Queen Elizabeth National Park

Uganda's most popular safari park: Kazinga Channel boat trips for hippos and elephants, lion tracking on the Kasenyi Plains, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, and tree-climbing lions in the southern Ishasha sector.

Queen Elizabeth National Park lies on the floor of the Albertine Rift, the western arm of the East African Rift, in western Uganda. Spanning Kasese, Rubirizi and other districts, it covers about 1,978 sq km, the equator crosses its northern part, and it is Uganda's most visited national park. The park is centred on the Kazinga Channel between Lake George and Lake Edward. The Mweya Peninsula in the middle is the hub for lodges, the visitor centre and the boat jetty; afternoon channel cruises bring you close to hippos, elephants, buffalo and huge numbers of waterbirds. The Kasenyi Plains in the northeast are ideal for early-morning game drives in search of lions and Uganda kob. In the north, the Katwe explosion crater loop, Lake Katwe and Lake Munyanyange showcase volcanic landscapes, traditional salt mining and seasonal flamingos. In the east, Kyambura Gorge, the Maramagambo Forest to the south and the Kalinzu Forest outside the park offer chimpanzee trekking. The tree-climbing lions of the southern Ishasha sector are often combined with Bwindi gorilla itineraries. It's about 6–7 hours' drive from Kampala, or take a domestic flight to Kasese or Mweya airstrip. The dry seasons, Jun–Sep and Dec–Feb, have concentrated wildlife and good roads; in the Mar–May and Oct–Nov rainy seasons some dirt roads get muddy and a 4WD is needed. Plan on 2–3 days, and consider combining with Kibale Forest, the Rwenzori Mountains or Bwindi. Park entry, boat cruises and chimp trekking must all be booked and paid through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry, and take precautions against mosquitoes.

Top sights

• Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda's most visited national park, where elephants, lions and over a thousand hippos live among savanna, crater lakes and lakeside wetlan…
• Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise – A 32 km waterway linking Lake George and Lake Edward. Cruise boats bring you close to hippo pods, elephants, buffalo and birds.
• Kasenyi Plains Game Drive – An open grassland in the northeast of the park, home to large herds of Ugandan kob and a classic route for tracking lions and leopards at d…
• Kyambura Gorge – A tropical rainforest gorge that suddenly drops away from the savanna, where you can follow a ranger on foot into the valley to track chimp…
• Mweya Peninsula – A raised peninsula jutting between the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward, home to the park's lodges and boat landing.
• Katwe Explosion Craters Drive – A scenic drive about 27 kilometers long in the north of the park, linking dozens of explosion craters and crater lakes.
• Lake Katwe – A salt lake in a volcanic crater, where locals still harvest salt using traditional methods that have been passed down for centuries.
• Lake Munyanyange – A small saline crater lake beside Katwe, where flocks of lesser flamingos often stop to feed during migration season.
• Maramagambo Forest – A pristine tropical forest in the south of the park, with a cave full of fruit bats, a hidden crater lake and many primate species.
• Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve – A tropical rainforest reserve on the park's southern edge, with high chimpanzee sighting rates and lower fees than the national park, makin…

Where to eat

• Kazinga Restaurant, Mweya Safari Lodge – The main restaurant at Mweya Safari Lodge, with a terrace overlooking the Kazinga Channel where you can watch elephants…
• Tembo Canteen – An affordable canteen on Mweya Peninsula serving Ugandan home-style food with cold beer, with views as good as the lodg…

Itineraries

• Uganda Waterfalls, Primates & Lakes Classic Loop – A classic loop connecting Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Lake Bunyonyi from north to south.