Uganda · National park
Queen Elizabeth Safaris
Lions in the fig trees, hippos in the channel and the equator underfoot.
Discover Queen Elizabeth
A Queen Elizabeth safari covers Uganda's most varied savannah park, stretched along the western Rift Valley between Lake George and Lake Edward. Queen Elizabeth National Park spans about 1,978 square kilometres of grassland, swamp, crater lakes and forest, and the equator runs through its northern half.
The Kazinga Channel, which links the two lakes, holds some of Africa's densest concentrations of hippos, and the boat cruise along it is the park's signature experience. In the south, the Ishasha sector is known for lions that rest in fig trees. The park sits between Kibale and Bwindi, so most of our western Uganda safaris spend one or two nights here.
- Size
- About 1,978 km²
- Signature
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Big game
- Lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob
- From Kampala
- About 6–7 hours by road
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights
- Best months
- Jun–Sep and Dec–Feb
What to do in Queen Elizabeth
The Kazinga Channel cruise
A two-hour boat trip along the channel passes hippos, buffalo, elephants coming down to drink and big numbers of water birds. Afternoon departures catch the best light.
Safaris with the channel cruiseTree-climbing lions in Ishasha
In the remote Ishasha sector, lions often climb into the branches of large fig trees during the heat of the day. Game drives here are quiet, and the sector lies on the way to Bwindi's northern trailheads.
Safaris through Ishasha
Kasenyi plains and the crater lakes
Morning drives on the Kasenyi plains find large herds of Uganda kob and the lions that hunt them. North of the channel, the explosion craters make a dramatic drive, and Kyambura Gorge hides a community of chimpanzees.
Lodges in Queen ElizabethWildlife you may see in Queen Elizabeth
Mammals
Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo, Uganda kob, topi, waterbuck, warthog and giant forest hog.
Primates
Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, black-and-white colobus and olive baboons.
Birds
Around 600 species, one of the highest counts of any African park, including African skimmers and martial eagles.
The story of Queen Elizabeth
The park was established in 1952 and renamed after Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 1954. Its northern half is dotted with explosion craters, some filled by lakes, and at Katwe local people still harvest salt from a crater lake by hand.
The Kazinga Channel runs for about 32 kilometres between Lake George and Lake Edward, and the Mweya peninsula above it gives one of the best views in Uganda across the water to the Rwenzori Mountains on clear days.
When to go
The park is open all year. June to September and December to February are the driest months and the best for game drives, when grass is shorter. The wetter months turn the plains green and bring fewer vehicles; the channel cruise runs whatever the weather.
- JanDrier
- FebDrier
- MarWetter
- AprWetter
- MayWetter
- JunDrier
- JulDrier
- AugDrier
- SepDrier
- OctWetter
- NovWetter
- DecDrier
Drier, peak seasonWetter, green season
Where we travel in Queen Elizabeth
Featured Queen Elizabeth safaris
8-Day Uganda Luxury Gorilla & Wildlife Safari
Entebbe › Kibale › Queen Elizabeth › Bwindi › Lake Mburo › Entebbe
View itinerary
10-Day Uganda Primates & Big Game
Entebbe › Murchison Falls › Kibale › Queen Elizabeth › Bwindi › Lake Mburo › Entebbe
View itineraryLuxury lodges in Queen Elizabeth
Kyambura Gorge Lodge
A Volcanoes Safaris lodge above the Kyambura Gorge, where chimpanzees live in the forest below.
Ask about this lodgeIshasha Wilderness Camp
A tented camp on the Ntungwe River in the Ishasha sector, the base for finding tree-climbing lions.
Ask about this lodgePlanning your visit
Getting there
About six to seven hours by road from Kampala, three hours from Kibale, or two to three hours from Bwindi's northern sectors.
How long to stay
Two nights covers the Kasenyi plains and the Kazinga Channel. Add a night in Ishasha for the tree-climbing lions.
Where to stay
Lodges near the Kazinga Channel suit the boat cruise and Kasenyi; a camp in Ishasha keeps you close to the lions.
Combine with
Kibale for chimpanzees and Bwindi for gorillas. The park sits between them on the western circuit.
Questions travellers ask
Are tree-climbing lions guaranteed in Ishasha?
No. They are often seen resting in fig trees, but lions move and some days they are on the ground or out of sight. A full afternoon or morning in Ishasha gives the best chance.
How long is the Kazinga Channel cruise?
About two hours. It runs in the morning and afternoon from Mweya.
Can we see chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth?
Yes, in Kyambura Gorge, though tracking there is less predictable than in Kibale. Most travellers do their chimp tracking in Kibale and visit the gorge for the scenery.
What is the best time of day for the Kazinga Channel?
The afternoon cruise has the warmest light and most animals at the water's edge.
More of Uganda
Murchison Falls
Uganda's largest park, where the Victoria Nile drops through a seven-metre gorge. Giraffe, elephant and lion on the north bank.
Discover Murchison Falls
Bwindi Impenetrable
Steep montane forest in the southwest, home to about half of the world's mountain gorillas. Treks start from Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo.
Discover Bwindi ImpenetrableKibale Forest
Evergreen forest near Fort Portal with 13 primate species and Uganda's most reliable chimpanzee tracking.
Discover Kibale Forest
Something made for you
Any trip can be lengthened, upgraded or combined across both countries. Send your dates and the number of travellers, and you'll get a costed plan within a day.