Queen Elizabeth National Park, formerly known as Kazinga National Park, is located in the western part of Uganda. It is one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations and a must-visit on your Uganda safari.
The park is characterized by Savannah grasslands, acacia woodlands, swamps, and forests. Queen Elizabeth National Park covers an area of 1,978 square kilometers, making it the second-largest national park in Uganda.
The park was initially founded as Kazinga National Park in 1952, but its name was changed two years later when Queen Elizabeth II of England visited.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to 95 mammalian species and 612 species of birds. The park features stunning craters such as Katwe, lakes, the Kazinga Channel, Kyambura Gorge, rolling hills, and views of the mighty Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon,” making it a true gem.
The Savannah plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park are home to various animals that tourists can see during game drives.
These include lions, leopards, elephants, warthogs, bushbucks, reedbucks, waterbucks, Ugandan kob, giant forest hogs, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, and many more.
The Ishasha sector of the park is particularly famous for its tree-climbing lions, a unique species also found in Lake Manyara, Tanzania, and nowhere else in the world.
Top Things to Do & See in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Below are some of the top things to do and see in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Hiking & Nature Walks: Hiking and nature walks in the park can be done along the Ishasha River and in the Maramagambo Forest. These walks allow tourists to encounter wildlife on foot, including warthogs, bushbucks, and primates such as black-and-white colobus monkeys. Birdwatching opportunities are abundant during these walks.
- Bird-watching Safaris: Queen Elizabeth National Park is a birder’s paradise. Bird enthusiasts can explore over 600 species of birds. Some notable species found in the park include shoebill storks, African skimmers, papyrus canaries, martial eagles, pink-backed pelicans, black-rumped buttonquails, Chaplin’s flycatchers, collared pratincoles, palm-nut vultures, Pel’s fishing owls, western banded fish eagles, spotted redshanks, black bee-eaters, Caspian plovers, African finfoots, Heuglin’s gulls, red-chested sunbirds, common sand martins, great white pelicans, great blue turacos, Rufous-bellied herons, broad-billed rollers, crab plovers, and African hobbies, among others.
- Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel: An afternoon boat safari on the Kazinga Channel is one of the highlights of a visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Kazinga Channel, the longest natural channel in the world, connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel’s shores are teeming with wildlife quenching their thirst under the scorching sun. Elephants, hippos, and crocodiles are a common sight and can often be seen up close from the boat. The channel also hosts a variety of waterbirds, making the experience even more spectacular.
- Chimpanzee Trekking at Kyambura Gorge: Kyambura Gorge, located in the Kyambura sector of the park, is named after the Kyambura River that flows through its lush vegetation and provides water to the wildlife. The gorge is the longest chasm in East Africa, with an underground forest lying 100 meters below the Kichambwa Rift Escarpment. Kyambura Gorge is home to chimpanzees, making it an ideal destination for chimpanzee trekking. Other primates found in the gorge include olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
- The Equator and Cultural Experiences: Queen Elizabeth National Park is crossed by the Equator, offering visitors the unique opportunity to stand with one leg in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. This spot is perfect for photo shoots. Cultural experiences are another highlight of the park. Visitors can meet locals and explore their unique ways of life. The Kikorongo Equator Cultural Performers put on energetic displays of traditional dances and music, offering tourists an authentic taste of African culture.
- Katwe Salt Mines and the Bat Caves: Lake Katwe is famous for its salt mining industry, which dates back to the 15th century. Local residents still use traditional methods to extract salt, and visitors can observe the entire process. This fascinating activity is just a few kilometers from the Kabatoro gate of the park. The bat caves within Queen Elizabeth National Park are home to numerous bats and their predators, including pythons. A designated viewing room allows tourists to safely watch the bats and pythons in their natural habitat.
Accommodation – Where to Stay
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a variety of accommodation options, ranging from luxury to mid-range and budget facilities. Popular lodges include Jacana Safari Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Enjojo Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Park View Safari Lodge, Marafiki Lodge, Buffalo Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Kitandara Hippo Hill Camp, Katara Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge, Simba Safari Lodge, and Kingfisher Lodge Kichwamba, among others.
Best Time to Visit
The park’s climate is warm throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during the dry seasons from May to September and December to January.
During these months, the grass is shorter, making wildlife easier to spot on the plains.
How to Get There
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located approximately 420 kilometers from Kampala via the Mbarara road and 410 kilometers via the Fort Portal road. The journey takes 5-6 hours by road.
