Kazinga Channel Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The boat cruise in Kazinga Channel, Uganda, found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, near the Rwenzori Mountains, is an exciting safari activity. Kazinga Channel Uganda, is a 32-kilometer freshwater stream that connects Lake Edward to Lake George.

With streams feeding the small Lake George, the water consequently flows into Lake Edward on the south-west, then into the larger Kazinga Channel.

The Kazinga Channel boat cruise began in 1952 and it has been occurring for about two hours between 9 am and 5 pm.

With the captivating boat cruise/launch cruise at the lake, tourists will get the chance to experience the beauty of the Uganda wildlife viewing in their natural habitat, ranging from the colorful bird species to the numerous animals at the water shores.

During your Kazinga Channel boat cruise, get the chance to have an unforgettable experience with the local communities, including the 11 fishing villages around the channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the night when Hippos have gone to graze on land, the fishermen will be left to fish more comfortably.

Uganda Wildlife Authority: The Boat Ride Operators at Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park 

The boat ride operators in Queen Elizabeth National Park are the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Mweya Safari Lodge.

Mweya Safari Lodge provides The Sunbird and the Kingfisher boats, that are both 10- and 12-seaters, respectively for the launch cruise trips.

The Kingfisher boats harbor more of the luxury experiences for visitors during a boat ride, as there are beautiful canopies and refreshments for them.

Wildlife at the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Kazinga boasts a multitude of wildlife species, the most common being the hippos and various Nile crocodiles. The channel protects more than 2,000 hippos, making it known to have the world’s largest concentrations of hippos to watch on a launch cruise.

On the shores of the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park are also other wildlife species, which include more than 100 water birds, for example the African Skimmer, Pink Backed Pelicans, Pied Kingfishers, Goliath Heronsand other animals like buffaloes, Lions and Elephants.

What Animals do you see at the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise? 

The stream is home to various safari animals to watch in your boats during a relaxing experience on a launch cruise and some of them include,

1. Hippos
2. Nile Crocodiles
3. Monitor Lizards
4. Buffaloes
5. Elephants
6. Zebras
7. Lions
8. Giant Forest Hogs
9. Uganda Kob
10. Waterbucks
11. Other Antelopes 

On the other hand, there are nocturnal animals and numerous colorful bird life to watch on a Kazinga Channel boat cruise/launch cruise Uganda, including the following, 

1. Black headed weaver birds
2. Great Cormorants
3. African Skimmers
4. Marabou Stork
5. Jacana birds
6. Yellow-billed Stork birds
7. Goliath Heron birds
8. Pink-backed Pelicans
9. Pied Kingfisher
10. Open Billed Stork birds
11. Fish Eagles
12. Malachite Kingfisher
13. Yellow-billed Stork
14. Long-Tailed Cormorants
15. Goliath ants, among other 

The Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park will thus give visitors the chance to experience a beautiful wildlife viewing experience.

How are the Boat Cruises at Kazinga Channel Arranged?

The boat trips at the Kazinga Channel Uganda can be organized by first choosing a shift for your experience and a seat will be booked for you.

Your Ugandan tour operators can help book and organize for tourists the best safari experience for your Uganda safari tours, as they will also help with transportation and accommodation. Get closer to discover the great mammals like the Elephants, Buffaloes, and Lions.

How Much is Boat Cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park? | How Much Does a Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise Cost? 

A Kazinga Channel boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park costs about US$30 for nonresidents, US$25 for foreign residents, and UGX 30,000 for East African citizens.

Visitors can either book their permit for the boat cruises through the Uganda Wildlife Authority or have your tour operator help book this unforgettable experience in Uganda.

How Much do Boat Safaris in Uganda Cost?

The cost of boat safaris in Uganda depends on the destination visitors go to for your boat cruise experience. Major and other destinations for an amazing boat trip include Kazinga Channel Uganda at Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park at the Victoria Nile, Lake Mburo National Park at Lake Mburo, Lake Victoria and Lake Bunyonyi.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Lake Mburo National Park, foreign non residents pay $30; foreign residents are charged $25; and East African citizens are charged UGX 30,000.

Best Time to Visit the Kazinga Channel

During your Uganda safari, tourists can visit the Kazinga Channel Uganda any time of the year, both in the dry season and in the wet season. However, the destination can best be visited in the dry season, when there are numerous animals and bird species by the water shores, drinking and refreshing in the hot weather.

During the day, it is best to have this safari boat cruise on Kazinga Channel National Park in the afternoon during a relaxing experience while in your boats when the wildlife are many and they have come to refresh by the channel banks.

The dry season is also a good time to enjoy other safari activities like game drives, community visits and nature walks, including those in other destinations. You can get to watch different animals, like the elephants and antelopes, plus birds like the African skimmer, among others.

Time Schedules for the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

The Kazinga Channel boat cruise / boat trip excursions are scheduled for 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm. Mweya safari lodge also however, organizes these boat cruises at 7 pm and at 9 pm. Many visitors go for the afternoon boat cruises after the morning game drives.

What to Pack While for your Visit for the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise in Uganda | What you Need for your Boat at Queen Elizabeth National Park

With the incredible offers of boat cruises from the Kazinga Channel Uganda, visitors will need best things to pack during your safari and tours to experience the Kazinga Channel boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

 They include,

1. Sunscreen lotion
2. Insect repellent
3. Note book and pen
4. Guide book
5. Strong boots
6. Camera for wildlife photography
7. A pair of binoculars
8. Sunglasses
9. A hat or cape
10. A back bag to keep your belongings.

These important things will also be necessary during other safari activities like game drives, nature walks and community visits, among others.

How to Get to Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park

There are two major ways to get to Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park near the Rwenzori Mountains and these are through road transport and air transport.

By road, tourists can travel from Entebbe to Kasese in western Uganda on a 392 km distance for about 7 to 8 hours before connecting to the park.

On the other hand, visitors may also reach Kazinga Channel by air transport to Kasese Airstrip, from where tourists will connect to the park headquarters through your experienced guides, who will lead the visitors for your safari experience at the Kazinga Channel. Alternatively, tourists may have car hire services to transport visitors to the park headquarters.

Where to Stay at Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park offers various places to stay during your trip for the Kazinga Channel boat cruise. These accommodations at Queen Elizabeth Park range from luxury, midrange and budget.

The luxury lodges near Kazinga include, among others, Mweya Safari Lodge, and Kikorongo Safari Lodge, all of which offer amazing services for the luxury northern explorer.

Midrange lodges around this area in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Aardvark Safari Lodge and Sandton Hotel Kasese.

Some of the budget lodges for a relaxing experience in the area during your Uganda safari include the Mweya Hostels, Kazinga Channel View Resort, among others.

Some of these lodges have their surroundings rich with wildlife, for example , the Elephants, Lions and Buffales

Who Owns Mweya Safari Lodge?

Marasa Africa, which is basically a hospitality company, owns and manages Mweya Safari Lodge.

Other Safety Precautions and Things to Note While Going for a Boat Cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park

1. Ask your experienced guides at Queen Elizabeth Park for the best part of the boat, which will give visitors remarkable views and keep tourists safer during your boat trip.
2. Make sure visitors wear sunscreen and insect repellent to protect their skin on your boat trip.
3. Keep your belongings safe during your boat trip experience.

Safari Packages to the Kazinga Channel: Our Most Popular Uganda Trips

Tour packages to Kazinga at Queen Elizabeth National Park are inclusive of the wider wildlife tours in Uganda which may cover Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee trekking, Rhino tracking and game viewing, among others. The adventure may also include community visits and cultural encounters.

Below are some of the different packages to add to your Kazinga Channel boat cruise/boat trip at Queen Elizabeth National Park.

1. The gorilla experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and wildlife safaris at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
2. Uganda wildlife safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park, luxury gorilla fly-in safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park.
3. Uganda wildlife safaris, primate encounters and cultural tours in Uganda.
4. Chimpanzees & gorillas fly on tour.

Boat Trips at the Katunguru Bridge Area

The Katunguru Bridge Area near Kazinga in Queen Elizabeth National Park also offers great boat trip experiences, especially on the canoes.

Through the boat trip at Queen Elizabeth Park, tourists will be able to reach closer to the local people, especially those in fishing village areas, explore their way of life, especially during boat trips to see different animals like elephants, and even have a taste of their fish snacks. These are mostly done in small boats or canoes.

Other Tour Activities at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Other than the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts other exciting safari activity adventures to explore and these include;

1. Game drives on the wide savannah plains
2. Mongoose tracking at Mweya peninsula
3. Nature walks at the Mweya Peninsula, among others
4. Community visits
5. Lion tracking in the Ishasha sector
6. Hippo Census
7. Birding
8. Fishing

Having thoughts about visiting Uganda for a Kazinga channel boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth National Park? We are here to prepare for tourists the best boat cruises during your exciting safari activity explorations. Enjoy the iconic wildlife viewing and nature views by the shores while for the boat trip and get the chance to explore other activities like game drives and the destinations in Uganda.

Book with us your Kazinga channel boat trip today!