Queen Elizabeth National Park

Back to Uganda

Set against the Rwenzori Mountains between Lakes Edward and George, Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s classic savannah park — a mosaic of grassland, crater lakes and euphorbia forest famous for lions that climb trees and a channel so thick with hippos you can hear it before you see it.

Highlights

The Kazinga Channel boat safari drifts past one of the densest hippo populations on earth, with elephant and buffalo lining the banks. In the remote Ishasha sector, lions drape themselves through the limbs of giant fig trees — one of Africa’s strangest sights. The sunken Kyambura Gorge adds chimpanzee tracking, and more than 600 bird species make this Uganda’s birding capital.

Best Time to Visit

Game viewing peaks in the dry months of June to August and December to February, when wildlife concentrates near the channel. The green seasons bring dramatic skies and great birding.

Where to Stay

Kyambura Gorge Lodge overlooks the ‘Valley of Apes’ from the park’s edge — our favourite address here by far.

Queen Elizabeth stars in our Uganda Wildlife Safari & Gorillas — or see all our Uganda journeys.