Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s tour destination of a true medley of wonders with diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big five, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds.

Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob.

Overview | Queen Elizabeth National Falls National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is in the Western Region of Uganda, spanning the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. The park is approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi) by road south-west of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city. The town of Kasese is just outside the northeastern edge of the park, while the town of Rubirizi is just outside the park’s southeastern boundaries.[3] The park includes the Maramagambo Forest and borders the Kigezi Game Reserve, the Kyambura Game Reserve, and the Kibale National Park in Uganda, and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

As well as its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history. There are many opportunities for visitors to meet the local communities and enjoy storytelling, dance, music and more. The gazetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities.

Queen Elizabeth National Park occupies an estimated 1,978 square kilometres (764 sq mi). The park extends from Lake George in the north-east to Lake Edward in the south-west and includes the Kazinga Channel connecting the two lakes. The park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park. It was renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.

How To Get There

The park can be reached either by road transport or air transport.

By Road: using road transport, the drive you can either take public means, private means or through the tour companies who will organise the transport for you to and from the park. The drive time lasts for about 6-7 hours on road via Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Kasese and then you will proceed to the park, the other alternative is from Kampala city to Mubende, fort portal, Kasese route, for the travellers opting to use public means, there are buses that offer transport from Kampala via Mubende, Fort portal to Kasese and then you will hire a private car that will drive you up to the park headquarters.
By Air: for travellers who do not want to spend much time on the road, may also opt for air transport, there domesticated chartered flights that offer transport to the travellers visiting the park, the flight offer services on a daily basis from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kasese or Mweya airstrip situated in queen Elizabeth national park. the flight takes bout 2 hours to get to the park.

For any traveller planning or having an interest in visiting queen Elizabeth national park, you can contact us at adventure in the wild safaris and we will help you with all the information you need and also plan and organise the safari for you.

Wildlife And Activities

Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for its wildlife, including African buffalo, Ugandan kob, hippopotamus, Nile crocodile, African bush elephant, African leopard, lion, and chimpanzee. It is home to 95 mammal species and over 500 bird species. The area around Ishasha in Rukungiri District is famous for its tree-climbing lions, whose males sport black manes. Queen Elizabeth National Park together with the adjacent Virunga National Park is a Lion Conservation Unit. The area is considered a potential lion stronghold in Central Africa.

Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park, takes place in twice a day that is the Early morning or evenings and these are the best times to go game viewing mainly because the sun is not as hot as it can be during the day and the cats prefer to hunt for pry during these times of the day.
Boat safaris on Kazinga Channel / Launch trips: The boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National park takes place in the Kazinga channel, this is a water body connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. Kazinga Channel provides a fantastic game and bird viewing experience, you will have an opportunity to view animal species including, Elephants, Buffalos, Waterbucks, Crocodiles, Bushbucks, monitor lizards seen along the water banks
Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge: Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, is one of the famous activities in Kyambura Gorge and other sites like the Kalinzu forest, Kibale forest national park, Budongo forest
Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park: The park is a perfect birding attraction in Uganda as it houses 600 species of birds. Lake Munyanyange next to the park is both a wildlife refuge and a migratory location from August to November for the lesser flamingo.
Nature and forest walks: Nature walks id so exciting as you explorer the beauty of the forest with all that lives in it on foot, during the nature walk, you will be guided by the ranger guide for the purpose of safety reasons

Where To Stay

Murchison Falls national park has also got amazing accommodation options for you to stay.

KANIYO PABIDI FOREST

Boomu Women´s Group Bandas
Budongo Ecolodge (UWA Concession)
Etc

NORTHERN AND EASTERN MURCHISON

Chobe Safari Lodge (UWA Concession)
Murchison Safari Lodge
Murchison Fort Lodge
Parkside Safari Lodge
Leosim Hotel
Etc

PARAA AND CENTRAL MURCHISON

GeoLodges Nile Safari Lodge
Paraa Safari Lodge (UWA Concession)
Rest Chilli Rest Camp (UWA Concession)
Sambiya River Lodge (UWA Concession)
GeoLodgesShoebill Camp Site
Yebo Safari Camp
UWA Campsite
Etc

MASINDI TOWN

Masindi Hotel
New Court View Hotel

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When To Visit

Queen Elizabeth national park is open to visitors throughout the year, but the park is best visited during the dry seasons of the year that is from the month of June, July, August, December, January to February, these months receive little or no rainfall at all which has influenced a number of activities to take place including chimpanzee trekking, birding experience, nature walks, boat cruise and others, during this time, the trails are dry and the ground is less slippery enabling easy access through the trails and also enables animal viewing since they gather around the water points in the park during the dry season these animal’s, are best spotted during the boat cruise on the Kazinga channel.

Queen Elizabeth National Park can also be visited during the wet season from the month of March, May, and September to November since the park is open and all the activities take place regardless of the rain. During the rain season, the park is green with plenty of food and fruits which attracts Many birds, and by this time, there will be a lot of Migratory birds.