Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a protected area in western Uganda that spans diverse habitats including savanna, wetlands, crater lakes and riparian woodland and lies along Uganda’s western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park is one of Uganda’s most visited wildlife reserves and supports a range of large mammals and bird species.

Key attractions include the Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George and concentrates hippos and waterbirds, the Mweya and Kasenyi plains for traditional game drives, and the Ishasha sector in the south noted for lions that climb trees. Visitors commonly use road safaris, boat trips on the Kazinga Channel and guided game drives to see wildlife.

The park encompasses a mosaic of volcanic crater lakes, marshes and open grasslands at the lower slopes of the Rwenzori foothills. Major access points are the towns of Kasese and Mweya, and the park lies within a few hours’ drive west of Fort Portal and Kasese towns.

• Tree-climbing lions: Tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector are an unusual behavioral phenomenon and are most often seen late afternoon or early morning.
• Best wildlife viewing: Boat trips on the Kazinga Channel are the most reliable method to see large numbers of hippos and Nile crocodiles and are typically done at dawn or late afternoon.

What to See#

• Ishasha: Ishasha sector in the south of the park known for sightings of tree-climbing lions on fig and acacia trees.
• Kazinga Channel: Kazinga Channel - a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George that supports dense concentrations of hippos and waterbirds and is popular for boat safaris.
• Mweya and Kasenyi: Mweya Peninsula and Kasenyi Plains - central safari areas with high visibility game drives and river viewpoints used as park visitor hubs.

• Plan game drives for early morning or late afternoon and reserve a Kazinga Channel boat cruise around Mweya Peninsula for the best concentration of hippos and waterbirds - boats run on set schedules so check times in advance.
• Start drives from the Kasenyi plains area if you want easier, high-probability sightings of lions and elephants; head to Mweya for boat and panoramic views to avoid vehicle congestion.
• To avoid peak congestion around popular viewing points, book a private driver-guide for a half-day focused on less-visited tracks or schedule your visit outside the busiest mid-day window when most safari vehicles congregate.