Tree-climbing lions, hippo-lined channels and a boat safari through the heart of the park.
Enquire About Queen ElizabethQueen Elizabeth National Park stretches along the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, framed by the Rwenzori Mountains and the Congo border. At its heart is the Kazinga Channel, a 36-kilometre waterway connecting Lakes Edward and George, whose banks hold one of the highest hippo concentrations in Africa and a constant parade of elephant, buffalo and water birds.
The park's most celebrated curiosity is in its southern Ishasha sector: lion prides that routinely climb ancient fig trees and spend the day draped across the branches. This tree-climbing behaviour, also seen in Tanzania's Lake Manyara, is unexplained but consistent, and makes a drive through Ishasha a genuinely distinctive experience.
Beyond lions and hippo, Queen Elizabeth holds good leopard, forest elephant along the Maramagambo Forest edge, and the Mweya Peninsula with its dramatic lake views. The park's variety of habitats, from savannah and forest to wetland and crater lakes, supports more than 600 bird species.
The park connects to Kibale through the Kibale Elephant Corridor, so the two are natural partners on a western Uganda safari circuit, often combined with Bwindi for a comprehensive south-western trip.
Lion are the headline, particularly the tree-climbing prides of Ishasha. Leopard are present but secretive, and large elephant herds move between the park and the Kibale Corridor. Buffalo are common throughout.
The Kazinga Channel is one of the great boat safaris in Africa, drifting past pods of hippo, giant crocodiles, elephant at the water's edge and a wealth of water birds, all within a few metres of the boat.
With over 600 recorded species, Queen Elizabeth is an excellent birding park, and its combination of habitats adds specials from the open savannah, the channel, the crater lakes and the forest edge.
The dry seasons from June to September and December to February are the best time, with thinner vegetation, easier game viewing and the most comfortable conditions. The Kazinga boat trip is rewarding year-round.
The long and short rains of March to May and October to November bring lush green landscapes and superb birding, with lower rates and fewer visitors. Some routes within the park can become difficult after heavy rain.
The best-positioned lodge in the park, on the Mweya Peninsula with sweeping lake views and easy access to the channel.
A beautifully sited lodge above the Kyambura Gorge, with a small habituated chimp community in the gorge below.
The most atmospheric base for the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector, small and well placed in the far south.
A friendly mid-range option near Mweya with comfortable rooms and reliable access to the channel boat trip.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority runs bandas and campsites on the Mweya Peninsula and at Ishasha for budget travellers.
The Kazinga Channel boat trip offers water-level shots of hippo and elephant, and the Ishasha lions in their fig trees are a distinctive and sought-after subject. The crater lake landscapes and the Rwenzori backdrop add scenery beyond the wildlife.
Queen Elizabeth spans budget bandas to comfortable lodges and suits all levels. It is the most accessible Ugandan safari park for a first-time visitor and works as the savannah counterpart to a forest-focused Bwindi or Kibale trip.
Queen Elizabeth lies in western Uganda along the Rift Valley, around five to six hours by road from Entebbe or reachable by charter flight to the park airstrips. It connects naturally to both Kibale and Bwindi.
We arrange every detail, from the right camp to flights and transfers. Tell us your dates and we will do the rest.
Plan My Safari WhatsApp UsIn the Ishasha sector, the southern part of the park near the Uganda-Tanzania border, around three hours by road from the main Mweya area.
A 36-kilometre natural channel connecting Lakes Edward and George, with one of the highest hippo concentrations in Africa. The two-hour boat trip is one of Uganda's classic safari experiences.
Not in the main park, but the Kyambura Gorge on the park's edge holds a small habituated chimpanzee community, and Kibale Forest is an easy addition to the north.
By road from Entebbe in around five to six hours via Mbarara, or by charter flight to the Mweya or Ishasha airstrips.
Very. With over 600 species across the varied habitats, including the channel, the crater lakes and the forest edge, it is one of Uganda's top birding parks.
Yes. The two are the classic western Uganda combination, adding gorilla trekking in Bwindi to the savannah game of Queen Elizabeth, with Kibale in between.
Tell us roughly when you would like to travel and what you most want to see. Every enquiry is answered personally by Jarryd, a former Sabi Sands guide and Head Ranger at andBeyond Phinda, usually within 24 hours. No set packages, no booking fees.
