Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park, located in southwestern Uganda’s Kasese district, was established in 1952 and is one of the largest national parks in the country. It borders the Democratic Republic of Congo and is renowned for its diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes, covering 1,978 square kilometers between Lakes George and Edward.

Named after Queen Elizabeth II following her visit in 1954, the park offers an exceptional safari experience. It is home to four of the Big Five mammals: lions, elephants, leopards, and buffalo, with a significant chance of spotting them during game drives. The southern sector, known as Ishasha, features rare tree-climbing lions unique to the area.

A highlight of the park is the Kazinga Channel, which connects the two lakes and is vital for wildlife. Visitors can enjoy boat cruises, where they may encounter hippos, elephants, and numerous bird species while taking in the breathtaking scenery.

With beautiful savannah grasslands, striking craters, and memorable sunsets over the Mitumbi Hills, Queen Elizabeth National Park is an essential destination for anyone traveling to Uganda, catering to all types of adventurers.

 

Guide to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park, often referred to as “Queens,” stands out among Uganda’s savannah parks and is frequently overshadowed by the more famous grassland parks of Kenya and Tanzania. It is the most popular national park in Uganda and is often paired with gorilla and/or chimpanzee trekking in Bwindi and/or Kibale Forest.

The park is renowned for its big cats, including lions and tree-climbing leopards. Visitors can also observe a variety of large species such as elephants, buffalo, antelopes, and warthogs during game drives.

One of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lakes Edward and George. Here, you can witness pelicans basking in the sun, buffalo and elephants coming down to the water’s edge, and numerous hippos. Over 600 bird species have been documented in the park, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise. Additionally, you can combine a game drive or boat safari with chimp trekking in the enchanting forests of Kyambura Gorge.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the Kasese district of southwestern Uganda and covers an area of 764 square miles, featuring rolling plains east of Lake Edward and foothills south of the Rwenzori Mountains.

 

What to Expect on a Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is appealing due to its large cats and breathtaking scenery. It’s important to understand the difference between the ecology in Queen Elizabeth National Park and that of other wildlife reserves in countries like South Africa, Tanzania, or Kenya. In addition to being a popular wilderness destination, the park coexists with a sizable human population.

 

While Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to many big game animals, its big cats tend to leave the most lasting impression on visitors. It’s worth noting that zebras, rhinos, and giraffes are not found in Queens, but you can see them in other parts of Uganda, such as Murchison Falls and Lake Mburo National Parks.

Queen Elizabeth National Park Entry Fees

Upon entering Queen Elizabeth National Park, visitors must pay a nominal conservation charge, which is used by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to support conservation initiatives. The fee varies depending on the visitor’s category, so it is essential to bring identification. Travelers need to present passports, foreign-born Ugandans must show one-year work permits, and Ugandan citizens should have their national identification cards. As of now, the entry fee for travelers is $40, while Ugandans born abroad pay $30, and Ugandan nationals pay a fee of UGX150,000. If you make a reservation with us, all payment procedures will be handled for you.

 

 Activities Carried Out in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game Drives

One of the major highlights of visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park is the scenic game drives, which provide an opportunity to view even the most elusive wildlife. These drives are primarily conducted during the early morning and late evening hours. Your driver-guide will assist you in spotting the various animals in the park. During the game drive, you may encounter a range of wildlife, including elephants, antelopes, hyenas, lions, buffaloes, kobs, and leopards, among others.

Bird Watching

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s premier birding spots, hosting over 600 bird species. Birdwatchers are in for a major treat, as they can spot various species such as sedge warblers, pink-backed pelicans, yellow-throated cuckoos, and owls, to name a few.

Boat Trip

A boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward to Lake George, offers a unique perspective of the park’s rich aquatic life. During the cruise, tourists can enjoy various sights and sounds, including large hippopotamuses lounging in the water and Nile crocodiles basking lazily on the banks, soaking up the sun.

The Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha Sector

Seeing lions climb trees is a rare experience, and it’s considered safe to do so only in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Here, you can witness lions resting on acacia and fig trees, creating an enchanting sight. This sector is conveniently located on the route to or from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, making it accessible for those heading to or returning from gorilla trekking.

 

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most biodiverse area in Uganda, featuring 600 species of birds and over 95 large animal species. The park encompasses various habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, moist tropical forests, wetlands, freshwater rivers, and saltwater lakes. Semi-deciduous forest at a medium altitude covers around 40,000 hectares of the park.

With a population that includes approximately 5,000 hippos, 2,500 elephants, and 10,000 buffaloes, Queen Elizabeth is home to a significant number of large mammals. The Ishasha sector is renowned for its tree-climbing lions, while chimpanzees and a remarkable variety of bird species can be found in Kyambura Gorge.

Large Mammals

Queen Elizabeth National Park supports about 5,000 hippos, 2,500 elephants, and 10,000 buffaloes. There is no historical evidence to suggest that rhinos ever lived south of the Nile and north of the Kagera Rivers.

As the mammal’s roam across the plains, forests, and shorelines, visitors are treated to fantastic sightings in various settings. Numerous photo opportunities await, and you’ll have the chance to observe these extraordinary animals in their natural environment. Other herbivores frequently spotted include warthogs, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, topis, and sitatunga antelopes found in the marshes near Lake George.

Big Cats

Big cat enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy at Queen Elizabeth National Park. While lions can be found throughout the park – particularly in the Mweya Peninsula area thanks to a dedicated lion research program – they are most famous in the southern Ishasha sector for their unique ability to climb fig trees to escape flies.

Additionally, leopards, civets, genets, and servals inhabit the park. These cats are significantly more elusive and are often active at night, making sightings all the more special. The combination of big cats and traditional big game amid stunning landscapes makes Queen Elizabeth a superb safari destination, offering an unforgettable experience.

Primates

Ten different species of primates inhabit the trees and, in some cases, forage in the underbrush. The largest of these are the olive baboons (be careful—they might try to steal your lunch), found in the Maramagambo expanse and the hidden forests of Kyambura. The supporting cast includes the vervet monkey, black and white colobus, red colobus, red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, blue monkey, and the only native primate of Uganda, the grey-cheeked crested mangabey.

Bird Watching

Any protected area that encompasses a wide variety of habitats is sure to offer amazing birdwatching opportunities, and Queen Elizabeth National Park (often referred to as “Queens”) is no exception. Over 600 bird species are waiting to be discovered and documented. While popular species such as the Shoebill stork, pelican, and flamingo draw much attention, each environment is home to a range of other fascinating birds, both large and small.

Things to Do in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the top safari destinations in the country, thanks to its rich diversity of flora and fauna. An exceptional wildlife experience can be had by combining a safari in this location with a gorilla or chimpanzee trek in Bwindi or Kibale.

Every visit to Queens typically includes a boat tour along the Kazinga Channel and a game drive on the Mweya Peninsula. If you plan to stay longer than two nights, you can visit the chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge, go on a game drive in the Ishasha area of the park to look for tree-climbing lions, or explore the salt pans and crater lakes at Katwe.

Katwe Salt Pans Visit

Visiting the Katwe salt pans offers a glimpse into the park’s human history. You will be amazed by the strength of those who work in this harsh environment. They engage in a profession with a long history that once contributed to a prosperous kingdom.

Explore the pans and witness the ancient methods used in the shadow of a defunct processing facility that struggled to deal with the extreme salinity present in Katwe. Be prepared for hot, bright sun; although your visit may be brief, it is still worthwhile.

Mweya Peninsula Game Drives

The wildlife drive captures the essence of a savannah safari. You will patrol the grasslands with your guide for approximately three hours during the early morning or late afternoon when animals are most active. Travel in four-wheel-drive vehicles that are modified to offer excellent visibility through hatch roofs and sliding windows.

Each species has a unique ecological niche and behavioral traits. With the tour guide’s knowledge, you will learn about the savannah’s history and get closer to its remarkable wildlife, from muddy buffalo wallowing in puddles to a bull elephant napping in the shade of an acacia, and the stealthy lion preparing to hunt as evening falls.

Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Viewing wildlife from a boat provides a truly unique experience. It is serene, with sunlight refracting off the water’s surface, and you can witness the changing expressions of animals as they observe you and contemplate their next move.

When the wind blows in the right direction, you can often approach larger groups more closely than you could in a vehicle on land. Twice daily, boat tours are offered on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Various boat sizes are available, but all tours drift to Pelican Point along the shore, where you can expect to encounter elephants, hippos, buffalo, antelope, and a diverse array of waterbirds.

Kyambura Gorge Chimp Tracking

Over the years, the Kyambura River has carved a deep gorge in the Kichwamba Escarpment. Large primates, particularly chimpanzees, thrive in the dense forest that covers the gorge’s sides, as the steep walls prevent large herbivores from accessing the area.

One of Queens’ top attractions is spending a few hours tracking our closest relatives through the forest with a guide from the Ugandan Wildlife Authority. Here, chimpanzees are habituated to human contact, making your experience feel like stepping into another realm. There is a 60% chance of encountering the chimpanzees, so this is not a “zoo experience.” A sighting is particularly remarkable as it occurs in their natural habitat.

Maramagambo Forest Exploration

The Maramagambo Forest is the ideal place to spend a day for birdwatchers and those who enjoy hiking off the beaten path. You can explore the shaded forest, finding species rarely seen on the open plains, stumble upon hidden crater lakes, and marvel at the sheer number of creatures found within a bat cave, all while being sheltered from the blazing sun by the dense canopy.

Be cautious not to get too close, as snakes lie in wait on the cave floor, ready to strike at bats dislodged from their perches by more aggressive neighbors.

Ishasha Plains Game Drives

While the history of humanity is fascinating, the allure of the wilderness is undeniable. If you share this affinity for nature, consider staying in the Ishasha sector. Here, the landscapes are captivating, and the wildlife roaming freely enhances the safari experience.