National Park · Western Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park
The tree-climbing lions of Ishasha and a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where hippo and elephant densities are among the highest in Africa.
How to get there
By road from Kasese or Mbarara, or scheduled flights to Kasese or Mweya airstrip.
What to find
Savanna game drives, the Kazinga Channel launch cruise, Kyambura Gorge chimp tracking, and over 600 recorded bird species.
Overview
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most popular savanna park, covering about 1,978 km² between Lake George and Lake Edward. It was established in 1952 and is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Few parks pack in this much variety: open grassland, acacia woodland, crater lakes, papyrus swamps and tropical forest. Around 95 mammal species and more than 600 bird species have been recorded, one of the highest bird counts of any protected area in the world.
Highlights
- The famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector
- A boat cruise on the 32 km Kazinga Channel, lined with hippos, buffalo, elephants and birds
- Chimpanzee tracking in the sunken Kyambura Gorge
- The Katwe explosion craters and traditional salt mining at Lake Katwe
- The Maramagambo Forest and its bat cave
Things to do
Game drives
The Kasenyi plains for lion and Uganda kob, and Ishasha for tree-climbing lions and topi.
Kazinga Channel launch
Two-hour boat trips from Mweya, one of the best wildlife experiences in Uganda.
Kyambura Gorge chimps
US$100 in 2026, rising to US$200 from January 2027.
Lion tracking
A research-based experience with the Uganda Carnivore Programme. US$200 in 2026, rising to US$500 from 2027.
Crater drive and Lake Katwe
Scenic drives past explosion craters, and a community salt-mining visit.
Best time to visit
Game viewing is good all year and best in the drier months (June to September and December to February), when animals gather near water. The Kazinga Channel cruise is excellent in any season.
Getting there
About 6 to 7 hours by road from Kampala, or 2 to 3 hours from Kibale and Fort Portal. Ishasha sits on the natural route south to Bwindi. Scheduled flights serve Kasese and the Mweya airstrip.
Where to stay
Accommodation ranges from the lodges on the Mweya Peninsula overlooking the channel, to camps in Ishasha and upmarket lodges near Kyambura Gorge and the crater area.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
A selection of well-known options, not a complete list. See all accommodation in Uganda →
Good to know
- Tree-climbing lions are wild: sightings in Ishasha are likely but not guaranteed.
- Ishasha makes an ideal stop on the way to Bwindi's Buhoma sector.
- Bring binoculars. The birding along the channel is outstanding.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.
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