Kazinga channel boat cruise

Kazinga channel boat cruise

Kazinga channel boat cruise: Kazinga channel is a magnificent feature in Queen Elizabeth national park where boat cruise take place, kazinga channel is a wide 32 kilometers long natural channel connecting Lake George in the east and Lake Edward in the west. Lake George is a tiny lake stretching in an area of 250 square kilometers with a depth of 2.4 meters and Lake Edward is a fresh water lake covering an area of 2000 square kilometers. The channel is wide enough and filled with water flowing between the two lakes which make it a water source for animals in the park, kazinga is a perfect site for seeing a variety of wildlife habiting in queen Elizabeth national park as many animals and birds crowd the banks of the channel to drink water and feed on swampy vegetation around the channel. Animals usually sighted at kazinga channel include hippopotamus, Uganda kobs, Nile crocodiles, and herds of elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and many more which come to drink water. Birds sighted at the channel are over 60 species and they include Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, African Shoebill, Yellow Billed Stork, Great and Long Tailed Cormorants, Open-Billed Stork, Saddle Bill Stork, Darters, Black Crake, Great and Long Tailed Cormorants, Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Jacana, Marabou Stork, Open-Billed Stork, Pink-backed pelicans, Saddle Bill Stork and Yellow Billed Stork and many more. On the record channel hosts the highest concentration of hippopotamus in Uganda.

Kazinga channel is made up of sections that is north kazinga and kasenyi plain, the kasenyi plains is where the amazing game viewing safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park are done. The highlight animals to see while on a game drive are Uganda kobs, buffaloes and many more.

Boat cruise on kazinga channel

Kazinga channel is tapestry in nature which facilities boat cruise on its calm waters, boat cruise at kazinga channel is the most rewarding activity in Queen Elizabeth national park to wildlife, birds and nature lovers and this activity has been offered on the channel since 1952. Boat cruise at kazinga channel is an activity of 2-3 hours and offered in shifts that is the morning session of boat cruise starting at 11am and 1 pm local time and afternoon session starting at 3pm and 5pm local time and the safari starts at the landing site near mweya safari lodge.

Boat cruise at kazinga channel is offered in two boat options that is a smaller boat which is owned by mweya safari lodge and offered at a higher price, a double decker boat charged at affair price and it is owned by Uganda wildlife authority. The double decker boat accommodates to a maximum of 40 individuals docking at the landing site near mweya safari lodge, before the boat sets of into water the crew of the boat first makes sure that all the individual are comfortable on the boat, the guides do introduce themselves and the setting off announcement is made by the captain of the boat.  For tourists who prefer more privacy and comfortability the small boat owned by mweya safari lodge is your best option to use while on a boat cruise.

As you slowly sail on the calm waters of the channel you enjoy beautiful sights of many animals, birds which congregate at the shores and also local fisher men preparing their fishing nets. Animals seen while on a boat cruise in the waters of kazinga channel include elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, hippopotamus, Nile crocodiles, Uganda kobs and many more. Kazinga channel is also an excellent birding site with over 60 bird species which are easily spotted while on a boat cruise, these bird species include African skimmer, Stork, Black bee-eater, Pink-Backed Pelicans, Long Tailed Cormorants, Kingfisher, Pink-Backed Pelicans, African Shoebill, Yellow Billed Stork, Great and Long Tailed Cormorants, Open-Billed Stork, Saddle Bill Stork, Darters, Black Crake, Great and Long Tailed Cormorants, Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Jacana, Marabou Stork, Open-Billed Stork, Pink-backed pelicans, Saddle Bill Stork and Yellow Billed Stork and many more.

 How to book a boat cruise at kazinga channel

Boat cruise on kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park is signed up for and booked at Mweya safari lodge at the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya offices, when booking for this activity you specify the time you want to do the activity. Boat cruise at kazinga channel is charged as follows by Uganda wildlife authority

• US$ 30 for foreign non residents
• US$ 30 foreign residents
• UGx 30,000 for East African Community residents

 Best time to do boat cruise on kazinga channel

Boat cruise on kazinga channel is offered on a very day of the year but as tourists they always prefer the best time to get the best boat cruise experience, the best experience is got during the dry season. The dry season in Queen Elizabeth national park and at kazinga channel is received in the period of June – July and January – February when there is less rainfall in the park, the essence of going to a boat cruise in this period is that in this period many water sources dry up leaving kazinga channel as the only water source in the park. The channel gets crowded by many animals which come to drink water and also cool off from the scotching sunlight which makes the experience more amazing by sighting these animals in a huge population. Also in dry season it is easier to get perfect pictures for photography and memories.

How to get to kazinga channel

Kazinga channel is situated in Queen Elizabeth national park and the boat cruise on the channel starts from Mweya peninsula which is situated on the northern bank of the channel and it is accessed using Katunguru gate, the peninsula is situated 20 kilometers west of Kasese – mbarara main road. From Katunguru town you can use either public means by hiring a special hire to the park or use can use your private vehicle offered by your safari agent.

Where to stay while on a boat cruise on kazinga channel

As you go for a boat cruise on kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park, accommodation is got from many accommodation options which include luxury, mid-range and budget. These facilities include mweya safari lodge, park view safari lodge, jacana lodge, Mweya hostels, Engiri game lodge and campsite, Tembo safari lodge, kazinga channel resort, samba safari camp, at ishasha safari camp and many more.