Queen Elizabeth National Park

Set in western Uganda between the Rwenzori Mountains and the Kigezi Highlands, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the country’s second-largest national park and one of its most popular safari destinations. Covering almost 2,000 square kilometres, it was first protected as a wildlife reserve in the 1920s, became Kazinga National Park in 1952, and was renamed in 1954 to mark the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

The landscapes are remarkably varied, from open savannah and forest to wetlands and crater lakes, with Lake Edward and Lake George joined by the Kazinga Channel, and volcanic craters such as Katwe known for their traditional salt mining. The park is home to more than 95 mammal species, ten primate species including chimpanzees, and over 600 bird species, making it one of Africa’s best destinations for wildlife and birdwatching.

Game drives across the Kasenyi Plains reward visitors with large herds of Uganda kob and the lions and leopards that hunt them, while the Ishasha Sector is famous for its tree-climbing lions resting in the branches of large fig trees. A boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel brings you close to one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos, along with crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and abundant birdlife.

In the east, Kyambura Gorge, the “Lost Valley of the Apes”, is a deep forested valley where guided treks visit a habituated chimpanzee community. Visitors can also enjoy nature walks, birdwatching, lion and leopard tracking, mongoose tracking around the Mweya Peninsula and cultural visits in the surrounding communities, making this one of East Africa’s finest safari experiences.