Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited wildlife area and one of the most biologically diverse national parks in the world — straddling the Albertine Rift Valley in western Uganda, it contains an extraordinary range of habitats including open savannah, dense forest patches, wetlands, and the 40-kilometre Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes George and Edward, which together support over 95 mammal species, more than 600 bird species, and the famous tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector in the park’s south. Queen Elizabeth NP is the centrepiece of western Uganda on any Uganda safari combining Bwindi gorilla trekking.
- Area: 1,978 km² in western Uganda; established 1952; UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
- Mammals: 95+ species including lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard, chimpanzee, Uganda kob, topi, warthog, giant forest hog
- Birds: 612 species — one of Africa’s highest park species counts; includes shoebill in Maramagambo swamp
- The Ishasha sector: southern sector; famous for tree-climbing lions that rest in fig trees; 4-5 hour drive from the main park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most visited wildlife area and one of the most biologically diverse national parks in the world. Straddling the Albertine Rift Valley in western Uganda, it contains an extraordinary range of habitats — open savannah, tropical forest, wetlands, crater lakes, and the Kazinga Channel connecting two rift valley lakes — that support an exceptional diversity of wildlife. In 2027 a three-day visit to Queen Elizabeth gives you access to one of Africa’s great wildlife assemblages.
The park has recorded over 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species — more bird species than any other park in East Africa. This guide covers the major species you can expect to see on a standard Queen Elizabeth safari itinerary.
Big Cats
Lion: Queen Elizabeth is famous for its tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector in the south. These lions habitually rest in large fig trees during the heat of the day — a behaviour rarely seen elsewhere in Africa. The northern Kasenyi plains also have lion prides. This is Uganda’s best location for reliable lion sightings.
Leopard: Present throughout the park but secretive. Night drives give the best chances of sightings. The Kasenyi area and Mweya peninsula have the most frequent leopard reports.
Elephants
Queen Elizabeth has a large and growing elephant population of over 2,500 animals. Elephants are seen daily, particularly in the Kasenyi area and along the Kazinga Channel. The channel boat trip regularly produces close encounters with elephants drinking and bathing at the water’s edge. The population includes large bulls with impressive tusks.
Buffalo
African buffalo are extremely common throughout Queen Elizabeth. Herds of several hundred are regularly encountered on game drives. Large bulls often accompany herds of cattle egrets that ride on their backs. Buffalo are one of the park’s most reliable sightings and old bulls — “dagga boys” — are frequently seen along the Kazinga Channel.
Hippo and Crocodile
The Kazinga Channel boat trip passes some of the highest hippo densities in Africa — over 5,000 hippos use the channel. Nile crocodiles are equally abundant and visible throughout the park’s waterways. Both species are best observed on the twice-daily channel boat trips.
Primates
Chimpanzee: The Kyambura Gorge sector has a habituated chimpanzee community that can be tracked. Sightings are not guaranteed but are successful on most days. This is the most accessible chimpanzee trekking in Uganda for visitors combining Queen Elizabeth with gorilla trekking at Bwindi.
Other primates: Olive baboon, black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkey, and l’Hoest’s monkey are all present in the forest areas of the park.
Other Mammals
Uganda kob — an antelope with the male’s striking orange-brown coat — is the park’s most abundant antelope and the species featured on Uganda’s coat of arms. Topi, warthog, bushbuck, waterbuck, and reedbuck are all regularly seen. Hyena and jackal are present and visible particularly on night drives. Giant forest hog is found in the forest areas.
Birds
Queen Elizabeth’s 600-plus bird species include: shoebill (Katunguru area), African skimmer, African fish eagle, martial eagle, African crowned eagle, goliath heron, saddle-billed stork, and all five Uganda kingfisher species on the Kazinga Channel. The Maramagambo Forest holds forest species including hornbills, turacos, and numerous forest specials.
Best Time to Visit Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth is open year-round. The dry seasons (June-August and December-February) give the best game viewing on the savannah. The Kazinga Channel boat trips are excellent throughout the year. The Ishasha tree-climbing lions are most reliably seen during the June to August dry season when animals concentrate under fig trees for shade.
Plan Your 2027 Queen Elizabeth Safari
The gorilla trekking permit costs $800 in 2027. Queen Elizabeth is Uganda’s most popular national park and is easily combined with gorilla trekking at Bwindi, just 2 to 3 hours away. A 5 to 7 day itinerary covering both parks gives you mountain gorillas, tree-climbing lions, and over 600 bird species. Contact us to plan your 2027 Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi safari.
What mammals are most reliably seen at Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth NP offers reliable mammal sightings across multiple species. Uganda kob: the national animal of Uganda is abundant; herds of hundreds are visible on the Kasenyi plains; the male kob lek (competitive territory defence) is one of Uganda’s most spectacular behaviours. African elephant: large herds on the savannah and near the channel; visible from the launch trip. Hippo: the Kazinga Channel has one of the highest hippo densities in Africa; the boat safari passes within metres of large pods. Cape buffalo: large herds throughout the park; very abundant. Lions: Kasenyi area and Ishasha sector; the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha are Uganda’s most photographed lion attraction. Topi: a chestnut-red antelope with bluish legs; found on the Kasenyi savannah; stands sentinel on termite mounds. Warthog: everywhere in the park; families with piglets running with tails erect are a Uganda safari classic.
What is the Kazinga Channel boat safari and what do you see?
The Kazinga Channel boat safari is one of Uganda’s finest wildlife experiences and the highlight of most Queen Elizabeth visits. The channel: 40km long, connecting Lakes George and Edward; the water brings wildlife from both banks; the boat travels west from the Mweya Peninsula. What you see: hippos — the most dramatic sighting with pods of 40-80 animals; Nile crocodiles on banks; buffalos and elephants drinking and bathing; African fish eagle calling from trees; pied kingfisher, malachite kingfisher, African skimmer; yellow-billed stork, great white pelican, marabou stork; monitor lizards on banks. Departure times: morning (8am) and afternoon (3pm) launches from Mweya jetty; 2-hour duration; the afternoon light is excellent for photography; the morning is cooler and birds are more active. Booking: through UWA at the Mweya gate or through your lodge; cost approximately USD 30-40 per person.
What makes the Ishasha tree-climbing lions unique?
Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions are one of only two populations in the world known to habitually rest in trees. The behaviour: the Ishasha lions regularly climb and rest in the branches of large fig trees on the savannah; they may be 4-8 metres off the ground; a group of lions distributed through a single fig tree is an extraordinary sight. Why they climb: several theories exist; the most likely explanations are avoiding insects and flies at ground level, catching breezes to stay cool, and a view advantage for spotting prey. The two populations: Ishasha in Uganda and the Manyara lion population in Tanzania are the only two regularly tree-climbing lion populations documented in Africa; it is not a universal lion behaviour. Seeing them: morning game drives in Ishasha sector; the main trees where they rest are known to local guides; success rate is high with an experienced guide; Ishasha is approximately 5 hours from the main Mweya area of the park.
What are the best bird species to see at Queen Elizabeth NP?
Queen Elizabeth NP’s 612 bird species makes it one of Africa’s most species-rich parks. African fish eagle: the iconic calling bird of the Kazinga Channel; ubiquitous and spectacular; the call is the sound of African water. Shoebill: found in the Maramagambo swamp within the park; access requires a boat trip into the papyrus; not guaranteed but sightings occur. African skimmer: flies low over the channel with the lower mandible cutting the water; one of the most elegant of African waterbirds. Goliath heron: the world’s largest heron at 140-150cm; stands motionless at the channel edge. Papyrus gonolek: a papyrus-endemic bird of the channel margins; red below, black above. Black bee-eater: a striking, largely black bee-eater found at the forest edge. White-backed night heron: roosting by day in Maramagambo Forest; one of Africa’s most sought-after herons.
How do you plan a Queen Elizabeth NP itinerary and what is the best base?
Queen Elizabeth NP is best visited with 2-3 nights to cover the main activities. Basing at Mweya Peninsula: the main accommodation cluster is on the Mweya Peninsula jutting into the Kazinga Channel; ideal for the channel launch and Kasenyi game drives; Mweya Safari Lodge and Institute of Ecology bandas are the main options. Basing at Ishasha: the southern sector is 80km from Mweya; staying at Ishasha Wilderness Camp or similar focuses your trip on the tree-climbing lions; worth combining with a night or two at Mweya for the channel. Recommended 3-night plan: Night 1-2 Mweya (afternoon arrival, channel launch, morning Kasenyi game drive); Night 3 Ishasha (drive south, afternoon arrival, evening and morning tree-climbing lion searches then continue to Bwindi). The Bwindi connection: Ishasha is the most convenient Queen Elizabeth departure for continuing to Bwindi; the drive from Ishasha to Bwindi is approximately 2 hours.
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