QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Queen Elizabeth National Park lies on the western arm of the Great East African Rift Valley and serves as one of Uganda’s largest and most visited national parks. Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth is the second-largest national park in Uganda. Straddling the equator, it has a range of ecosystems from sprawling savannah to rain forest to volcanic crater lakes, making it a haven for a variety of wildlife, including the Uganda kob, the famous Ishasha sector tree-climbing lions, and over 500 bird species. The lush Kyambura Gorge rainforest runs through eastern part of the park and is home to a small population of chimpanzees.

The various activities available in Queen Elizabeth are mostly wildlife-focused from traditional wildlife safaris to chimpanzee tracking. Take a hot-air balloon ride or a boat cruise down the Kazinga channel and then visit the local communities that share this unique landscape.

Seasons

Queen Elizabeth National Park is open year-round, but best wildlife viewing is during the driest months of June to August and December to February, when the vegetation is thinner and thus animals are more easily found. The park is at its most beautiful during the wet seasons from March to May and September to November, when the landscape is green and lush. However, the rain might interfere with your safari activities.

As Queen Elizabeth straddles the equator, temperatures remain fairly uniform year-round. Days are usually sunny with temperatures ranging from around 85°F during the day to around 65°F at night. Rains can vary and you might experience some showers even in the driest months. March-May and October-November are typically the wettest months in the park which makes some roads and chimp tracking trails impassible.

Wildlife

Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 95 mammal species and over 500 species of birds. It is home to around 4,000 elephants, 3,000 hippos, and 2,000 buffaloes. Here you can glimpse the rare Uganda kob antelope and the giant forest hog. Nile crocodiles line the banks of the many water channels running through the park. There is a population of chimpanzees habituated for tracking in the Kyambura Gorge, along with nine other primate species, including the black-and-white colobus monkey. Perhaps most famous are the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth. Try and spot these unique lions lounging high up in large fig tree branches!

Activities

Embark on one of the most adventurous wildlife experiences and track a habituated group of chimpanzees in their unique rainforest gorge. Follow your guide and skilled local tracker as they follow signs on the forest floor to lead you to a family of chimps.

Enjoy a wildlife viewing drive to find the famous tree-climbing lions, among other fabulous animals.
Spend time with the local communities and learn how they make coffee at the local women’s collective cafe.
Experience another point of view during a boat ride down the Kazing Channel.