Updated
Queen Elizabeth National Park covers about 1,978 km² of savannah, swamp, crater lakes and forest in western Uganda, and has recorded around 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. The animals most visitors see are elephants, buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles, Uganda kob, waterbuck and warthogs, with good chances of lions, including the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Chimpanzees live in Kyambura Gorge, and the Kazinga Channel boat trip is the park’s best wildlife experience.
What you are likely to see
Each part of the park has its own highlights. These are the main animals and where to look:
- Elephants, buffaloes and hippos along the Kazinga Channel and on the Mweya peninsula
- Nile crocodiles basking on the channel banks
- Lions and Uganda kob on the Kasenyi plains, the main game-drive area
- Tree-climbing lions in fig and acacia trees in the Ishasha sector in the south
- Topi in Ishasha, the only part of the park where they are common
- Leopards, seen mostly around Mweya and Kasenyi at dawn and dusk
- Giant forest hogs and warthogs, often around Mweya
- Chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and primates in Maramagambo Forest
The Kazinga Channel and Kasenyi
The Kazinga Channel links Lake George and Lake Edward and runs for about 32 km. A two-hour boat trip from Mweya passes close to hippo pods, buffaloes and elephants drinking, crocodiles and huge numbers of waterbirds. The Kasenyi plains, north of the channel, have big herds of Uganda kob and the lions that hunt them. See our guide to the Kazinga Channel.
Ishasha
Ishasha, about two and a half to three hours south of Mweya, is quieter and best known for lions that rest in trees during the heat of the day. It sits on the route between the north of the park and Bwindi, so many visitors pass through on the way to gorilla trekking. Read our guide to the tree-climbing lions.
Birds
The channel is excellent for pelicans, African skimmers, kingfishers and fish eagles. Lake George swamps hold papyrus specialists, and the shoebill is sometimes recorded there. Lesser flamingos visit the salt lakes near Katwe in some seasons. Maramagambo Forest adds forest birds. Our hippo watching guide covers the best water-based viewing.
Planning
Two or three nights covers Kasenyi, the channel, Kyambura and Ishasha. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November; most routes continue from Ishasha to Bwindi. See our gorillas and Queen Elizabeth combination.
Frequently asked questions
Elephants, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, Uganda kob, lions, leopards, chimps and over 600 bird species.
In the Ishasha sector in the south of the park.
No. Uganda’s only rhinos are at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Yes, on guided treks in Kyambura Gorge.
