From open savannah to rainforest, fromdense papyrus swamps and brooding craterlakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it islittle wonder that QENP boasts one of thehighest biodiversity ratings of any gamepark or reserve in the world. Almost 100mammal species and a remarkable 606 birdspecies makes this superb safari territory,with elephant, a profusion of hippos, theelusive giant forest hog and handsomeUganda kob all regularly sighted aroundthe tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula- which also boasts a marvelous waterfrontsetting in the shadow of the RwenzoriMountains. Elsewhere, the remote IshashaSector is famed for its tree-climbing lions,the Kyambura Gorge harbours habituatedchimps, the Maramagambo Forest is hometo an alluring selection of forest monkeysand birds, and flocks of flamingo areresident on the crater lakes.

Size:
1,978 sq km

Location:
Southwest, near Kasese.

Getting there:
The park lies 5-6 hours from Kampala on a surFaced road via Mbarara, and can be reached on a dirt road from Bwindi_ Accessible by public transport

What to do:
Launch trips on the Kazinga Channel offer great game vie mg do game drives around Mweya. Bird watching is excellent. Also available are chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge and guided wads in Maramagambo Forest.

When to visit:
Any tune of year.

Where to stay:
At Mweya there s an upmarket lodge, a campsite and budget hostel Another upmarket lodge fringes a crater lake in Maramagambo Forest. A low key camp is found in the Ishasha Sector Accommodation is also available in Kasese, about 64m From Mweya