Welcome to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most diverse wildlife reserve and a premier Queen Elizabeth safari destination. Located approximately six hours from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, this sprawling savanna offers something no other park in Uganda can match: tree-climbing lions, a boat cruise among hundreds of hippos, and over 600 bird species.
Bwindi Primate Safaris regularly combines gorilla trekking in Bwindi with game drives in Queen Elizabeth. The contrast is spectacular. One day you are hiking through dense misty forest searching for gorillas. The next day you are watching lions doze on fig tree branches while elephants walk past below. This variety is what makes Uganda such a special safari destination.
Queen Elizabeth National Park was established in 1952 and originally named Kazinga National Park. It was renamed to honor a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. Today, the park covers nearly 2,000 square kilometers, making it Uganda’s most visited national park.
What makes this Queen Elizabeth safari destination so unique is the sheer variety of habitats. The park contains savanna, forest, wetlands, and crater lakes. This diversity supports an incredible range of wildlife. You can see lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, and over 10 primate species, all in one park.
The southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is called Ishasha. This area is famous worldwide for its tree-climbing lions. Unlike most lions that rest on the ground, the Ishasha lions regularly climb large fig trees and acacia trees to sleep during the day. No one knows exactly why they do this. Some say it is to escape insects. Others say it is to catch the cooler breeze. Whatever the reason, seeing a lion draped over a tree branch is an unforgettable sight.
Bwindi Primate Safaris includes the Ishasha sector in many of our combined safari tours. The best time to see tree-climbing lions is between December and February or June to September, when the weather is drier and the trees are less dense.
The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometer natural waterway that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. It is the highlight of any visit to this Queen Elizabeth safari destination. The channel contains one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa. On a typical two-hour boat cruise, you will see hundreds of hippos yawning, snorting, and splashing.
But the hippos are only part of the experience. Elephants and buffalo come to the water’s edge to drink. Nile crocodiles lie motionless on the banks. Monitor lizards swim across the channel. And the bird life is extraordinary. African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, storks, and the famous shoebill stork can all be seen here.
The boat cruise departs from the Mweya Peninsula. Bwindi Primate Safaris arranges private and group cruises for our clients. Early morning and late afternoon cruises offer the best lighting and the most active wildlife.
The Kasenyi Plains in the northern sector of the park are the best location for classic game drives. This open grassland is home to large herds of Uganda kob, which attract lions and leopards. You also have excellent chances of seeing elephants, buffalo, and warthogs. The sunrises over the plains are spectacular, and the bird watching here is excellent. For more birding opportunities, read our guide to bird watching in Uganda’s national parks.
The Katwe area contains over 70 volcanic craters formed by violent explosions millions of years ago. Some craters have filled with water to form beautiful salt lakes. Others are dry and covered in savanna grass. A drive through the crater field offers stunning views and opportunities to see antelope species like bushbuck and waterbuck. The local communities around Lake Katwe still mine salt by hand, a tradition that has continued for over 500 years.
Deep inside Queen Elizabeth National Park lies Kyambura Gorge, a 100-meter-deep underground forest that cuts through the savanna. This gorge is home to a small but habituated community of chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking here is different from Kibale National Park. The gorge setting makes the trek more dramatic. You descend into the gorge on foot, then walk along the river at the bottom while listening for chimp calls.
Permits for Kyambura Gorge chimpanzee trekking cost $250 per person. Only a limited number of permits are issued each day. Bwindi Primate Safaris recommends booking these permits at least two months in advance. The best time for chimp trekking in Kyambura is during the dry seasons when the gorge floor is less slippery.
The best time to visit this Queen Elizabeth safari destination is during the dry seasons: June to September and December to February. During these months, wildlife gathers around the remaining water sources, making game viewing easier. Roads are also in better condition, allowing access to all areas of the park.
The wet season from March to May and October to November has advantages too. The landscape is greener and more beautiful. Bird watching is at its best because migratory birds are present. Lodges offer lower rates. However, some roads become muddy and difficult to navigate. Bwindi Primate Safaris uses 4×4 vehicles that handle wet conditions well, but drive times may be longer.
Queen Elizabeth offers accommodation for every budget. For luxury travelers, Mweya Safari Lodge sits on a peninsula overlooking the Kazinga Channel. Kyambura Gorge Lodge offers luxury cottages with stunning views of the gorge. For mid-range travelers, Enganzi Game Lodge and Elephant Hab Lodge provide comfortable rooms and good food. For budget travelers, Simba Safari Camp and Pumba Safari Cottages offer basic but clean accommodation at affordable prices.
Bwindi Primate Safaris can arrange accommodation in any of these properties as part of your custom safari itinerary. We recommend staying inside the park if possible to minimize drive times between activities.
Most travelers combine Queen Elizabeth National Park with gorilla trekking in Bwindi. The drive between the two parks takes approximately six hours. The most popular route goes through Ishasha, allowing you to search for tree-climbing lions along the way.
Bwindi Primate Safaris recommends a minimum of five to six days for a combined gorilla and wildlife safari. A sample itinerary includes two days for gorilla trekking in Bwindi, two days for game drives and the Kazinga boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth, and one day for travel between the parks. For a complete itinerary, explore our 6-Day Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo Safari.
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers one of the most diverse wildlife experiences in Africa. From tree-climbing lions to hundreds of hippos in the Kazinga Channel, every day here brings a new adventure. When combined with gorilla trekking in Bwindi, you have the perfect Uganda safari.
Contact Us today to start planning your trip to this incredible Queen Elizabeth safari destination. Our expert guides know every corner of the park and will ensure you see the best wildlife Uganda has to offer.
2 amazing safari experiences
