see Others drive by and stare A shadow that drifts by the side of the road It’s like I’m not even there And I’ll wander this world, wander this world Wander this world, wander this world all alone Well I’ve never been part of the game The life that I live is my own All that I know is that I was born To wander this world all alone, all alone Some people are born with their lives all laid out And all their success is assured Some people work hard all their lives for nothin’ They take it and don’t say a word They don’t say a word Sometimes it’s like I don’t even exist Even God has lost track of my soul Why else would he leave me out here like this To wander this world all alone And I’ll wander this world, wander this world Wander this world, wander this world all alone –Jonny Lang, “Wander This World”

One thought on “Day 7 – Animal Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasese)

  1. JJ1

    Thanks for sharing the memories.

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