Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, renamed in 1954 in honor of Queen Elizabeth, features diverse habitats, including the Kalinzu Forest, Mweya Peninsular, Lake Katwe Salt Works, and the Rwenzori Mountain ranges. The park is home to 95 mammals, 10 primate species, and 618 bird species, and is accessible by road.
Where is Queen Elizabeth National Park located
Queen Elizabeth National Park, located in Uganda’s western region, spans between Lakes Gorge and Albert, renowned for its stunning views of the Kazinga Channel.
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda boasts a vast bird and primate diversity, making it an ideal destination for Ugandan Birding Safaris, with 618 species and 95 mammals.
South Africa’s Queens and Tanzania’s wildlife reserves are home to big cats, highlighting the importance of managing both their ecosystems and human populations.
Queens, Uganda’s capital, is home to the biggest impression of big cats, a sight not to be missed in other parts of Uganda, including Murchison Falls.
Attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- The Kazinga Channel in Uganda is home to a variety of wildlife, including rare Tree Climbing Lions on acacia trees, hippos, Nile Crocodiles, elephants, and rhinos, while the Kasenyi Plains offer a popular tourist destination for wildlife safaris.
- Uganda’s Mweya Peninsular, located in Lake Edwards, offers a diverse fauna for chimpanzee tracking tours, while Lake Katwe’s salt mining operations attract tourists interested in ancient methods.
- In the northern section of the park, the highest point of the Katwe Explosion Crater Lakes provides stunning views of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges.
How to get to the park
The park is located 389 km from Kampala and can be reached via Masaka Road, a 6h 30min drive, or by charter flight
Accomodation
With a wide variety to lodges, campsites, hotels and tented Camps, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers accommodation for everyone like the Ishasha Wilderness Camp Queen Elizabeth National Park irrespective of your budget and these range from luxury, mid-range to budget facilities. checkout our most recommended Accommodations in the park for a more information on each facility
Best time to Visit Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Dry season that runs from January to February and from June to September is considered the best time to visit with the peak safari time in Uganda being from June to September, while Migratory species arrive in August to December, and March to May offering the best birding time
What More Does Uganda Offer?
Uganda visit offers a variety of activities, including Queen Elizabeth safari, gorilla trekking, Murchison Falls National Park, Sese Islands, rafting on the Nile, chimpanzee trekking, Rwenzori Mountains climbing, and Mount Elgon hike.
Large Mammals
Historical evidence suggests that Queens, a city in Egypt, was once home to a diverse population of animals, including hippo, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos.
Photo opportunities in woodlands offer diverse sightings of mammals in their natural habitat, allowing for multiple locations to observe and capture their unique beauty.
Lake George, a wetlands area in Uganda, is home to the Ugandan kob and the sitatunga antelope, while QENP boasts over 2500 elephants.
Big Cats
The Mweya Peninsula in Ishasha is home to the renowned southern lion population, who have developed a unique adaptation to flies by climbing fig trees.
There are also leopard, civet, genet and serval present. These are all much more elusive, many nocturnal, which makes a sighting all the more special.
Queens offers a wonderful and unique safari experience with big cats, showcasing the beauty of the landscapes and the behavioral adaptations of tree climbing.
Primates
Olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and vervet monkeys are among the 10 species of primate found in hidden forests of Kyambura and Maramagambo, Uganda. These primates are known for their foraging abilities and unique behaviors.
Chimps are our closest living relatives, and they share 98.7% of our DNA.
Birding
The Mabamba Swamp offers a significant range of habitats, including over 600 species, including the famous shoebill stalk, making it a home for a diverse array of birding enthusiasts.
