Katwe Explosion Crater Drive – the most Scenic Drive in Queen Elizabeth Park
Postcard Scenic Uganda at its Best – Explosion Craters and Crater Lakes
The Explosion Crater Drive is one of Queen Elizabeth Park’s “Must Do and See Things.” It ranks among the most scenic drives in all of Uganda. One could say that it is 27 kilometers of Postcard scenery. The Katwe Explosion Crater Drive is one of Uganda’s many Scenic Wonders.
The Katwe Explosion Crater Drive is on a ridge, the highest point in the Park at 1,350 meters above sea level. Before you, from this vantage point are the Western Rift Escarpment, Lake Edward, and Lake George, with the natural Kazinga Channel connecting the two lakes. Overshadowing it all is the ever-present Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon.
The Scenic Explosion Crater Drive is best done during the early morning hours as the sun rises. You see the scenic crater calderas, an amazing Sunrise over Queen Elizabeth Park Savannah, and the Albertine Western Rift Escarpment. You might also see the Clouds lift over the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon.
A late afternoon sunset is another excellent opportunity to view the Explosion Crater as the sun is about to set. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for picture taking when the lighting conditions are precisely right, resulting in great scenic photos.
An Immense Volcanic Force created the Calderas you see on the Scenic Explosion Crater Drive.\
The explosion craters that you see were formed by cataclysmic volcanic eruptions 8,00o to 10,000 years ago. During that time, they reduced Lake
Edward into a toxic mess. Fire and brimstone still erupted from these explosion craters as recently as 2000 BC while the Pyramids in Egypt were being built.
Today, as you are the scenic explosion Crater Drive, you see nothing but serene, comforting calderas covered with water, forest, and savannah. There is no evidence of cataclysmic eruptions that took place here many centuries ago.
You will most likely be just amazed as you take in the scenic wonders at Queen Elizabeth Park’s highest point on the Explosion Crater Drive.
While there will be many photo opportunities of stunning Craters and Crater Lakes, you will not see the wildlife that you would on the savannah plains below.
Some say it takes you two hours plus to make this drive, but that is cutting it short since there are too many photo opportunities for you along the way. Scenes that even caught the eye of National Geographic, and they featured scenes from here.
On this, one of Uganda’s most scenic drives, you will view several dozen Explosion Craters, some of them filled with grass, forest, freshwater, or saltwater. During the dry season, large elephant herds wander up to this higher point of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Explosion Crater Drive is not on most visitors’ itineraries on Safari in Uganda. Still, it is something that you want to fit in during your visit to the Park, and you will certainly not regret it.
The Scenic Katwe Explosion Crater Drive is all about Scenery in Photogenic Uganda
One thing is for sure; you better have enough memory on your camera on this most scenic drive in Queen Elizabeth Park. It would be nice if one was able to hike along this trail.
Besides the explosion craters, there is a splendid view of the Western Rift Valley Escarpment below. Visitors to Uganda are mostly unaware that there are Rift Valleys, the Eastern Rift, which is the more famous one in Kenya, and the Western Rift in Uganda.
Along this drive, you will be overlooking a portion of the Western Rift. The vastness is most surprising and not something to be missed, including splendid views of Lake George, Lake Edward, and the Kazinga Channel connecting them.
You also get a view from here into DR Congo. The border runs through Lake Edward.
Hopefully, the clouds will dissipate. That you can see the majestic Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon come into full view and take in the breathtaking beauty of the tallest Mountain range in Africa, taller than Europe’s Alps.
Include the Scenic Katwe Explosion Crater Drive in your Safari Itinerary
One of the highlights will be stopping to view Lake Kitagata. A salty hot spring feeds the lake and has little attraction to wildlife. It has been featured in worldwide nature publications, as has been the Kyemengo Crater, which has no lake at its bottom. It appears like a vast grassy Amphitheatre – just a stunning view.
The Katwe Explosion Crater Drive is one of the scenic wonders of Queen Elizabeth Park and along with Kazinga Channel, Maramagambo Forest, the Mweya area with its wildlife, and Ishasha. All part of the Medley of Wonders is Queen Elizabeth Park. More of Uganda’s Instagrammable Crater Lakes are found.
Here is our suggestion – do not miss seeing the scenic Explosion Crater Drive in Queen Elizabeth Park. Include it in your safari itinerary and your visit to Queen Elizabeth Park. The drive is located in the northern area of Queen Elizabeth Park.
Please let us know if you like to include the Katwe Explosion Crater Drive in your safari itinerary.
