Queen Elizabeth National Park
Safari suitability: 8/10
Find your tourThe park does contain four of the five (no rhino) and is exquisite in scenery and other wildlife sightings.
What YAS members think
Highlights
- Queen Elizabeth National Park spans the equator
- The park is one of the most popular parks in the country due to its magnificent biodiversity
- The park is home to over 95 species of mammals and more than 600 bird species
- Ideal for bird watching, chimp tracking, hiking and Nile cruises
About Queen Elizabeth National Park
Named after Queen Elizabeth II and established in 1952, Queen Elizabeth National Park spans an estimated 1,987 km² (764 miles²). Located in western Uganda, the park covers the districts of Kases, Kamwenge, Bushenyi and Rukungiri, stretching from the crater foothills of the Rwenzori peaks in the North and along Lake Edward to the remote Ishasha River in the south. The park has the highest bio-diversity rating of any national park in the world, and it is arguably one of Uganda’s most picturesque and popular parks.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is an idyllic habitat location for various species of wildlife, offering diverse ecosystems, including savannah, humid forests and sparkling lakes. Similar to most areas in Uganda, wildlife in the park decreased significantly during the civil war. However, over the years, the numbers have been replenished and continue to rise. The park is currently home to over 95 species of mammal including buffalo, elephants, lions, leopards and ten primate species including the chimpanzee. And, for those who wish to see all their hippos in one, tidy place, the parks boasts one of the highest concentrations of hippos in the entire world! It is also worth visiting for the birding alone. With over 600 species of birds, the largest in any protected area in East Africa, it is sure to offer an unforgettable experience to bird watchers. Not only is Queen Elizabeth National Park known for sightings of some of Africa’s most iconic bird species and chimp tracking, it also provides scenery ideal for hiking and cruises along the Kazinga channel of the Nile, which flows from its headwaters in Lake Victoria and joins the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt.
The easiest route to the park is from Kampala, through Mbarara, and is about a five to six hour drive. Charter flights can also be arranged to the surrounding areas of Kasese, Mweya and Ishasha.
Best times to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
Due to Uganda’s location along the equator, temperatures tend to fluctuate minimally. In general, daytime temperatures range from 18 C (64 F) to 28 C (82 F). It can get cooler at night, so it is recommended that travelers bring layers of clothing. The driest months tend to be January and February, but there is always a chance of rainfall.
Kenya
If you find yourself in Uganda and you want a day off in the wild, this is an amazing park to visit. Getting there from Kampala has varied means and very pocket friendly. We are three of us and we board a bus headed Kasese. One of us is a Ugandan and knows the place quite well. In Kasese, there are many taxis for hire. They accept day trips in the park and charge from between $100 to $120 a day. I find it quite a cool bargain for three. There is one main road which traverses the park. Though it is so full of pot holes, at least it's tarmacked. Cruising the plains, we see cheetahs, buffalo herds, Ugandan kobs and elephants. This is Ishasha and lions here climb the fig trees around. They are either hiding from the nuisance of tsetse flies or timing wandering kobs to pounce on them in oblivion! Up the Maragambo tropical woods and here, Primates rule! Chimpanzees, vervet and black and white colobus monkeys are in plenty. I find the baboons here so stubborn. They line along the paths and on sight of a car they are alert enough to snatch food from unsuspecting riders! Our ride takes us up to the famous Kazinga channel. We have a boat ride for a fee. Along the banks are hippos, elephants, lions and almost all animals visit this river at least for a drink am told. The day seems short and I feel we aren't done with this park. There is so much to see and explore but that can wait another day.
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Damasius Dominick from Dakado Tanzania Safari here. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, and it was an unforgettable experience! The park's stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich ecosystems make it a must-visit destination for any nature enthusiast. The highlight of my trip was the safari drive, where I was lucky enough to spot lions, elephants, buffalo, and even a leopard! The knowledgeable guides provided insightful commentary about the animals and their habitats, enhancing the experience even further. The boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel was another fantastic part of the tour. We saw a variety of bird species, hippos, and crocodiles up close. The serene environment and breathtaking views along the water made for an incredibly relaxing and scenic adventure. The accommodations within the park were comfortable and offered spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The staff were friendly and attentive, ensuring that every aspect of the stay was enjoyable. Overall, Queen Elizabeth National Park exceeded my expectations in every way. Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, a bird watcher, or simply looking to experience the beauty of Uganda, this park is an ideal destination. I highly recommend it to anyone considering a trip to this incredible part of the world.
It was an amazing experience and great feedback from my travelers who were impressed beyond their expectations. Little did they think of how amazing Uganda was until we took them to a memorable journey around the great parks in Uganda and Queen Elizabeth National Park was their number one among the other parks they visited. Well done team.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the medley of wonders with spectacular and beautiful sceneries. We spotted a number of animals including tree climbing lions in Ishasha , elephants, buffaloes, and a number of water birds while on our boat cruise. Queen Elizabeth is worth visiting.
At Queen Elizabeth National park we stayed at Buffalo Safari Lodge, the staff were welcoming, and food was good. we saw many animals but lions and a leopard lien in the thickets made our day. A boat safari on Kazinga Channel made as see several birds species and animals including buffaloes, elephants, hippos, crocs and many more.
A medley of wonders. For those who wish to view a number of eco systems and a variety of animal species, Queen Elizabeth is the place. From the vast savannah, the water bodies, forest (Kyambura gorge), the craters, peninsulas to animals, that live in savannahs, hoof stocks, primates, reptiles, the park has it all. It has four of the big five animals; the elephants, lions, Leopards and buffalos. Highly recommended.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a dream destination, the stunning beauty of the conservation area is overly amazing. My eyes would not get off the dotted crater lakes of the park, the southern corridor of the Ishasha sector was full of herds of the African elephants grazing in the vast savannah grassy lands. We identified many waterbucks, and bushbucks en route to the Mweya peninsular.
Whenever I go to Queen Elizabeth National Park there is a high chance to see wild animals in the park. Good roads and animals are amazing. My clients were excited to see lion on the trees of QENP.
I have been experiencing Queen Elizabeth National Park for a number of times both guiding my clients or doing my tours, biding and other activities. I have found it very nice and rewarding with a number of wildlife, boat cruise, birds and many other things. All my tours to QENP have been so rewarding for the best knowledge I have about it, I recommend this touristic destination for the most stunning, rewarding, and amazing wildlife experience.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has a treasure: Kyambura Gorge, which is home to chimpanzee and an oasis to most animals during the dry season. It's beautiful and green.
Every corner surprises you with its own attraction leaving your clients surprised about the beauty and the excitement this destination brings to their holiday stay. Queen Elizabeth doesn't disappoint your choice of making it your destination. Whatever you included in the itinerary, will be on plate on arrival.
Driving to Queen Elizabeth National Park
The easiest route to the park is from Kampala, through Mbarara, and is about a six to seven hour drive.
It's also possible to drive from Kigali, Rwanda, with the drive being slightly shorter than it is from Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth's proximity to Bwindi, Mgahinga and Kibale parks make it easy to see visit several parks in one Uganda safari.
Flying to Queen Elizabeth National Park
There are daily flights from Entebbe to Kasese, Uganda, which is located about an hour outside of the park. The flight is around two hours in duration.
The following airlines travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
AeroLink Uganda Limited is a domestic airline offering both scheduled and charter flights into Uganda's national parks. From its base at Entebbe International Airport, AeroLink using its Cessna Grand Caravans, offers daily flights into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips), Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasese and Mweya airstrips), Murchison Falls (Bugungu, Pakuba and Chobe airstrips), Semuliki National Park (Semliki airstrip) and Kidepo Valley National Park (Apoka airstrip). Effective 1st June 2019, in partnership with its sister company Airkenya Express Limited, Aerolink commenced scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport to the famous Maasai Mara in Kenya via Kisumu International Airport for Immigration. AeroLink Uganda is affiliated to Airkenya Express in Kenya and Regional Air Services in Tanzania. Visit website
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Regional services within Kenya. At Airkenya safety and security are of paramount importance. As one of Africas leading aviation companies Airkenya aspires to reach new heights of service delivery. At Airkenya our diverse operations are looked into with eagle eyes. Our aircraft are thoroughly inspected by highly trained engineers to ensure our passengers enjoy consistently smooth safe flights. Our excellent maintenance facilities have been approved by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority in accordance with international airworthiness safety standards. This together with our dedicated ground team has secured Airkenya an impressive track record for safety. Visit website
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Based in Kampala, operates scheduled and charter services across eastern and central Africa. Eagle Air is a Private Ltd Company specialising in the provision of Charter and Schedule Air services both within Uganda and around the East & Central Africa Region. Eagle Air was incorporated as an air operator in June 1994. Visit website
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