On a drive from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park the changing landscape will fascinate you. You will leave Kampala in the early morning and see the morning hustle of the city pass by with children walking to school. Roadside traders opening up their stalls and people commuting to work on boda-bodas and in “taxis”. A boda-boda is a motorcycle taxi that is a very popular means of transport in Uganda. And a taxi is in this case a white minibus with blue stripes on the sides that takes up to 14 passengers and works as public transport. After leaving the city behind you surrounded by swamps with papyrus and driving further the equator reached. At the equator a landmark put up to mark the spot. And you can stand with one foot at either side of the northern and southern hemisphere.
Continuing on southwards until you get to the town of Masaka where you take a right turning off to the west. By the side of the roads you can see houses and farmed land. In a little while you will pass by the edge of Lake Mburo National Park where you if you are lucky can spot zebras by the side of the road. Furthermore, the landscape is now one of hills and shrubs with the cows of cattle keepers being seen. Shortly you arrive in the city of Mbarara and turn off to the north. The landscape now starts to change and be notably greener. After awhile you will come to rolling hills with tea plantations. Where you can see people walking among the rows of bushes picking the tea.
Meanwhile, when getting closer to Queen Elizabeth National park you will pass by the Kalinzu forest reserve with the jungle spreading out as long as the eye can reach. This forest is the home of many birds and mammals, one of them being chimpanzees. The last bit of the drive takes you through villages and you can see tree like angel trumpets on the roadside. Your first sight of Queen Elizabeth NP will be when turning around a corner. And seeing the park spreading out below. A beautiful view!
