Kazinga Channel is one of the major natural features found in Queen Elizabeth National Park of Uganda. The Channel connects Lake George to the bigger Lake Edward. Streams of water originate from the Rwenzori mountains and flow into Lake George. This water then continues to Lake Edward through the 32 kilometers long channel. The natural greenery surrounding the channel supports an amazing collection of wildlife like hippos, buffaloes, elephants and birds which we shall discuss more later.
Activities and Attractions in Kazinga Channel
Apart from the outstanding wildlife attractions and natural beauty, there are several activities which one can get involved in while visiting the Kazinga Channel. The Channel has a fascinating cultural history which tourists get to know about from local Guides while on the amazing boat cruise (to be discussed later). Other activities along the Kazinga Channel include opportunities for tourists to meet local 
communities and listen to their stories, music and dance performances. These activities can be combined with those in the wider Queen Elizabeth National Park to make for a more complete safari. Let’s discuss them in more detail: –
The Wildlife: The Kazinga Channel has one of the highest concentration of hippos in East Africa with an overall population of about 16,000 individuals. The banks of the channel are like a paradise to the animals living in Queen Elizabeth National Park. They gather along the channel to bathe and drink water during the hottest part of the day. Others simply go to the channel to enjoy the cool breeze during a sunny day. The regular mammals seen along the channel include elephants, buffaloes, antelopes and waterbucks. On rare occasions, lions and leopards come to hunt or drink water along the channel. The best time to see animals along the channel is during the dry season or when there is no 
rain. Please check out our 3 Days Queen Elizabeth Safari package that includes visiting the Kazinga Channel.
The Birds: Kazinga channel contributes a lot to the birding life in Queen Elizabeth national park, making it one of the best places for birding in Uganda. The channel is home to over 58 recorded species which can be sighted in the clear waters or around the swampy banks of the channel. Some of the birds sighted within and around the channel include yellow-billed stork, saddle bill stork, jacana, marabou stork, long-tailed cormorants, African shoebill, African skimmer, black beef eater, grey crane and many more. This amazing collection of birds can be seen during the afternoon boat cruise along the channel.
Boat Cruise Along the Kazinga Channel
How is the Boat Cruise organized? There are two boat cruise sessions organized along the Kazinga 
channel. One starts in the morning – between 9 to 11am and the other late in the afternoon (2:00pm – 5:00pm). Each boat cruise takes between 2 to 3 hours. Tourists are driven to the Mweya dock by their tour companies and handed over to staff from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (If they are using the government ferry) or Mweya Safari Lodge (If they are using a private boat). There is a short introduction and briefing about what to expect or not do during the boat ride. Questions concerning the boat ride experience are asked after the briefing.
As already mentioned, the boat cruise starts from the Mweya dock in Lake Edward. Tourists are then taken through the channel and then to Lake George. After two hours of cruising along the waters of 
Kazinga and spotting the different species of animals, they are dropped back at the Mweya Dock where they find their company tour driver waiting. The boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel is one of the top activities in Queen Elizabeth national park. It has been operating since 1952 and hence a highlight of any safari in the park.
Note: Different Entities own boats operating along the Kazinga channel but the major players are the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Mweya Safari Lodge. Their boats are generally safer and more comfortable.
While on a boat cruise along the channel, tourists get to meet fishermen and local people doing business. Fishermen are more active in the evenings because by then, hippos are less active. Hippos 
are more active in the morning hours and prepare to get out of the water for grazing when the sun is not very hot. Meeting these fishermen and the local community will expose you to their way of living, challenges and opportunities.
Note: Apart from the activities along the Kazinga Channel, tourists can also visit other sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park for birding, Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, nature walks and lion tracking in the Ishasha sector of the park. For a more comprehensive tour of Uganda, you might want to check out our 12 days Uganda Wildlife Safari package.
Additional Information about Visiting the Kazinga Channel
The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Kazinga channel is during the dry months of June to October and December to March. During the dry season, water holes dry up and the only reliable source of water are the larger lakes and the Kazinga Channel. The number of animals gathering along the channel during the wet season is low hence affecting the quality of boat cruises. If you are planning to do birding, the wet season may be the best time to visit the Channel. It is around that time when migratory birds from around the world visit the Channel. The rainy season is also a time when birds are breeding and hence easy to spot in their nests.
In order to get to the Kazinga channel, tourists have to endure a long journey taking about 4 hours. From Kampala, tourists take the road to Mbarara or Bushenyi. Once in Mbarara, the distance to the park is about 22 kilometers. In total, the journey from Kampala to the park is about 410kms long. While traveling to Queen Elizabeth National Park, tourists can also stop at Lake Mburo National Park and the equator crossing in Kayabwe. Travelers on a longer safari might want to know that Kibale National Park, the Rwenzori Mountains and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are not so far away from the Kazinga Channel.
If you are planning to visit the Kazinga Channel and do not know where to start, contact us at Mission Africa Safaris. We will help you organize everything about the tour including transport, accommodation, meals and excursions in other nearby destinations.
