Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most well-known and loved national park in Uganda. It lies in the southwest of the country, close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park is rich in wildlife. You may spot famous tree-climbing lions, large herds of elephants, and even chimpanzees. Every game drive brings something new. What truly sets Queen Elizabeth apart is its diverse landscape. In one moment, you are driving through wide open savannah. Shortly after, you can find yourself standing nearly 100 meters deep in a gorge, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. This dramatic change in scenery makes every visit exciting and unforgettable.

Let's start with some facts

Before we tell you everything about Queen Elizabeth National Park, we will first list five interesting facts about this Uganda safari park:

Queen Elizabeth National Park covers an area of about 2,000 square kilometers, making it one of Uganda’s largest national parks.
The park is recognized as a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, with local communities living inside the protected area.
It is one of Africa’s most biodiverse parks, home to 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species.
The park is famous for its rare tree-climbing lions, which can be seen resting in fig trees.
Kyambura Gorge, a deep natural gorge inside the park, contains a tropical rainforest where you can enjoy chimpanzee trekking.

A diverse and surprising landscape

Queen Elizabeth National Park is best known for its wide open savannah. The landscape feels endless. You can see far into the distance. Golden grasslands stretch across the park, broken by scattered acacia trees. Water is a key feature here. The Kazinga Channel runs through the heart of the park, linking Lake Edward and Lake George. Along its banks, wildlife gathers in large numbers. You can easily spot elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and countless birds during a boat safari.

The park is also home to several crater lakes. These areas are quieter and less crowded. Wildlife is limited, but the scenery is beautiful and peaceful.

One of the most remarkable places in the park is Kyambura Gorge. This deep, green gorge hides a tropical rainforest below the savannah. As you walk down into it, the landscape changes completely. You move from open plains into dense forest. Inside the gorge, you may see hippos in the river and track chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

Lots of wild animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a variety of wildlife species. There are hippos, lions, leopards, large herds of elephants, buffalo, vultures, and beautiful pink flamingos.

In terms of wildlife, one animal stands out: tree-climbing lions. These can be found in the Ishasha sector, in the southern region of the park. Along with Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania, Ishasha the only place in the world where you can see these lions.

Because Queen Elizabeth National Park also features bushy areas, there are many species of primates, from the black-and-white colobus and red-tailed monkey to chimpanzees.

Activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park

There are many safari activities you can do in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The national park has a diverse landscape that you can explore in a variety of ways:

1. Game Drive

A traditional game drive is a must-do during your safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. In fact, you can do three or four game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park and experience a unique landscape each time – the park is that diverse.

If you want to take your game drive to the next level, you can choose the lion tracking experience. This special activity allows you to visit a pride of lions that is being closely monitored for research. An expert guide joins you and explains the work behind the project. You learn why the lions are tracked and how the research helps protect them. The experience is both exciting and educational.

You get incredibly close to these wild animals, without disturbing them. The lions continue their daily routines as if you are not there. If you are very lucky, you may even arrive just after a successful hunt and see the pride feeding on their prey.

2. Boat Safaris

A boat safari on the Kazinga Channel is one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The channel is actually a wide, peaceful river. Its current is so gentle that it’s flow is almost unnoticeable. This waterway is famous for having the highest concentration of hippos in the world. During the cruise, you will see dozens of them resting in the water.

Elephants often come down to the banks to bathe and drink. Crocodiles lie quietly along the shore, soaking up the sun. The Kazinga Channel is also a paradise for bird lovers. You can spot colorful kingfishers, large pelicans, African fish eagles, and many other waterbirds. The slow pace of the boat allows you to enjoy every moment and take in the beauty around you.

3. Chimpanzee trekking

The Kyambura Gorge is one of the most unique places in Uganda for chimpanzee trekking. It is a deep natural crack in the earth, stretching for about 11 kilometers and dropping nearly 100 meters below the surrounding land. What makes this place so special is the contrast. One moment, you are driving through open savannah, spotting elephants and lions. Minutes later, you descend into a lush tropical rainforest. The air feels cooler. The light changes. Forest sounds surround you. Inside the gorge, chimpanzees live among towering trees and thick vegetation. Trekking here feels like stepping into another world. The sudden shift in landscape makes the experience unforgettable.

4. Visit the salt flats

Many visitors come to Queen Elizabeth National Park for wildlife and landscapes. But the area also offers rich cultural experiences and a glimpse into local life. One of the most interesting visits is to the salt flats. Here, you learn how salt has been mined for generations using traditional methods. Local communities work in the pans every day, just as their ancestors did. Visiting the salt flats shows you a different side of the park. It is not just about animals and scenery. It is about people, history, and daily life. This experience adds depth and meaning to your time in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

5. Visit to the crater lakes

Along the northern edge of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will find a series of explosion crater lakes. These lakes were formed long ago by volcanic activity and now shape a dramatic landscape. You can drive along scenic roads that pass close to the lakes. The land around them is grassy, rugged, and noticeably drier than other parts of the park. This contrast makes the deep blue and green lakes stand out even more. The views are wide and impressive. Rolling hills, sharp crater edges, and quiet waters come together to create one of the most beautiful landscapes in the area. It is a peaceful place and a perfect spot to stop, take photos, and enjoy the scenery.

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