Queen Elizabeth National Park

Why visit

Queen Elizabeth packs an unusual range into one park. In a single stay you can drift down the Kazinga Channel past rafts of hippo and drinking elephants, watch for the famous tree-climbing lions draped in fig branches at Ishasha, and descend into a forest gorge to track chimpanzees. It's the natural savannah counterpoint to a Bwindi gorilla trek — and the two pair beautifully.

Wildlife & landscapes

Diverse by design: elephant, buffalo, lion (including the tree-climbing prides at Ishasha), leopard, and large hippo and bird populations along the Kazinga Channel. Chimpanzees and other primates inhabit Kyambura Gorge. The setting spans open savannah, crater lakes and wetlands beneath the Rwenzori Mountains, giving exceptional birdlife (one of Africa's highest park bird counts).

Best time to visit

Game viewing is good year-round, easiest in the dry seasons (June–September, December–February) when wildlife concentrates near water; the wetter months are lush and superb for birding. See → Best time to visit Uganda.

Things to do here

• Kazinga Channel boat safari — the signature: close encounters with hippo, elephant and waterbirds.
• Game drives — savannah plains and the Ishasha sector for tree-climbing lions.
• Chimpanzee tracking — in Kyambura Gorge (permit; where available).
• Crater-lake drives & birding — the explosion craters and wetlands.

Know before you go

• Getting there: light aircraft to Mweya/Kasese airstrips, or road from Kampala/Entebbe; often combined with Bwindi.
• Permits & fees: park fees apply; chimp tracking in Kyambura needs a permit. Verify current rates.
• How long: 2–3 nights to take in the channel, a game drive circuit and (optionally) chimps.

How it fits into a journey

Queen Elizabeth is the flexible middle of many Uganda routes. It sits between Kibale and Bwindi, so it can turn a primate-focused trip into a fuller wildlife journey without sending travellers far off line. The Kazinga Channel gives an easy, rewarding boat safari; Ishasha can add the search for tree-climbing lions; Kyambura offers a forest thread for those who want another primate experience.

The design choice is which sector matters most. A channel-focused stay near Mweya gives water, birds and classic game drives. A night farther south at Ishasha positions travellers for the lions and for the onward road to Bwindi. We often use two nights as the minimum, but three makes the park feel less like a transfer stop and more like the wildlife heart its name suggests.

It is particularly valuable for travellers who want Uganda to feel broader than primates alone. The park adds elephants, buffalo, hippo, big cats, crater lakes and open views of the Rwenzori foothills, while still keeping the journey connected to forest experiences. That variety helps first-time Uganda travellers understand the country's range.

We avoid trying to do every sector in too little time. A focused Queen Elizabeth stay is usually better than a rushed checklist.

For many itineraries, that means choosing either channel-and-crater depth or an Ishasha-led route toward Bwindi, then letting the rest of Uganda carry the remaining wildlife story.

That restraint makes the park more rewarding, because each day has a clear purpose instead of becoming a race across a very varied landscape.

Related Nobu journeys

• (Uganda journeys to be added; start with Plan Your Journey.)