Kasenyi plains : Queen elizabeth National park
The Kasenyi Plains are located in the northeast and constitute a section of the renowned Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern Uganda, approximately 48 kilometers from Kasese town, requiring a trip of about 5 to 6 hours. The Kasenyi Plains are located in the Kasese district, within the Rwenzururu sub-area of western Uganda, adjacent to the Kazinga Channel at its junction with Lake George.
It is situated in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kasese District, in western Uganda, and is among the most frequented destinations during Uganda safaris. The Kasenyi Plains are located on the western banks of Lake George, near the convergence of the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward.
This region is located in the northwestern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, also referred to as the Kasenyi sector, and is notably inhabited by a variety of wildlife species that one may observe during safaris in Uganda. The region surrounding Kasenyi is characterized as an open savannah, favored by the Uganda Kobs, which are the predominant species in the area.
The area predominantly consists of expansive savanna and hosts diverse wildlife species, including Uganda Kobs, which serve as an optimal nesting environment, as well as lions, elephants, leopards, hyenas, warthogs, buffaloes, and other bird species such as grey crowned cranes, yellow-throated longcrows, and red-throated spur fowls, among others. It is commonly referred to as the Mweya-Kasenyi, a renowned game drive route in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The expansive savannah of Kasenyi provides an ideal backdrop for a quintessential African safari adventure. Large herds of Uganda Kob entice prides of lions, while warthogs graze at their knees. Guinea fowl scurry through the grasslands and massive dark elephants traverse the game drive paths, creating ideal photographic opportunities for visitors.
Additional tourist attractions in proximity to Kasenyi Plains encompass the Kazinga Channel, located a short distance from Kasenyi Plains. Kazinga Channel is an optimal location for boat cruises, offering visitors exceptional views of hippos, antelopes, basking crocodiles, and various water birds, including papyrus gonoleks, malachites, African skimmers, pelicans, martial eagles, African spoonbills, and cormorants. Additionally, Kasenyi fishing village provides an opportunity to explore the lifestyle of fishermen and sample fresh fish snacks, among other offerings. Lakes such as Lake George and Lake Bunyampaka are distinctive attractions in the vicinity of Kasenyi Plains. They also inhabit sitatunga antelopes and waterbucks, and include remarkable islands like as Akika, Irangara, and Kankurango. The Kasenyi airfield offers visitors remarkable views of diverse animals, including warthogs, buffaloes, and Kobs, making it not only a convenient access point to Queen Elizabeth National Park but also a distinctive attraction.
How to get to Kasenyi Plains
The Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park can be accessed via a 5 to 6-hour drive from Kampala, utilizing either the Masaka-Mbarara-Bushenyi route or the Kampala-Mubende-Fort Portal route to Kasese. Alternatively, one may take a flight from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to land at Mweya, Kasese, or Ishasha Airstrip.
How to get to Kasenyi Plains
Most safaris in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park are mostly done in the Kasenyi Plains, as it provides refuge for a multitude of wildlife species. Have you ever contemplated why this region possesses the greatest density of wildlife? Open plains are favored by animals as they facilitate the identification of predators from a distance, allowing for swift escape. The predators can readily detect their victims and pursue them with ease.
Game Drive in Kasenyi Plains
The Kasenyi Plains are optimal for wildlife observation. Furthermore, the location serves as the primary breeding habitat for these intriguing antelopes within the National Park. The prevalence of Lions in the Kasenyi Plains is attributable to their predation on Uganda kobs, making these two animal species the most frequently observed during game drives in the region. Although lions are infrequent and challenging to observe during game drives, their population is roughly 200 and they are unexpectedly more visible on the Kasenyi Plains.
A game drive along the Kasenyi plains traverses a verdant savanna, providing opportunities to observe animal species including antelopes, warthogs, elephants, huge forest hogs, and various birds, among others.
Moreover, a guided game drive in this location is typically unhurried, allowing guests the opportunity to observe a diverse array of wildlife interactions in real-time. With some fortune, one may observe lions pursuing their prey, mostly Uganda Kobs, and occasionally dispatching them. What could be more awe-inspiring than such a moment during Uganda safaris?
Bird watching safari in Kasenyi Plains
The Kasenyi Plains are an ideal location for avian observation. The region accommodates a diverse array of grassland avian species, including red-throated spurfowls, yellow-throated long crows, and grey-crowned cranes, among others. A birding tour on the Kasenyi Plains provides an opportunity to observe avian species, like the grey crowned cranes and red-throated spur fowls, among others.
Nature Walks Around Kasenyi Plains
Nature walks in Kasenyi Plains provide an exceptional perspective of the stunning scenery characterized by savanna grassland. This region, characterized by open savannahs, is ideal for tourists seeking to capture stunning and clean images.
What is the optimal time to visit Kasenyi Plains?
Kasenyi Plains are accessible throughout the entire year. It is preferable to explore during the dry season, which occurs in June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. The Kasenyi Plains are optimal for game viewing because to their generally dry conditions, while the wet season, typically occurring from March to May and October to November, is very advantageous for birdwatching. The dry season is considered peak season, whereas the wet season is typically regarded as low season in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Accommodation options in Kasenyi
Numerous lodging alternatives are available for travelers seeking overnight stays in the Kasenyi region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The accommodations vary from inexpensive to luxurious, including Mweya Safari Lodge, Simba Safari Camp, Ihamba Safari Lodge, Jacana Lodge, and Mweya Hostels, among others.
Summary
Kasenyi is one of the most remarkable areas within Queen Elizabeth National Park that merits exploration while on a safari in Uganda. A visit to Kasenyi Plains provides an exceptional game viewing experience.
In addition to the Kasenyi Plains, Queen Elizabeth National Park features several notable locations for remarkable wildlife observations, including the Ishasha sector, renowned for its tree-climbing lions; Kyambura Gorge, where one can track chimpanzees, our closest relatives; the Kazinga Channel, ideal for boat cruises to view diverse aquatic species such as Nile crocodiles and hippos, along with avian species like African fish eagles, kingfishers, and pelicans; Mweya Peninsula, home to banded mongooses; and Lake Edward and Lake George, as well as Maramagambo Forest, among others. Visiting these locations during Uganda safaris will affirm your belief that the country is endowed by nature and truly deserves the title Pearl of Africa.
