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Kazinga Channel Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kazinga Channel Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park is a 32km long stream that links Lake George and Lake Edward.

Through this channel, Lake George the smaller lake in the North East pours its water into Lake Edward the larger lake in the South West.

Various streams from the Rwenzori Mountains in the North feed Lake George. Subsequently, Lake George flows through the Kazinga Channel to Lake Edward.

The main tourist attraction at Kazinga Channel is the Hippos which you can see on a Kazinga Channel boat trip.

This stream holds the highest concentration of Hippos in the world!

Over 5000 hippos make up a school that tourists delight in researching during their Queen Elizabeth National Park safari.

In 2005, many hippos were killed in Kazinga Channel due to an anthrax outbreak. However, their number still grew to tremendous levels, consequently attracting many visitors for Uganda tours.

It is not just these large semi-aquatic mammals that busk in the waters; the river also hosts most of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s wildlife in the dry season.

Along the shores of the channel, you will closely spot herds of African Bush Elephants taking a refreshing bath.

Cape Buffaloes will be wallowing in mad, snapping Nile Crocodiles trying their trick hunt, and many Waterbucks and Uganda Kobs. Many water monitor lizards also visit the riverine shrubs.

However, Giant Forest Hogs, Lions, and Leopards are occasional visitors to the channel.

Kazinga Channel Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park also attracts several unique species of aquatic birds. The International Birding Organisation categorizes it among the important birding areas in Africa.

In fact, the Kazinga Channel boat trip is considered one of the great bird-watching trips in the world.

Major birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park to see on the Kazinga Channel cruise during your Uganda birding tour are Storks, Kingfishers, and Eagles.

As you tour Uganda, you will realize that the Kazinga channel is one of the top tourist attractions in Uganda.

The channel is the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park and visitors describe it as “magical” based on the guest reviews on Trip advisor. “Kazinga Channel got a lot to offer when it comes to sights and sounds!” one visitor commented.

Book your trip now to the prestigious Kazinga Channel and get to experience this Uganda nature for yourself.

Where Is Kazinga Channel Located | Kazinga Channel Location

Kazinga Channel Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in Western Uganda’s Kasese District. It lies at an altitude of 914m above sea level.

Lake George borders the stream in the North East, Lake Edward in the West, and the Kasenyi-Mweya sector in the North.

Kazinga Channel Uganda is about 430km away from Entebbe by road.

Main Tourist Attraction At Kazinga Channel Uganda In Queen Elizabeth National Park

The main tourist attraction at Kazinga Channel is the large school of Hippos.

The stream is termed the kazinga channel hippo paradise because it is where the highest concentration of Hippos in the world is found.

The 32km river is an important wetland in Africa that the Ramsar Site Convention recognizes and protects because of its large diversity of wildlife.

Other famous attractions in this river, thus, include various animals and birds as we see below.

Other Major Uganda Wildlife Along Kazinga Channel

  1. Cape Buffaloes
  2. Nile Crocodiles
  3. African Elephants
  4. Uganda Kobs
  5. Water Monitor Lizards
  6. Bushbucks
  7. Waterbucks
  8. Giant Forest Hogs
  9. Lions
  10. Leopards

Kazinga Channel Birds In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Visitors can spot various Uganda bird species on the Kazinga Channel as seen below,

·  Angola Swallow

· Plain Martin

· African Skimmer

· Black-headed Gull

· Pied Kingfisher

· African Darter

· Little Ringed Plover

· Collared Pratincole

· Common House-Martin

· Violet-backed Starling

· Black-headed Weaver

· Village Weaver

· Egyptian Goose

· Horus Swift

· Gray-hooded Gull

· Slender-billed Weaver

·  Cape Wagtail

·  Common Sandpiper

· Northern Gray-headed Sparrow

· Little Egret

· Squacco Heron

· White-backed Vulture

· Malachite Kingfisher

· Red-billed Quelea

· White-fronted Plover

· Knob-billed Duck

· Helmeted Guineafowl

· Black Crake

· Wattled Lapwing

· Red-throated Bee-eater

· Madagascar Bee-eater

· Gray-backed Fiscal

· Banded Martin

· Brown Babbler

· Black-crowned Waxbill

· Yellow-throated Longclaw

· Red-eyed Dove

· White-winged Tern

· African Fish-Eagle

· Green Woodhoopoe

· White-throated Bee-eater

· Black Sawwing

· Yellow-throated Greenbul

·  Green White-eye

·  Rüppell’s Starling

· African Stonechat

·  Little Weaver

· House Sparrow

· Lesser Flamingo

· Ring-necked Dove

· Dideric Cuckoo

· Long-toed Lapwing

·  Crowned Lapwing

· Caspian Plover

· Green Sandpiper

· African Openbill

· Long-tailed Cormorant

· Little Bee-eater

· Double-toothed Barbet

· Pied Crow

· Wire-tailed Swallow

· Arrow-marked Babbler

· Red-billed Oxpecker

· White-browed Robin-Chat

· Yellow-bellied Waxbill

· Common Waxbill

· Quailfinch

· Western Yellow Wagtail

· African Pied Wagtail

· African Pipit

· Scaly Francolin

· Greater Flamingo

· Eastern Plantain-eater

·  White-browed Coucal

· Senegal Thick-knee

· Marabou Stork

· Great Cormorant

· Pink-backed Pelican

· Purple Heron

· Lizard Buzzard

· Blue-naped Mousebird

· Common Scimitarbill

· Chestnut Wattle-eye

· Black-headed Gonolek

· African Blue Flycatcher

· Buff-bellied Warbler

· White-winged Swamp Warbler

· Lesser Striped Swallow

· Common Bulbul

· Northern Black-Flycatcher

· Red-chested Sunbird

· White-faced Whistling-Duck

· Crested Francolin

·  Common Quail

·  Red-necked Francolin

· Laughing Dove

· Blue-spotted Wood-Dove

· Tambourine Dove

· Klaas’s Cuckoo

· Red-chested Cuckoo

· Alpine Swift

· Little Swift

· White-rumped Swift

·  Gray Crowned-Crane

· Water Thick-knee

· Black-winged Stilt

· Spur-winged Lapwing

· Brown-chested Lapwing

· Kittlitz’s Plover

· Common Ringed Plover

· Lesser Jacana

· Ruddy Turnstone

· Ruff

· Little Stint

· Wood Sandpiper

· Small Buttonquail

· Gull-billed Tern

· Woolly-necked Stork

· Great White Pelican

· Black-headed Heron

· Cattle Egret

· African Sacred Ibis

· Hadada Ibis

· African Harrier-Hawk

· Palm-nut Vulture

· Bateleur

· Brown Snake-Eagle

· Long-crested Eagle

· African Hawk-Eagle

·  Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl

· Speckled Mousebird

· Woodland Kingfisher

· Blue-breasted Bee-eater

· Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

· Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

· Red-fronted Barbet

· Spot-flanked Barbet

· African Gray Woodpecker

Gray Kestrel

· Brown-throated Wattle-eye

· Chinspot Batis

· Northern Puffback

· Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher

· Rufous-naped Lark

· Northern Crombec

· Green-backed Camaroptera

· Red-faced Cisticola

· Chubb’s Cisticola

· Winding Cisticola

· Carruthers’s Cisticola

· Zitting Cisticola

· Lesser Swamp Warbler

· Bank Swallow

· Barn Swallow

· White-throated Blue Swallow

· Rufous-chested Swallow

· White-headed Sawwing

· Black-lored Babbler

· Yellow-billed Oxpecker

· Wattled Starling

· Swamp Flycatcher

· Ashy Flycatcher

· Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat

· Baglafecht Weaver

· Spectacled Weaver

· Vieillot’s Weaver

· Golden-backed Weaver

· Southern Red Bishop

· Gray-headed Nigrita

· Red-billed Firefinch

· African Firefinch

· Pin-tailed Whydah

· Brimstone Canary

· Spur-winged Goose

· Little Grebe

· Great Crested Grebe

·  Afep Pigeon

· Rameron Pigeon

· Mourning Collared-Dove

· Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

· African Green-Pigeon

· Black-bellied Bustard

·  Great Blue Turaco

· Black-billed Turaco

· Blue Malkoha

· Great Spotted Cuckoo

· Levaillant’s Cuckoo

·  African Emerald Cuckoo

· African Cuckoo

· Long-tailed Nightjar

· Square-tailed Nightjar

· Mottled Spinetail

· Common Swift

· African Palm-Swift

· African Crake

· Eurasian Moorhen

· Senegal Lapwing

· Three-banded Plover

· African Jacana

· Black-tailed Godwit

· Curlew Sandpiper

· Sanderling

· Common Snipe

· African Snipe

· Common Greenshank

· Marsh Sandpiper

· Temminck’s Courser

· Lesser Black-backed Gull

· White Stork

· Saddle-billed Stork

· Yellow-billed Stork

· Hamerkop

· Dwarf Bittern

· Gray Heron

· Goliath Heron

· Great Egret

· Intermediate Egret

· Malagasy Pond-Heron

· Striated Heron

· Black-crowned Night-Heron

· Glossy Ibis

· African Spoonbill

· Osprey

· Black-winged Kite

· White-headed Vulture

· Lappet-faced Vulture

· Hooded Vulture

· Black-chested Snake-Eagle

· Banded Snake-Eagle

· Martial Eagle

· Wahlberg’s Eagle

· Tawny Eagle

· Eurasian Marsh-Harrier

· African Marsh-Harrier

·  African Goshawk

· Shikra

· Little Sparrowhawk

· Black Goshawk

· Black Kite

· Common Buzzard

· Eurasian Hoopoe

· Crowned Hornbill

· African Gray Hornbill

· White-crested Hornbill

· White-bellied Kingfisher

· African Pygmy Kingfisher

· Gray-headed Kingfisher

· Giant Kingfisher

· Black Bee-eater

· Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

· European Bee-eater

· Northern Carmine Bee-eater

· Broad-billed Roller

· Speckled Tinkerbird

· Yellow-throated Tinkerbird

· Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

· Hairy-breasted Barbet

· White-headed Barbet

· Least Honeyguide

· Elliot’s Woodpecker

· Cardinal Woodpecker

· Nubian Woodpecker

· Eurasian Hobby

· African Hobby

· Lanner Falcon

· Peregrine Falcon

· Red-headed Lovebird

· Gray Parrot

· Black Cuckooshrike

· Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike

· Western Black-headed Batis

· African Shrike-flycatcher

· Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher

· Black-crowned Tchagra

· Brown-crowned Tchagra

· Tropical Boubou

· Papyrus Gonolek

· Fork-tailed Drongo

· African Paradise-Flycatcher

· Northern Fiscal

· Piapiac

· Flappet Lark

· White-tailed Lark

· Red-capped Lark

· Green Crombec

· Moustached Grass-Warbler

· Green Hylia

· White-chinned Prinia

· Yellow-breasted Apalis

· Tawny-flanked Prinia

· Gray-capped Warbler

· Whistling Cisticola

· Trilling Cisticola

· Croaking Cisticola

· Siffling Cisticola

· Greater Swamp Warbler

· Highland Rush Warbler

· Rock Martin

· Red-rumped Swallow

· Mosque Swallow

· Little Greenbul

· Purple-headed Starling

· Splendid Starling

· African Thrush

· African Dusky Flycatcher

· Spotted Flycatcher

· Dusky-blue Flycatcher

· Gray Tit-Flycatcher

· Brown-backed Scrub-Robin

· Red-backed Scrub-Robin

· Gray-winged Robin-Chat

· Whinchat

· Mocking Cliff-Chat

· Sooty Chat

· Northern Wheatear

· Green Sunbird

· Collared Sunbird

· Green-headed Sunbird

· Blue-headed Sunbird

· Green-throated Sunbird

· Scarlet-chested Sunbird

· Bronze Sunbird

· Olive-bellied Sunbird

· Mariqua Sunbird

· Purple-banded Sunbird

· Copper Sunbird

· Orange Weaver

· Northern Brown-throated Weaver

· Lesser Masked-Weaver

· Compact Weaver

· Cardinal Quelea

· Black-winged Bishop

· Black Bishop

· White-winged Widowbird

· Fan-tailed Widowbird

· Bronze Mannikin

· White-breasted Nigrita

· Crimson-rumped Waxbill

· Green-winged Pytilia

· Village Indigobird

· Plain-backed Pipit

·  Yellow-fronted Canary

· Papyrus Canary

· Golden-breasted Bunting

· Yellow-billed Duck

· Crested Guineafowl

· Ross’s Turaco

· Black Coucal

· Pied Avocet

· Greater Painted-Snipe

· Temminck’s Stint

·  Terek Sandpiper

· Common Redshank

·  Whiskered Tern

· Abdim’s Stork

· Little Bittern

· Black Heron

·  Secretarybird

· Rüppell’s Griffon

· Crowned Eagle

· Pallid Harrier

· Montagu’s Harrier

· Augur Buzzard

· African Dwarf Kingfisher

· Blue-breasted Kingfisher

· European Roller

·  Lilac-breasted Roller

· Stout Cisticola

· Wing-snapping Cisticola

· African Reed Warbler

· Cabanis’s Greenbul

·  Chestnut-capped Flycatcher

· Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush

· Cape Robin-Chat

· Black-necked Weaver

· Holub’s Golden-Weaver

· Heuglin’s Masked-Weaver

· Yellow-mantled Weaver

· Red-collared Widowbird

· Grosbeak Weaver

· Black-and-white Mannikin

· Fawn-breasted Waxbill

· Black-bellied Firefinch

 

 

Lake George On The North East Of Kazinga Channel Uganda In Queen Elizabeth National Park 

Lake George is locally called Lake Katunguru because of its onion-like shape. “Katunguru” comes from the word “Akatunguru” which means “Onion” in the Runyakitara language.

Lake George is another attraction near the Kazinga Channel. It is a recognized Ramsar site in Uganda that was established in 1988, the first to be designated in the nation.

The Lake flows into Lake Edward and holds a variety of birds and wild animals. The Kasenyi locals also carry out fishing on its shores, thus, a remarkable destination for Uganda tours and safaris.

Henry M. Stanley who saw it in 1875 named the lake after Prince George, who later became King George V of Britain in 1910.

The lake provides a magnificent view of Uganda’s landscape and nature to awe in your Uganda tour.

Lake Edward On The South West Of Kazinga Channel

Lake George is locally named Lake Rwitanzigye or Lake Rweru.

It lies on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake was once called Lake Idd Amin after the former Uganda President Idd Amin Dada. However, it gained back its original name after President Amin’s downfall in 1979.

The Lake is at an altitude of 920 meters above sea level, and Lake George is one of the water bodies that feed it through the Kazinga Channel.

Other streams that feed Lake Edward include the Nyamugasani River, River Ishasha, River Rutshuru, River Ntungwe, and River Rwindi.

Consequently, Lake Edward feeds Lake Albert through Semliki River in the North.

On the shores of the Lake are various Uganda bird species and wild animals like Elephants, Crocodiles, Chimpanzees, and Lions.

Kazinga Channel Bridge

The Kazinga Channel Bridge is called Katunguru Bridge.

It was named after the local name of Lake George which is Lake Katunguru, in reference to its onion shape.

The bridge is on the Katunguru-Ishaka road, and it hosts several aquatic bird species in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Below the bridge of Kazinga Channel Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can easily spot species like the

  • Papyrus Gonolek
  • Malachite Kingfisher
  • Pied Kingfisher
  • Lesser Swamp Warbler
  • Greater Swamp Warbler
  • White-winged Warbler

Notable Wild Animals around the bridge include Hippos, African Elephants, and Cape Buffaloes.

Kazinga Channel Boat Trip | Boat Cruise At Kazinga Channel Uganda 

The Kazinga Channel cruise is the most popular activity in the Northern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This excursion gives a marvelous view of African wildlife at the shores feeding, drinking, or refreshing.

It is a two hours trip beginning from a landing stage below Mweya Safari Lodge and ending at the mouth of the Kazinga Channel.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority operates the boat trips at a slightly lesser price.

Trips organized by Uganda Wildlife Authority leave daily at

  • 9:00 am
  • 11:00 am
  • 1:00 pm
  • 3:00 pm
  • 5:00 pm

The boats from Myeya Safari Lodge also leave daily at

  • 11:00 am
  • 2:00 pm
  • 4:15 pm
  • 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm on special requests from a group.

However, afternoon trips are more rewarding since the thirsty animals come around midday onwards to drink water and bathe.

Preparing For A Kazinga Channel Boat Trip

You wouldn’t want to book the best boat trip, and not have a marvelous cruise experience!

Therefore, you would want to remember the smallest details that count a lot.

What you ought to remember;

  • A good camera for taking photos.
  • Binoculars for viewing distant wildlife.
  • An insect repellant to keep insects away.
  • Have and apply sunscreen lotion to protect your skin from damage.
  • Carry a poncho or rain jacket in case it rains.
  • Remember to also carry a snack and a bottle of water.

Dressing;

  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers to protect you from insect bites.
  • Wear light shoes or boots with rubber soles for stability on the deck.
  • Have a hat and sunglasses, to protect yourself from the sun.
  • Carry a life jacket too if you have one! However, it is always provided for free on the boat.
  • Have a bag where you can safely put your belongings.

Other activities around the Kazinga Channel include

  • Lion and Leopard tracking in the North that is Kasenyi plains.
  • Mongoose tracking in Mweya Peninsular.

Best Season To Visit The Kazinga Channel Uganda 

Kazinga Channel offers the best experience in the dry season! This is from June to August and December to February.

Then, other than the Hippos that cool off in the stream, other animals and birds flood the place to drink water under the hot sun.

How To Get To Kazinga Channel

By air from Entebbe International Airport, is a flight of one and a half hours to Kasese airport.

From here, you will be picked up by either your safari guide or hotel pick-up service. They will guide you to the Kazinga Channel according to your arranged itinerary.

By road from Entebbe is about 7 hours and 30 minutes the on the Entebbe-Kampala, Kampala-Mubende, Mubende-Fort Portal, and Fort Portal-Kasese Roads.

Likewise, a guide will guide you to Kazinga Channel according to your itinerary.

Accommodation/Hotels Around Kazinga Channel

Luxury Accommodation

Mweya Safari Lodge; Kazinga Channel is between the lodge and the Rwenzori mountains. Hence, giving a breathtaking panoramic view of the channel and its inhabitants.

Midrange Accommodation

Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge; this lodge gives an experience of living in wild Uganda since it is located in the bush.

The viewing decks provide a clear view of the South Bank of Kazinga Channel.

Engiri Game Lodge; is in a bush, 800m away from the South of Kazinga Channel. Buffaloes and Elephants usually pass by this lodge.

Forest Safari Lodge Kazinga Channel; is in Katunguru and is just 1km away from the Kazinga Channel Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Buffalo Safari Lodge; this lodge is West of Kasese-Ishaka Road and does not have a direct view of Kazinga Channel.

However, its thatched restaurant offers the sight of a muddy waterhole frequented by large herds of Buffaloes, Elephants, Kobs, and Giant Forest Hogs.

Budget Accommodation

Kazinga Channel View Resort; the lodge is in Katunguru, just a small distance from Kazinga Channel. Visitors can easily see the herds of Elephants and cattle grazing.

Kazinga Channel Lodge; the lodge is along the shores of the Kazinga Channel, hence creating a beautiful view of the Hippos, African Elephants, Cape Buffalos, and many wading birds.

Tembo Safari Lodge; is on the Northern shores of Kazinga Channel and West of Katunguru.

Kazinga Channel Uganda is the place for every tourist on a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari. It is where visitors can easily and closely spot different wildlife in Uganda, Africa.

Book your adventure package to the Kazinga Channel now!

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