Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda Travel Guide & Safaris

About Uganda

Authentic Encounters, Natural Heritage & Bespoke Travel Design

Set against the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon, Queen Elizabeth National Park (1,978 km²) is Uganda’s most ecologically diverse savanna destination and an accredited UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Spanning the floor of the Great Albertine Rift Valley, the park encompasses open grasslands dotted with candelabra euphorbias, dense acacia thickets, papyrus swamps, and dramatic volcanic explosion craters formed thousands of years ago.

The park is globally renowned for two signature natural phenomena: the rare tree-climbing lions of the southern Ishasha sector, which spend warm afternoons draped lazily over the branches of large fig and albizia trees, and the 32-kilometre Kazinga Channel. This natural waterway connects Lake George to Lake Edward, supporting one of the world’s greatest concentrations of hippopotamuses, immense herds of bathing elephants, Nile crocodiles, and over 600 recorded species of birds—one of the highest bird tallies of any national park on the continent.

Landscape & Environment

Albertine Rift Valley grasslands, candelabra euphorbia savannas, acacia woodlands, 72 volcanic explosion craters, and the 32km Kazinga Channel connecting Lakes George and Edward.

Culture & Heritage

Surrounded by the Bakonzo mountain pastoralists, Banyankore cattle herders, and traditional fishing communities at Katwe, Kasenyi, and Hamukungu.

Why Visit Uganda?

Marvel at tree-climbing lions resting in high branches, take a launch cruise past thousands of hippos and bathing elephants, and track chimpanzees in the subterranean Kyambura Gorge.

Signature Highlights & Experiences

Observe rare tree-climbing lions lounging in sycamore fig trees across the southern Ishasha sector

Enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel with the world's densest concentration of hippos

Track habituated wild chimpanzees through the underground rainforest of Kyambura Gorge ('Valley of Apes')

Embark on early morning predator drives across the Kasenyi Plains to observe lions, leopards, and hyenas

Drive through the scenic Katwe explosion crater field with views across Lake Edward into DR Congo

Record over 600 bird species, including African skimmers, pelicans, and martial eagles

Bespoke Logistics

End-to-End Handcrafted Travel

Private transfers, park permits, hand-selected boutique lodges, and dedicated local guides.

Visa & Entry Guidelines

Uganda eVisa or East Africa Tourist Visa obtained online prior to departure.

Need visa guidance? Ask Our Specialists

Languages: English, Swahili, Lukonzo, Runyankore-Rukiga

Time Zone: East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3)

Calling Code: +256

Featured Uganda Packages

Tailor-Made Departures & Guided Encounters

Browse All Safaris

4-Day Queen Elizabeth National Park: Tree-Climbing Lions & Kazinga Channel

Uganda - East Africa Adventure Tours

4 days/3nights

4-Day Queen Elizabeth National Park: Tree-Climbing Lions & Kazinga Channel

Queen Elizabeth National Park (1,978 km²) is Uganda's premier savanna wilderness, nestled on the floor of the Great Albertine Rift Valley beneath the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains. This 4-day private safari highlights the park's signature wonders: the famous tree-climbing lions of the southern Ishasha sector, early morning predator drives across the Kasenyi plains for lions and leopards, chimpanzee tracking in the sunken forest of Kyambura Gorge, and an unforgettable boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which harbors the world's densest concentration of hippopotamuses and bathing elephant herds.

8-Day Birding in Uganda – The Pearl of Africa's Avian Treasure

Uganda - East Africa Birding Safaris

8 days/7nights

8-Day Birding in Uganda – The Pearl of Africa's Avian Treasure

Uganda is a birdwatcher's paradise, boasting over 1,080 recorded bird species—more than half of Africa's total and nearly 10% of the world's bird species. This extraordinary diversity is thanks to the country's varied habitats, ranging from dense tropical rainforests and vast savannah plains to expansive wetlands, alpine moorlands, and the shores of Lake Victoria. For birders, Uganda offers an unmatched combination of endemics, rarities, and spectacularly colourful species. This 8-day birding tour is carefully designed to cover Uganda's most important birding hotspots, targeting both the sought-after Albertine Rift endemics and the iconic species of the savannah and wetlands. You will search for the prehistoric-looking shoebill stork in the Mabamba Swamp, track forest specialties in Kibale and Bwindi, cruise the Kazinga Channel for waterbirds, and explore the acacia woodlands of Queen Elizabeth National Park. With an experienced birding guide, you'll be ticking off lifers—from the green-breasted pitta and African green broadbill to the Rwenzori turaco and great blue turaco. Beyond the birds, this tour offers the full Ugandan experience: misty mountains, thundering waterfalls, chimpanzee forests, and warm local hospitality. Whether you're a dedicated lister or a casual enthusiast, 8 days in Uganda will leave your binoculars full and your heart fuller.

7-Day Signature Fly-In Luxury Gorilla & Savanna Safari

Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Impenetrable NP, Uganda Luxury Safaris

7 Days / 6 Nights

7-Day Signature Fly-In Luxury Gorilla & Savanna Safari

The ultimate luxury Ugandan safari designed for travelers who value time, comfort, and extraordinary wildlife encounters. By utilizing scheduled domestic bush flights aboard modern Cessna Grand Caravans from Entebbe International Airport, you bypass lengthy overland drives and arrive effortlessly in the heart of Uganda's premier wildernesses. Spend three days exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park's predator-rich savannas and Kazinga Channel, followed by three days immersed in the mist-crowned ancient cloud forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experience. Featuring 5-star boutique lodges, personalized butler service, private 4x4 safari vehicles at each destination, and elite naturalist guides, this fly-in safari represents the pinnacle of East African luxury travel.

7-Day Uganda Primates & Savanna Expedition: Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorillas

Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Impenetrable NP Multi-Destination Safaris

7 Days / 6 Nights

7-Day Uganda Primates & Savanna Expedition: Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorillas

The definitive Ugandan safari circuit connecting the classic Great Rift Valley savannas of Queen Elizabeth National Park with the mist-shrouded montane rainforests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This 7-day expedition delivers Uganda's ultimate wildlife contrast: dawn predator tracking on the Kasenyi plains, a leisurely boat safari along the hippo-packed Kazinga Channel, tracking rare tree-climbing lions in the remote fig trees of Ishasha, and the deeply moving experience of walking through ancient rainforests to spend an unforgettable hour with a wild mountain gorilla family. Every departure is private, operated in custom-built 4x4 Safari Land Cruisers with pop-up observation roofs, accompanied by certified senior naturalist guides, and hosted in handpicked luxury eco-lodges perched along wildlife corridors and misty cloud forest ridges.

6-Day Uganda Big Five Safari: Ziwa Rhinos, Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth National Parks Wildlife Safaris

6 Days / 5 Nights

6-Day Uganda Big Five Safari: Ziwa Rhinos, Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth

Experience the definitive Ugandan Big Five savanna adventure across three premier conservation areas. Beginning with an exhilarating on-foot white rhino tracking expedition at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, this 6-day journey continues into the vast open savannas of Murchison Falls National Park to track lions, leopards, massive elephant herds, Rothschild's giraffes, and buffalos. Cruise the Victoria Nile to the thundering base of Murchison Falls, before journeying south through the Albertine Rift Valley to Queen Elizabeth National Park. In Queen Elizabeth, cruise the world-famous Kazinga Channel with thousands of hippos and bathing elephants, and explore the southern Ishasha sector in search of rare tree-climbing lions reclining in ancient sycamore fig trees. Travel in private custom-built 4x4 Safari Land Cruisers with pop-up observation roofs, accompanied by certified professional naturalist driver-guides and staying at handpicked luxury eco-lodges along the Nile and Kazinga Channel.

2-Day Kampala Tour – The Heart of Uganda

Uganda - East Africa Adventure Tours

2 days/1night

2-Day Kampala Tour – The Heart of Uganda

Kampala, Uganda's bustling capital, is a city of seven hills, vibrant chaos, and warm hospitality. Often overlooked by travelers rushing to safari parks, this sprawling metropolis offers a fascinating blend of ancient Buganda royalty, colonial history, modern African commerce, and religious diversity—all packed into a compact, walkable (if hilly) cityscape. This 2-day budget tour is designed for the curious traveler who wants to move beyond the hotel pool and dive into the real Kampala. Over two days, you will stand inside a UNESCO-listed royal tomb, bargain for handmade crafts, scale a mosque minaret for sweeping city views, find serenity at Africa’s only Bahá'í Temple, and snap photos at Uganda's symbol of freedom—the Independence Monument.

4-Day Murchison Falls River Nile & Savanna Wildlife Safari

Uganda - East Africa Birding Safaris

4 Days / 3 Nights

4-Day Murchison Falls River Nile & Savanna Wildlife Safari

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest and oldest national park, bisected by the mighty Victoria Nile as it surges through an 8-meter chasm into the Devil's Cauldron. This 4-day safari combines open savanna game drives across the palm-dotted Buligi Peninsula—home to lions, leopards, buffalos, and Uganda's largest population of Rothschild's giraffes—with a 3-hour riverboat cruise past hippo pods and enormous Nile crocodiles to the base of the thundering falls, a guided Top of the Falls cliff hike, and an on-foot white rhino tracking stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

4-Day Kibale Forest Chimpanzees & Bigodi Wetlands Primate Safari

Uganda - East Africa Wildlife Safaris

4 days/3nights

4-Day Kibale Forest Chimpanzees & Bigodi Wetlands Primate Safari

Kibale National Park is celebrated worldwide as the 'Primate Capital of the World,' sheltering 13 primate species and over 1,500 wild chimpanzees in high equatorial canopies. This 4-day private expedition centers on guided chimpanzee tracking with an outstanding 95%+ success rate from Kanyanchu, accompanied by expert Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. Beyond chimpanzees, explore the community-managed Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for red colobus and black-and-white colobus monkeys, spot the iconic Great Blue Turaco, and hike around the picturesque Ndali-Kasenda volcanic crater lakes.

5-Day Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi Relaxation

Uganda - East Africa Gorilla Trekking

5days/4nights

5-Day Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi Relaxation

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects almost half of the planet's remaining wild mountain gorillas in its ancient, mist-shrouded Afro-montane cloud forest. This carefully crafted 5-day private safari is designed for wildlife enthusiasts seeking an ethical, profound wildlife pilgrimage accompanied by certified Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers. After an early morning briefing, trek into the primeval rainforest to spend a strictly regulated, transformative hour observing a habituated gorilla family—gentle silverbacks, nursing mothers, and playful juveniles in their natural home. Following the trek, unwind beside the tranquil, bilharzia-free waters of Lake Bunyonyi, dotted with 29 emerald islands, before your return journey across the equator line.

9-Day Albertine Rift Herping Expedition – Rare Reptiles & Amphibians

Semuliki, Kibale & Bwindi – Albertine Rift Herping Safaris

9 Days / 8 Nights

9-Day Albertine Rift Herping Expedition – Rare Reptiles & Amphibians

A one-of-a-kind, specialized herpetology expedition through the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's richest biodiversity hotspots. Accompanied by experienced herpetologists and certified wildlife spotters, explore montane cloud forests, lowland rainforests, and swamp biomes in search of rare, endemic reptiles and amphibians. Highlights include searching for the iconic Rwenzori three-horned chameleon (Trioceros johnstoni), the vibrant Great Lakes bush viper (Atheris nitschei), the stealthy Gaboon viper, rhinoceros viper, Jameson's mamba, and an astounding array of endemic hyperoliid reed frogs and torrent frogs. With dedicated nocturnal spotlight walks, controlled field photography setups, and strict ethical handling protocols, this tour delivers an unforgettable adventure for naturalists, biologists, and wildlife photographers.

8-Day Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon Trek – Margherita Peak (5,109m)

Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Kasese, Uganda Mountain Climbing

8 Days / 7 Nights

8-Day Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon Trek – Margherita Peak (5,109m)

A world-class mountaineering expedition into the UNESCO World Heritage Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon, ascending to Margherita Peak (5,109m) on Mount Stanley—the third-highest summit in Africa. Unlike Mount Kilimanjaro's volcanic dome, the Rwenzoris are a dramatic fault-block mountain range characterized by surreal Afro-alpine vegetation, giant lobelias, otherworldly groundsel forests, glacial valleys, and permanent equatorial ice fields. Accompanied by veteran UWA mountain rangers, technical ice guides, and support porters, this 8-day Central Circuit trek provides an exhilarating alpine challenge through five distinct ecological vegetation zones.

6-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari: Murchison Falls to Kibale Chimpanzees

Murchison Falls & Kibale National Park Multi-Destination Safaris

6 Days / 5 Nights

6-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari: Murchison Falls to Kibale Chimpanzees

A classic Ugandan wilderness combination uniting the roaring power of the Victoria Nile in Murchison Falls National Park with the world's premier primate sanctuary in Kibale Forest. Commencing with on-foot white rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, this 6-day safari explores the vast northern savannas of Murchison Falls for lions, leopards, Rothschild's giraffes, and massive elephant herds. Witness the Nile surge through an 8-meter rock canyon on a scenic riverboat safari, before journeying south along the Albertine Rift Valley escarpment into the equatorial canopies of Kibale Forest to track wild chimpanzees. Featuring private 4x4 Safari Land Cruisers, expert naturalist guiding, luxury riverside and forest lodges, and an inspiring community walk through Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, this safari provides the quintessential Ugandan wildlife expedition.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

About Uganda

Authentic Encounters, Natural Heritage & Bespoke Travel Design

Landscape & Environment

Culture & Heritage

Why Visit Uganda?

Signature Highlights & Experiences

End-to-End Handcrafted Travel

Visa & Entry Guidelines

Top Tourism Attractions in Uganda

Must-Visit Sanctuaries, Landscapes & Cultural Landmarks

Ishasha Sector Fig Trees

Kazinga Channel Waterway

Kyambura Gorge

Things to Do in Uganda

Unforgettable Experiences, Adventures & Excursions

Kazinga Channel Boat Safari

Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lion Search

Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Tracking

Kasenyi Plains Sunrise Game Drive

Katwe Traditional Salt Lake Tour

Featured Uganda Packages

Tailor-Made Departures & Guided Encounters

4-Day Queen Elizabeth National Park: Tree-Climbing Lions & Kazinga Channel

8-Day Birding in Uganda – The Pearl of Africa's Avian Treasure

7-Day Signature Fly-In Luxury Gorilla & Savanna Safari

7-Day Uganda Primates & Savanna Expedition: Queen Elizabeth & Bwindi Gorillas

6-Day Uganda Big Five Safari: Ziwa Rhinos, Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth

2-Day Kampala Tour – The Heart of Uganda

4-Day Murchison Falls River Nile & Savanna Wildlife Safari

4-Day Kibale Forest Chimpanzees & Bigodi Wetlands Primate Safari

5-Day Bwindi Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Lake Bunyonyi Relaxation

9-Day Albertine Rift Herping Expedition – Rare Reptiles & Amphibians

8-Day Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon Trek – Margherita Peak (5,109m)

6-Day Uganda Wildlife Safari: Murchison Falls to Kibale Chimpanzees

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