Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park lies across the equator in western Uganda, between Lake George and Lake Edward, with the Rwenzori Mountains on the horizon. It was founded in 1952 and renamed in 1954 after a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.

Why go

In one park you find open grassland, crater lakes, papyrus swamps and a deep forest gorge. This mix is why more than 600 kinds of birds have been recorded here, more than in any other Ugandan park. Hippos, buffaloes, Uganda kob and waterbuck are almost certain, and elephants are very likely, especially along the water.

What you can do

• A launch trip of about two hours on the Kazinga Channel, past hippos, buffaloes, crocodiles and elephants, with pelicans and fish eagles all around.
• Morning and evening game drives on the northern plains.
• The Ishasha sector in the south, where lions sometimes rest high in fig trees.
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, a green forest valley cut into the savannah.
• Mongoose tracking, birding walks and cycling.
• Nearby, Kalinzu Forest Reserve offers a quieter chimpanzee walk outside the park.

The people side

At Lake Katwe you can see how salt has been harvested by hand from a crater lake for generations, on a tour run with the Katwe community. Near Muhokya, Leopard Village is a community-run cultural site where Banyabindi, Bakonzo and Basongora families show their traditional houses and share dances and stories. It is linked to the Uganda Carnivore Program, which works with farmers to protect the park’s lions and leopards.

Best time to visit

Queen Elizabeth is good all year. In the drier months, June to September and December to February, the grass is shorter and animals are easier to see. Days on the plains are hot, about 25 to 30 C.

Getting there

Allow 6 to 8 hours by road from Kampala, via Mbarara or Fort Portal, and about 1 hour more from Entebbe. Flights reach the Mweya and Kasese airstrips, and Kihihi for Ishasha. The park sits neatly between Kibale and Bwindi on a longer trip.

Good to know

We cannot promise lions. Lion numbers have fallen in recent years, and the Ishasha lions are seen on some days and missed on others. The Kyambura chimp group is small, so sightings are good but not guaranteed, and the gorge path is steep and can be slippery. The plains are flat and easy, so most of this park suits every fitness level. UWA’s current prices are valid to 31 December 2026; new UWA prices start on 1 January 2027.