Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park is situated in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. It has almost 100 mammal species and a remarkable 606 bird species, this makes it superb safari territory. Here you find elephants, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog, lions, leopards and handsome Uganda kob among others.
A boat cruise on the Kazinga channel should be a part of any safari here. The Kazinga channel is a 36 km channel connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. In the waters and along the shores you can expect to see a rich animal life with hippos, buffaloes, elephants, birds and more. Another activity that should be included is at least one morning or evening game-drive searching the savanna for interesting sightings. Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for being one of two parks in the world where lions have the habit of regularly climbing trees. To see this special behaviour you head to Ishasha, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park. Here you game-drive to spot the lions high in the big fig trees.
Besides the classical safari activities Queen Elizabeth national park offers even more. In the Kyambura gorge and Kalinzu Forest close by the park there are habituated chimps that can be trekked. A chimps trekking is an exciting experience where you go in a group with a specialised guide through beautiful forest to see our close cousins the chimps. In the Maramagambo Forest it is as well possible to go for a nature walk. This forest is home to an alluring selection of forest monkeys and birds. For birders there are great opportunities in Queen Elizabeth national park, as mentioned above it is home to 606 bird species. A special sight for both the birder and the not so bird interested is the flocks of flamingo that are resident on the crater lakes.
Being a park where specific communities are allowed to stay within the park boundaries a visit to a fishing village or to see the work of harvesting salt in the salt lakes is possible.
ACTIVITIES
– Game drive
– Boat cruise on Kazinga channel
– Chimpanzee trekking
– Birding
– Community tourism
ACCESS
The national park is a 420 km drive away from Kampala (takes around 7 hours). It is also possible to take a chartered flight to Kasese, Mweya or Ishasha.
Safari Planning Tips
Inspired by Uganda’s incredible wildlife? Here are a few ideas to help you choose the safari that best matches your interests.
- Big 5 Safaris in Uganda – Discover itineraries combining rhinos, lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards with Uganda’s spectacular landscapes.
- Join a Group Safari – Share your adventure with like-minded travellers while enjoying the expertise of an experienced safari guide.
- Save on Your Safari – Explore our featured 8-Day Uganda Safari Offer and 12-Day Uganda & Rwanda Special before planning your trip.
- Tailor-Made Uganda Safaris – Design a private safari focused on the parks, wildlife and experiences you most want to discover.
- Uganda’s National Parks Guide – Compare all 10 national parks to find the wildlife experiences that suit you best.
Safaris with Queen Elizabeth NP
Take a look under “safaris” in the menu at the top of this page for itinerary options that can be adapted to your wishes. See some top safaris to Queen ELizabeth NP below.
3 days Queen Elizabeth National Park safari
Come for a tour of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The itinerary includes a game-drive to search the savannah for lions and other interesting sights. In addition you go for a boat-cruise on Kazinga channel to see hippos and buffaloes. We finalize the safari with chimps trekking in Kalinzu forest.
Ref: Itinerary MS10
7 days Uganda tour
This safari start with a search for the pre-historic looking Great Shoebill Stork at Mabamba Swamp. Next the itinerary takes us to Kibale Forest National Park for chimps trekking. Continuing south we have a boat-cruise on Kazinga channel. Then on to the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Next on the itinerary is Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwinid Impenetrable National Park a great highlight of Uganda tours. The last stop of the tour is in Lake Mburo National Park for zebras, impalas and giraffes.
Ref: Itinerary MS24
14 days Uganda Tour – Kidepo & Gorillas
This is an action pact itinerary letting you experience the remote Kidepo Valley National Park as well as the fascinating Karamojong people living in that area. This park is ranked among the top parks in Africa. The tour as well includes trekking of Mountain Gorillas and chimpanzees in Uganda’s jungles. Other highlights is searching for tree-climbing lions, a boat-cruise on the mighty river Nile in Murchison Falls NP, looking for the Shoebill Stork and more!
Ref: Itinerary MS35
Queen Elizabeth NP
