Breathtaking Queen Elizabeth national park safari with wildlife tour experiences in Uganda

The Medley of Wonders

Queen Elizabeth national park safari with wildlife tours

Queen Elizabeth national park safari in the park founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park and renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II of England. The park spans the 0° equator latitude, 0.2819° S latitude and 29.9636° E with Katwe explosion craters marking the park’s highest point at 1,350m above sea level, while the lowest point is at 910m, at Lake Edward. Reaching Queen Elizabeth national park is 374km from Kampala on a 8 hours drive and 269km from Kigali, Rwanda on a 5 hours drive.

Uganda's Queen Elizabeth national park safari experience

Queen Elizabeth national park is home to over 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. The Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination with diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for a classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees, and over 600 species of birds.

Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo, and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide tree climbing lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob.

Queen Elizabeth national park has the largest population of hippopotami in the world in the waters of the Kazinga channel. QENP, together with the adjacent Virunga National Park, was designated as a ‘lion conservation unit’ by the IUCN in 2006. Queen Elizabeth national park is also famous for its volcanic features, including volcanic cones and 52 deep craters, many with crater lakes, such as the Katwe craters, from which salt is extracted.

Top Queen Elizabeth national park safari packages

5 DAYS QUEEN ELIZABETH BIRDING SAFARI

A short 5 days birding Uganda safari takes you from Mabamba swamp to Queen Elizabeth and Semuliki national parks before returning back to Kampala. Much as its a 5 days short birding safari, it has some of the best unique bird sightings for example shoebills, Albertine rift endemics, Rwenzori highlands endemics, Guinea Congo biome endemics, martial eagles, grey crowned cranes, pigeons, kingfishers, doves, turacos, flamingos, pelicans, sunbirds, bee-eaters, horned bills etc.

8 DAYS QUEEN ELIZABETH PRIMATES SAFARI

Uganda 8 days Queen Elizabeth national park wildlife and primates safari is a perfect adventure experience offering the best sightings of the region. Along wildlife scenes of lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos, leopards, hyenas etc. you'll also track chimpanzees in the park's lowland forests. The other days engage you in gorilla trekking and golden monkeys in Bwindi and Mgahinga. You'll also enjoy a walking safari in Mburo before returning to Kampala.

15 DAYS UGANDA PRIMATES & WILDLIFE SAFARI

2 weeks long/ 15 days Uganda primates and wildlife safari itinerary includes 2 days of Queen Elizabeth national park experience. While in Queen Elizabeth national park, you'll enjoy boat cruises on Kazinga channel that bring along scenes of the world's largest hippo pods, huge Nile crocodiles, birds and numerous animals that approach the banks to quench their thirst. Game drives will offer sightings of tree climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, leopards antelopes etc. Elsewhere on the safari, you'll enjoy mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, golden monkeys in Mgahinga, chimpanzees in Kibale forest, cheetahs, ostriches, Africa's big 5, Murchison water falls, crater lakes, hot springs, lake Victoria shores an river Nile boat cruises.

19 DAYS UGANDA GORILLAS & KENYA WILDEBEEST MIGRATION SAFARI

Long 19 days Uganda Kenya safari combines the best adventure activities of the region in one itinerary. Imagine having mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, Murchison water falls, source of the Nile, flamingos at lake Nakuru, wildebeest migration and white sand beaches in the same itinerary. This is a perfect holiday package for both families and solo travelers. You spend 10 days in Uganda and 9 days in Kenya as you explore the best an African safari can offer for example Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos), giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, zebras, water bucks, warthogs, crocodiles, shoebills, ostriches, secretary birds, kori bustards, martial eagles, kingfisher, gulls, pigeons, egrets etc. Tropical white sand beach holiday at Diani is best way to end any safari and you're covered in this itinerary.

18 DAYS BIRDING UGANDA SAFARI WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH N.P

With Queen Elizabeth having the highest number of recorded bird species at 660+, the 18 days birding Uganda safari is a perfect itinerary with 4 days in the park. Birders will find this 18 days birdwatching Uganda safari amazing as they watch unique species along other activities like chimpanzee tracking, walking safaris, nature walks, lake Victoria shores tour, hiking, boat cruises and game drives. Some of the unique bird species to expect on this safari include shoebills, black headed gulls, grey crowned cranes, ostriches, martial eagles, kingfishers, kori bustards, secretary birds, Albertine rift endemics, Karamojong region endemics, Rwenzori region endemics, Guinea Congo biome species, fish eagles, owls etc.

How to go to/ access Queen Elizabeth national park on safari

Queen Elizabeth national park safari is one of Uganda’s most popular tourist destinations, annually receiving one of the highest number of visitors of any of the country’s national parks. Popular activities include chimp tracking in Kyambura Gorge, boat cruises, guided game drives including to view tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, night drives and nature walks. Visitors can also go on a lion experience with the Uganda Carnivore Program, with proceeds going toward carnivore conservation.

Tourists visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park make a 7 hours 30 minutes drive from Kampala to reach the park.
Queen Elizabeth national park is also connected by daily domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport, which land at Mweya Airstrip, Kihihi Airstrip and Kasese Airstrip. Tourist accommodations at the park include a range of lodges and tented camps.

Species you shall see on Queen Elizabeth national park safari

Queen Elizabeth supports at least 95 species of mammals, it boasts of 20 carnivores like the Lion, Leopards, side stripped jackal and spotted hyena among others. Most of Queen Elizabeth comprises open grassland and savannah which tends to be moist and woody in the west than the eastern part, Thorny Acacia dominates this savannah habitant with the high concentration of candelabra shrub a cactus that grows along the Kazinga channel and on the Kasenyi plains that harbor elephants, giraffes, elands, birds, antelopes, buffaloes, water bucks etc.

Activities on Queen Elizabeth national park safari

Cultural & community tours; As well as its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth national park has a fascinating cultural history. There are many opportunities for visitors to meet the local communities and enjoy storytelling, dance, music, and more. The gazetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities.
Equator crossing landmark; You also get to cross the equator again at the equator landmark in the park.
Safari game drives
Chimpanzee tracking
Birding/ bird watching
Boat cruises
Mountain Rwenzori sightings
Lion tracking
Filming & photography
Bush dining
Crater lakes tour
Nature walks & hiking

Mweya Peninsula and the Kazinga channel

Queen Elizabeth national park safari hub is found on Mweya peninsula 22km west of the Kasese-Mbarara road. Mweya which occupies an elevated plateau overlooking the Kazinga channel and lake Edward, is the site of an upmarket lodge, a marina for launch trips on the channel and a visitor information center. Launch trips on the Kazinga channel provide the most relaxing way to view game in QENP. The 2 hour return voyage between Mweya and the channel’s entrance into lake Edward cruise beside banks lined with resident hippos, crocodiles and water-birds, visiting elephants, buffaloes and antelopes. Kazinga channel has the highest concentration of hippopotami bloats in the world more than 5,000 in number.

Queen Elizabeth national park birding safari

Queen Elizabeth national park is an Important Bird Area (IBA) with about 5-6% of the world’s bird species population, about 25% of Africa’s bird species and the highest count of bird species in East Africa. Birding activities overlap with the wildlife viewing locations described above. Queen Elizabeth national park has more than 660 recorded bird species. Special highlights also include easy sightings of palearctic European immigrant birds especially between November to April. Careful searches for rare and restricted range forest species in Maramagambo forest; and memorable shoebills are also a special highlight for birders in the park’s remote lake Edward flats in Ishasha though they are more common in the Mabamba swamp.

So, Queen Elizabeth national park has savanna grassland endemics, low forest bird species, riverine endemics, papyrus/ swamp bird species, lake water birds and highland species that stay in the adjacent mount Rwenzori mountain ranges. Flamingos in Uganda are only found at Queen Elizabeth national park’s crater lake shores of Munyanyange crater lake, lake Katwe, lake Bunyampaka, lake Bagusa, lake Baseche and lake Nyamunuka. Flamingos flock in migrate into Uganda from Kenya and Tanzania’s lake Nakuru and Natron respectively and arrive in October till April. Other bird species to watch include; kingfishers, martial eagles, African hoopoes, black headed gulls, pelicans, grey crowned cranes, egrets, pigeons, warblers, sun birds, turacos, bee-eaters, stilts, starlings, horned bills, plantain eaters, kites, vultures etc.

Queen Elizabeth national park safari game drives

Kasenyi plains; Half an hour’s drive from Mweya, the open grasslands of Kasenyi provide the primary game viewing area in central QENP courtesy of resident herds of Ugandan kobs and the lions that prey on them.
Ishasha sector; Conveniently located on the road to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, QENP’s southern sector offers a classic game viewing experience under vast rift valley skies. Expect to see buffaloes, hippos, elephants, topis and more. The chance of sighting tree climbing lions resting up in the branches of shady fig trees.

Queen Elizabeth chimpanzee tracking safari

Kyambura Gorge; The forest-filled Kyambura gorge extends from the kichwamba escarpment to the Kazinga channel. Enjoy the giddy viewpoint on the edge of the 100m deep chasm before descending into the depths to track chimpanzees. Cost of chimpanzee tracking permits in Queen is $100 per person only age 15 years and above.
Maramagambo forest; At the foot of the Kichwamba Escarpment, the shady Maramagambo forest contrasts with the park’s open grassland. Guided walks afford sightings of primates and rare birds and visit lake Nyamusingire- formed by three crater lakes and home to the African finfoot- the copper rich blue lake and the Bat cave with its resident bat-gorged python.
Kalinzu forest reserve; Just outside Queen Elizabeth national park, you find Kalinzu forest reserve which harbors more than 300 habituated chimpanzee individuals. Cost of chimpanzee tracking permits in Kalinzu forest reserve is $140 per person.

Volcanic Explosion craters in Queen Elizabeth national park

Crater lakes Drive; Queen Elizabeth national park has 52 crater lakes that pock the landscape north of Mweya peninsular to remind us of the Albertine Rift’s violent tectonic history. A 27km crater drive between the Kabatoro and crater gates follows a breathtaking route around the rims of extinct craters filled variously with lakes, forests and grasslands. The Queen’s Pavilion, at the crater gate on the eastern edge of the crater area has been visited three times by British royalty. A small information center and coffee shop stands on the site with equator markers straddling the adjacent Kasese highway provide a popular photo opportunity.
Katwe salt lake; The people of Katwe town 12km from Mweya have been extracting salt from the saline lake Katwe using evaporation pan since the 14th century. Our guides will take you down into the crater to see the process. An adjacent lake Munyanyange is rich in water birds, including migrating lesser flamingo between August and November.
Kyambura wildlife Reserve; This small reserve to the east of Kyambura gorge is dotted with crater lakes that are visited seasonally by greater and lesser flamingos.

Best time to visit Queen Elizabeth national park

The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth national park is from June to September and December to February which are dry seasons with easily maneuverable dry trails. These dry seasons also offer higher chances of easily finding animals especially as they approach water sources to quench their thirst. Birders/ bird lovers can also consider wet/ green seasons from October to April for great sightings at the high and diverse bird population in the park during this time.

Lodges & accommodations on Queen Elizabeth national park safari

Into Uganda’s most popular game park are also numerous luxury mid-luxury and affordable safari lodges that have beautiful scenic views. Lodges of Queen Elizabeth safari park have the best combined touch of comfortable stay and African nature/ wilderness.

Mweya safari lodge

Mweya safari lodge is located at the Mweya peninsular in Queen Elizabeth national park at latitude -0.18874° S and longitude 29.90002° E in Uganda at 409km from Kampala, a 8 hours and 30 minutes drive. Also, Mweya lodge is 308km from Kigali, Rwanda, a 6 hours drive.

The Mweya safari lodge rates for classic rooms go for $396, deluxe rooms for $441 and superior rooms for $495.

You can get to/ access Mweya safari lodge by road or by a domestic flight for 1 hour and 10 minutes from Entebbe international airport or MAF- Kajjansi to Mweya airstrip that is in the same vicinity.

Activities you can do from Mweya safari lodge include;

Game drives & wilderness scenic views
Kazinga channel boat cruise
Bird watching
Tree climbing lions
Chimpanzee tracking
Nature walks & photography

Parkview safari lodge

Parkview safari lodge is located in Queen Elizabeth national park at latitude -0.22235° S and longitude 30.10633° E with 373km from Kampala on a 8 hours drive and 270km from Kigali, Rwanda for a 5 hours drive. You can also use a domestic flight from Entebbe to Mweya airstrip for 1 hour 5 minutes flight to Queen Elizabeth national park.

At Parkview safari lodge offers for single cottage/ rooms at $385, twin/ double cottages at $540 and family cottages at $650.

Activities that you engage in while at your stay from Parkview safari lodge;

Game drives & wilderness experience
Bird watching
Boat cruises at Kazinga channel
Chimpanzee tracking
Tree climbing lions

Kyambura gorge lodge

Kyambura gorge lodge is situated at the edges of Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park at latitude -0.20661° S and longitude 30.10383° E with 375km from Kampala taking a 8 hours drive and 270km from Kigali, Rwanda taking a 5 hours drive. A domestic flight take 1 hour 5 minutes from Entebbe to Mweya airstrip.

Staying at Kyambura gorge lodge offers rates are at;

Standard bandas at $1,570 per person sharing and $1,870 for single occupancy
Deluxe bandas at $1,895 per person sharing and $2,265 for single occupancy

Activities you can take on from your stay at Kyambura gorge lodge include;

Chimpanzee tracking
Game drives & wilderness tours
Bird watching
Boat cruises at Kazinga channel
Tree climbing lions

Acacia wilderness Mweya lodge

Acacia wilderness Mweya lodge is found at the Mweya peninsular in Queen Elizabeth national park at latitude -0.19243° S and longitude° E with a 414km from Kampala taking 9 hours drive and 308km from Kigali, Rwanda taking a 6 hours drive. For quick transfer, a flight from Entebbe to Mweya airstrip will take 1 hour 10 minutes to arrive.

The Acacia wilderness Mweya lodge offers rooms at rates of;

Single rooms at $150
Double rooms at $255
Triple rooms at $475
Family suites starting at $360

Activities to engage in while at Acacia wilderness Mweya lodge are;

Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
Chimpanzee tracking
Game drives & wilderness safaris
Bird watching
Tree climbing lions

Elephant plains safari lodge

Elephant plains safari lodge is located in Queen Elizabeth’s rich game savannah plains at latitude 0.00291° S and longitude 29.99143° E with 400km from Kampala on a 8 hours 30 minutes drive and 299km from Kigali, Rwanda on a 6 hours drive. A faster access can be through a 1 hour 5 minutes domestic flight from Entebbe to Mweya airstrip.

The Elephant plains lodge offer rooms at different rates options;

Single occupancy starting at $640
Double occupancy starting at $470
Extra bed for child (below 18 yrs) starting at $245

Activities to take on while at your stay from Elephant plains lodge;

Game drives & wilderness safari tours
Chimpanzee tracking
Bird watching
Boat cruise at Kazinga channel
Nature walks & scenic views