Crater Lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park 

Overview

Crater lakes

Crater Lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park: When someone mentions Queen Elizabeth National Park, it is most likely that thoughts like the big game, tree climbing lions and Kazinga channel will immediately come to mind. However, there is more to the park than all those fascinating features, one of them being the crater lakes. Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in Western Uganda, a region known for its dozens of dotted explosion craters.

The Crater Trail in the Western Region

Embarking on the Crater Trail in Western Uganda is a great opportunity to explore these extinct volcanic formations while on your Uganda safari with Pamoja Tours and Travel. The Crater Trail includes not only the beautiful Crater Lakes at Queen Elizabeth National Park but also those at Kibale National Park and around Rwenzori Mountain ranges base.

Activities that one can do while visiting the crater lakes

There are various ways in which tourists visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park can explore the different Crater Lakes. Visitors can engage in hiking, biking, boating, fishing, nature walks and many more.

Katwe Explosion Craters

The Katwe Explosion Craters in Queen Elizabeth National Park are a group of scenic volcanic Craters. The individual Katwe Craters differ in size with the widest measuring up to 3kms in diameter and 100m deep. These explosion Craters formed due to a series of violent volcanic explosions about 1 million ago. They formed after  super heated gas and steam although no lava flow occurred regardless of their volcanic activity.

Location of the crater lakes

Most of the craters that make up crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park are extinct, but there are some that still emit sulfurous smells. From the Kabatoro Gate and Queens Pavilion, the Katwe Craters are located 27kms away and visitors get to enjoy excellent views of wildlife en route including elephants, warthogs, buffaloes and others.

Katwe Explosion and salt craters

Katwe Explosion & Salt Craters are saline lakes although Katwe is the most popular one with depth of about 3265ft and also notably the highly saline crater. This is an interesting area and amazingly, one incredible spot to observe birds such as flamingos and also the salt extraction process. Besides, there is a great chance to enjoy the panoramic view of the Rwenzori Mountains, surrounding areas such as Kazinga Channel such as Lake George and Lake Edward.

Bunyarunguru Craters

Lying South of Lake George is the beautiful Bunyarunguru Craters, the extinct crater lake formations on the Western part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This massive Crater Area is comprised of about 20 Craters and they exist within Kichwamba Escarpment along the Western Rift Valley side of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Amazingly, the Bunyarunguru Craters are recognized by the worldwide volcano discovery, and a visit to these natural wonders offers tourists a remarkable feel of nature and beauty.

Ndali-Kasenda Crater Field

Located near Kibale National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ndali-Kasenda Crater Field is another significant volcanic crater. Ndali-Kasenda Crater Field is easier to explore on foot because it is 10kms long, extending from Kibale National Park to Fort Portal. You can undertake 3 hours guided walk via the Crater Lake Area while enjoying the mesmerizing views of Mount Rwenzori, Kibale Forest, tea plantations, and so much more.

Other tourist attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kyambura Gorge

Located in the far East of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Western Uganda, Kyambura Gorge also known as Valley of Apes is one of the best places to see chimpanzees and other diverse primate species. The gorge has a depth of about 100m and it is visited mainly for chimpanzee tracking.

Mweya Peninsula

Mweya Peninsula lies on the Northern bank of Kazinga Channel that links Lake George and Lake Edward. It is one of the amazing places to undertake guided game drives while on Uganda safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The peninsula offers amazing sightings of animals such as buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, etc. It also rewards nature lovers with unforgettable nocturnal game viewing experiences- a chance for you to see hyenas and leopards.

Ishasha sector

Found in the Southern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ishasha region is one the most popular spots in Uganda, offering an incredible view of the famous tree climbing lions. The main activity to enjoy at Ishasha is a guided game drive and from here, you can easily connect up to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to have the best gorilla trekking experience.

Conclusion

The crater lakes visit in Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the exciting activities that you can do while on a safari in Uganda. At Pamoja Tours and Travel, we offer safari packages in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zanzibar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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