Queen Elizabeth National Park

About Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular savannah national park, covering approximately 1,978 square kilometres in the western part of the country. Established in 1952, the park stretches from the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains to the shores of Lake Edward and Lake George, creating a spectacular landscape of open savannah, crater lakes, wetlands, forests, and fertile plains.

Renowned for its incredible biodiversity, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to more than 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species, making it one of Africa’s richest wildlife destinations. The park is particularly famous for its tree climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector, scenic boat cruises along the Kazinga Channel, and unforgettable game drives that offer exceptional wildlife viewing throughout the year.

Experiences at Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a wide range of unforgettable safari experiences that showcase its remarkable wildlife, spectacular landscapes, and incredible biodiversity. Every activity provides a unique opportunity to discover one of Uganda's most celebrated national parks.

Game Drives

Explore the park’s vast savannah while searching for elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, Uganda kobs, hyenas, and numerous antelope species across spectacular wildlife rich landscapes.

Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel while spotting hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and countless bird species gathering along the beautiful riverbanks.

Chimpanzee Tracking

Track habituated chimpanzees through the lush Kyambura Gorge while discovering tropical forests, colourful birdlife, unique vegetation, and fascinating wildlife along scenic forest trails.

Tree Climbing Lions

Visit the famous Ishasha Sector and search for the park’s unique tree climbing lions resting high in giant fig trees across the open savannah grasslands below.

Bird Watching

Search for over 600 bird species, including African fish eagles, flamingos, pelicans, kingfishers, bee eaters, and colourful migratory birds across diverse natural habitats.

Crater Lakes Tour

Explore the spectacular crater lakes region while enjoying breathtaking viewpoints, volcanic landscapes, rolling hills, and magnificent panoramic views across western Uganda.

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Africa’s most biodiverse protected areas, supporting more than 95 mammal species across its varied ecosystems. Open savannah, wetlands, forests, crater lakes, and river channels provide ideal habitats for an incredible variety of wildlife throughout the year.

Visitors regularly encounter elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippos, Nile crocodiles, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, warthogs, spotted hyenas, topis, and several species of primates. The Ishasha Sector is particularly famous for its tree climbing lions, while Kyambura Gorge provides opportunities to track wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Travel Information

Best Time to Visit

Queen Elizabeth National Park is open throughout the year, making it an excellent safari destination in every season. The dry months from June to September and December to February offer the best conditions for game drives, wildlife viewing, and chimpanzee tracking, as vegetation is shorter and animals gather around water sources.

The rainy seasons bring lush green landscapes, excellent bird watching opportunities, and fewer visitors. The park remains accessible throughout the year, allowing travellers to enjoy its spectacular scenery regardless of the season.

How to Get There

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located approximately 400 kilometres from Kampala and can be reached by road in about six to seven hours. The scenic drive passes through rolling hills, tea plantations, and picturesque towns before arriving at the park.

Visitors may also choose scheduled domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kasese or Mweya Airstrip, followed by a short transfer to their lodge or safari starting point.

Where to Stay

Queen Elizabeth National Park offers accommodation for every type of traveller, ranging from luxury safari lodges to comfortable mid range camps and budget friendly options. Many lodges are located near the Kazinga Channel, Mweya Peninsula, Kasenyi Plains, or the Ishasha Sector, providing easy access to the park’s major attractions.

Popular accommodation options include Mweya Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Park View Safari Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Elephant Hab Lodge, Katara Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge, and Bush Lodge, all offering comfortable facilities and spectacular views.