Queen Elizabeth National Park

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Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular safari park, and it is easy to see why. In one park, you can watch elephants and hippos on the Kazinga Channel, search for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha and track chimpanzees in a hidden gorge. All of this sits below the jagged Rwenzori Mountains.

The park lies in western Uganda, across the districts of Kasese, Rubirizi, Kamwenge and Rukungiri. It is about 400 km by road south-west of Kampala. Its habitats include open savannah, humid forest, sparkling lakes and wetlands. As a result, it supports a wide range of big game, primates and around 600 bird species.

Below, you will find the main areas of the park, its wildlife, things to do, the best time to visit and how to get there. Finally, we show you which of our safaris include it.

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park is home to elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippos and Nile crocodiles. Antelopes are also everywhere, especially the Uganda kob. You may also see topi, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs and giant forest hogs.

Primates also live in the forests. Chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus and several monkey species are found in Kyambura Gorge and Maramagambo Forest. Meanwhile, birders can look for around 600 species, including the shoebill, African skimmer, pelicans and many kingfishers.

Main areas of the park

Kazinga Channel

The Kazinga Channel links Lake George and Lake Edward. Its banks attract huge numbers of hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes, as well as many water birds. The plains of the Kasenyi area and the North Kazinga track, close to Mweya, are also excellent for game drives. Here, you have a good chance of seeing lions, elephants and buffaloes.

Ishasha sector

Ishasha lies about 100 km south of Mweya. Above all, it is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which often rest in the branches of large fig trees. Because it sees fewer vehicles, the sector also feels wild and remote. In addition, the Ishasha River and the nearby shores of Lake Edward attract plenty of wildlife.

Mweya Peninsula

Mweya, on the other hand, is the busy heart of the park. It overlooks the Kazinga Channel and Katwe Bay of Lake Edward. For this reason, most boat trips start here, and there is good accommodation and a souvenir shop. To learn more, read our article on the Mweya Peninsula.

Crater lakes

In addition, dozens of old volcanic craters dot the north of the park. The drive along the crater rim gives you wide views across the hills and lakes. Therefore, it makes a great stop between game drives.

Things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kazinga Channel boat trip. For most visitors, a boat trip on the channel is the highlight. You glide past hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes, while birds fly overhead.

Game drives. Morning and evening drives in Kasenyi and North Kazinga give you the best chance of seeing lions, elephants and kob. Later, you can drive south to Ishasha to look for lions in the trees.

Chimpanzee tracking. Kyambura Gorge is a surprising sunken forest in the middle of the savannah. Here, you can track chimpanzees with a ranger guide.

Birding and nature walks. Maramagambo Forest and the crater area are excellent for birds and forest walks. For more ideas, see our wildlife safaris and game drives.

History of the park

At first, the park was known as Kazinga National Park. In 1954, it was renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park to mark a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. Today, it is part of a large protected area that includes Maramagambo Forest and the Kigezi and Kyambura game reserves. It also borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kibale National Park lies to the north.

Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park is open all year round. However, the dry months from June to September are often the best for game viewing. During this time, roads are easier to drive, tracks are clear and animals are easier to spot. December to February is another good dry period.

The wetter months are greener and quieter. On the other hand, some tracks can become muddy, especially in Ishasha. We will help you choose the best dates for your trip.

How to get to Queen Elizabeth

By road, the park is about 400 km from Kampala. Most visitors therefore drive from Kampala or Entebbe, often with a stop at Lake Mburo or Kibale on the way. You can also reach the park from Kigali in Rwanda, which makes it easy to combine with gorilla trekking.

Alternatively, you can fly. Scheduled and charter flights run from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Mweya airstrip, and to other airstrips in the area. Of course, we can book these for you.

Safaris that visit Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth fits into many Uganda trips. It sits between the gorilla parks in the south and the chimp forests in the north, so it is a natural middle stop on a longer circuit. For a short visit, our 3 day Queen Elizabeth wildlife tour covers game drives and the boat trip. Many guests combine the park with gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. For example, the 5 day gorillas and wildlife safari from Kigali does exactly that. Meanwhile, the 7 day primates and wildlife tour adds chimpanzees in Kibale.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority manages the park and sets entry and activity fees, which change from time to time. So, Roots will confirm current rates when you enquire. Tell us your dates, and we will plan your visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park with a free itinerary.