Queen Elizabeth National Park

Overview

Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s premier tourist destination, was founded in 1952. Originally known as Kazinga National Park, it was renamed to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 1954. 

The park is in the Kasese district of Western Uganda, with the Rwenzori Mountains towering in the backdrop. Notably, the 764 square mile (1,978 square km) park is on the equator, spanning the latitude line of 0 degrees. It is the second-largest park in the country.

Visitors are attracted to the park for its unique tree-climbing lions, diverse birdlife, unusual geographical features, and its proximity to gorillas. Its abundant wildlife is due to its varied ecosystems, including wetlands, lakes, forests, and the classic safari favorite, savanna. 

However, this ecological treasure was virtually destroyed during the Uganda-Tanzania War (1978-1979), which led to overthrowing Ugandan President Idi Amin. During and after the war, the region experienced heavy hunting. 

It took over twenty years for the Queen Elizabeth National Park to make a comeback. The park is now home to a wide range of animals and fauna. However, like many areas of Uganda, it still struggles with poaching. The impact has left scars and unique animal adaptations.

One fascinating example is the tuskless elephants. The evolutionary phenomena made headlines in 1998 when scientists in the park reported that up to 15% of their adult females were being born without tusks. The same phenomenon was occurring in Zambia, another area plagued by poachers. Since then, the number of tuskless elephants has risen in the park and other parts of Africa.