Queen Elizabeth National Park is Ugandaโs most varied safari park. With Kazinga channel boat cruises, tree-climbing lions in Ishsha, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge chimpanzees as well as crater lakes providing a rich habitat for both wildlife and birds. Plus easy to combine with Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest.
Jun to Sept
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Where savanna meets rainforest, and lions forget theyโre not leopards.
Queen Elizabeth National Park runs from the foothills of the northern Rwenzori Mountains to Ishasha border gate in the south - a massive park of just under 2,000 kmยฒ. So you can opt to stay in both the northern and southern sectors.
Here the grasslands of Uganda meet the eastern rainforest. So magical scenery combines with abundant wildlife, both predators and primates. This includes a vast concentration of hippo and the famous tree-climbing lion.
Kazinga Channel - Drift along the Kazinga Channel by boat as elephant, buffalo and Ugandan Kob gather to drink. . Hippo, crocodiles, and water birds also frequent the banks, including a lively cast of kingfishers, pelicans, and open-billed storks.
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Further to the sooth cool forest trails in Maramagambo reveal caves with thousands of fruit bats, plus monitor lizards and the occasional (large) python.
Down in the southern Ishasha sector, scan the ancient fig trees for the parkโs famed tree-climbing lions, acting more like leopards. They like to laze โ improbably - on the boughs of ancient fig trees. The meandering Ishasha River runs through this area, with riparian forest on its riverbanks. This is also the only place in the park to seeย Topi.
QENP is one of Ugandaโs finest birding destinations with 560+ species recorded. This is exceptional diversity for a single park. Flamingos often colour the saline crater lakes of Kyambura - not what most people most expect on a classic savanna safari.
We recommend May to September when as is when bird sightings peak, and chimp trekking is easier on drier trails.
Ready to pair Ishashaโs lions with Bwindiโs gorillas? Letโs design your tailor-made Uganda safari.
Whenโs the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park?
June to mid-September is the classic โdryโ window with top game viewing; as is December to mid-March. The chimpanzee trekking tends to be easier as the trails are less muddy. The long rains (mid-MarโMay) and short rains (mid-SepโNov) green the landscape but make roads muddy.
Can I combine Queen Elizabeth Park with gorilla trekking?
Absolutely! Queen Elizabeth National Park lies just north of Bwindi, so we often design trips that follow Ishashaโs lions with Bwindiโs gorillas (and even add in Kibale for the chimps).
Is a boat safari worth it in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
YesโKazinga Channel cruises bring you eye-level with elephants, buffalo, and hippos, with prolific waterbirds all around. A late-afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel is prime time for elephants and hippos.
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