Mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park
Mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park : Mongoose tracking is among the many activities which take place during safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park. Queen Elizabeth national park is a popular safari destination which is located in the south western part of Uganda.
The mongoose tracking activity is an experiential form of tourism carried out in Queen Elizabeth national park which involves an off the track experience. Tourists go with researchers into the wilderness to search for the mongoose.
During the mongoose tracking experience, tourists get to learn about the mongoose and watch their behavior and a few number of people engage in the activity during their safaris around Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The tourists also enjoy identifying the male and female mongoose in the wilderness and also where to find them. The mongoose tracking experience is carried out on foot while following different trails in the national park in search for the mongoose.
When visiting Queen Elizabeth national park, tourists can engage in mongoose tracking in the morning and also in the afternoon. The activity takes about 1 to 3 hours during safaris in the national park and it takes place around the Mweya peninsula.
The Mweya peninsular is located on the northern shore of the Kazinga channel where Lake Edward and Lake George meet and it is among the places where mongoose and many other wildlife species such as elephants, buffalos, hippos and different species of antelopes such as waterbucks, Uganda kobs, impalas among others can be seen during safaris. It is also a location for boat safaris along the Kazinga channel.
Cost of mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park
Mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park costs 30 USD for foreign nonresidents, 25 USD for foreign residents and 30,000 Uganda shillings for East Africans.
Park entrance fees when visiting Queen Elizabeth national park is 40 USD for foreign nonresidents, 30 USD for foreign residents and 20,000 Uganda shillings for East African citizens.
Tourists are also charged a fee of 30,000 Uganda shillings for issuing Ugandan registered tour company vehicles during the mongoose tracking safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park.
Payment for the mongoose tracking experience in Queen Elizabeth national park is made at the Mweya visitor’s center.
There are many other activities to do around Queen Elizabeth national park during safaris in Uganda and they include the following;
- Game drives
The game drives around Queen Elizabeth national park are done in the morning and also in the afternoon and involve exploring different parts of the park ins earch of wildlife species.
Tourists during game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park ca engage in game drives in areas such as the Kasenyi plains, the Mweya peninsular, around the Ishasha sector among other parts of the national park.
Wildlife species which can be seen during game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park include elephants, tree climbing lions, buffalos, leopards, bushbucks, waterbucks, kudu, impalas, bushbucks, elands, Uganda kobs, hyenas, warthogs, mongoose among others.
- Boat safaris
Boat safaris are also part of the safari experience in Queen Elizabeth national park and they are carried out along the Kazinga channel.
The activity takes place in the morning and afternoon when visiting Queen Elizabeth national park and wildlife species such as elephants, buffalos, hippos and Nile crocodiles can be seen along the shores of the Kazinga channel while on the boats.
For about 2 hours, tourists enjoy the boat safari on Kazinga channel and can also see various bird species around the Queen Elizabeth national park. the activity can be done as part of a private boat safari or group tour around the national park.
- Bird watching
Different bird species can be seen during bird watching experiences around Queen Elizabeth national park and they include African Fish eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, Martial Eagle, African Crake, Striped Kingfisher among others.
There are over 600 bird species that are found around different parts of Queen Elizabeth national park.
- Chimpanzee tracking
Another activity that tourists take part in when visiting Queen Elizabeth national park is chimpanzee tracking which is done in the Kyambura gorge in the morning and also in the afternoon.
- Lion tracking
Tourists can also engage in lion tracking in the Kasenyi plains during safaris around Queen Elizabeth national park.
- Guided nature walks
Guided nature walks can also be done during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park and they involve exploring the savannah plains of the national park on foot.
Best time for mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park
Mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park can be done at anytime of the year. However the best time for the activity is during the dry season from June to October and in December to February which is also a good time to see other iwldife species around the destination.
Tours around Queen Elizabeth national park can also be done during the rainy season around March to May and in the month of November.
Where to stay during mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park
Different lodges are found around Queen Elizabeth national park where tourists can stay during their mongoose tracking experience and they include Mweya safari lodge, Parkview safari lodge, Jacana safari lodge, Mweya hostels, Buffalo safari lodge, Elephant hab lodge, Tembo safari lodge among others.
Tourists can book their stays during the mongoose tracking experience at the budget, midrange and luxury lodges around Queen Elizabeth national park.
How to get to the Mweya peninsula for mongoose tracking
There are different ways that tourists can get to Queen Elizabeth national park for the mongoose tracking experience and they include driving and flight.
The airstrips which can be used during flights from Entebbe international airport to Queen Elizabeth national park include Mweya airstrip and Kasese airstrip. These flights can be booked through airlines such as Aerolink Uganda which offers domestic flights across the country.
The routes used for driving to the Mweya area in Queen Elizabeth national park for mongoose tracking include the Kampala-Mbarara-Kasese route and another route used for to get to Mweya is the Kampala-Mubende-Fortportal-Kasese route.
