Page 28 - July-Sept 2024 Edition

Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge
Kyambura Gorge is a sunken river valley in the savannah
grasslands that ranges between 100 to 150 metres deep
and was formed by the erosive action of the Kyambura
River that flows into the Kazinga Channel. It is referred to as
the Valley of the Apes as there is a troop of chimpanzees
that live in the Gorge. Visitors can descend down the steep
sides of the gorge led by a Uganda Wildlife Authority guide in
search of the chimpanzees to observe them in their natural
habitat. Cape buffalo and hippo also live in the gorge and
the trek is a chance to experience this unique habitat and
possibly see other primate species such as black and white
colobus monkey, red tailed monkey, vervet monkeys and
prolific birdlife.

Giant Forest Hogs - Kevin Sutton Elephants and Hippo Kazinga Channel
Kazinga Channel
The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometre long waterbody that connects Lake George to Lake
Edward, the two major lakes in the region. Lake George is fed by the Rwenzori mountains and the
outflow of the lake runs to Lake Edward via the Kazinga Channel. As the elevation between the
two lakes is so little, the channel is very slow moving making it difficult to tell which way the water is
flowing. The channel serves as an important source of water for wildlife, especially during the dry
seasons. The abundance of wildlife in and along the channel is best viewed from a boat. Priority
should be made to include boat safari in your itinerary for QENP. Boat trips run from either the
Katanguru landing site or from the Mweya Peninsula and the trips are two hours long. In this time,
your guide will give you knowledge on birds, wildlife and historical features of the channel. The best
time of the year for boat safaris is during the dry season, when water is difficult to find elsewhere in
the park. Herds of elephant visit the water to drink, swim and play in the water, while hippo wallow
in the shallows near the shore. The Kazinga Channel is home to one of the largest concentrations
of hippo who live in family groups called pods. You can expect to see solitary buffalo along the
channel’s shores which are old males who have been chased out of their herd and are living out
their years in solitude. The shoreline is also host to abundant birdlife as well as monitor lizard and
Nile crocodile.

Elephants drinking Kazinga Channel. Hippos Kazinga Channel.
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