It is also known as the #1 spot for bird watching in all of Africa, with over 600 species of birds.
While in the park we went on an early morning game drive where we enjoyed the desert landscape, full of mature cacti and thick bushes.
In terms of mammals, we found plenty of Kob antelope, African deer, and even an African boar.
In terms of reptiles, we spotted a Puff Adder snake, one of the most venomous vipers, as well as, a vibrant blue and yellow lizard.
In the afternoon we took lunch at near the visitor’s center where we learned about the park’s use of controlled fires to maintain park vegetation. As a pro, controlled burning helps to rejuvenate dying grass and prevent the spread of wild fires.
After lunch we enjoyed one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park- wildlife viewing along the water’s edge.
We took a boat ride on the lake through the Kazuniga Channel to view the various wildlife. The ride was absolutely unreal! 😀
There were hundreds of birds, hippos, water buffalo, elephants and crocodile co-existing along these shores.
He explained how these animals have a symbiotic relationship. They live together in harmony, since they both benefit from one another.
We also saw large eagles swooping down to eat fish, and flocks of birds with their mouths gaping open in order to cool off from the heat.
Additionally, we learned that there are over 7,000 hippos in these waters, and the green poo from their vegetarian diet actually turns the water green! 😮
And although hippos are the most dangerous animal in Africa, the tourists here have never had any fatal encounters. 
In fact, the only people at threat are fishermen who enter these waters in their small dugout canoes.
That’s great to know, since I found baby hippos to be absolutely adorable!
Mom, Can I keep one? 😉
At this point in the safari we are all very accustomed to using mother nature for potty breaks; however, this camp took things a new level. We had no running water, no sinks, and the site was within the national park, so hippo encounters were a legitimate concern. They may need to redo the fencing! 😮
My tent partner and I used the buddy system for bathroom breaks, and fell asleep zipped up tight in our tents to the noises of the hippos bellow. After our long day in the park, we dined on pasta and coleslaw prepared by one of the group members that used to be a chef in France. The pasta was made with a coconut cream sauce topped with avocado. The next morning we awoke at 5 AM ready to get out of this p.o.s. campsite and hit the road for another 10-hour drive to Kisoro where we would be staying in a nicer guesthouse and trekking for gorillas. Can’t wait!Adorable kids on our drive to Kisoro. 🙂
Stay tuned to hear all about it. Until then. 🙂
Oh gosh this looks wonderful!
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