Queen Elizabeth National Park

Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the equator, crater lakes, the Kazinga Channel and — in the south — Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions. It is the most varied savannah in Uganda and the natural bridge between Kibale and Bwindi.

The northern circuit (Kasenyi plains, Mweya, Kazinga boat) is elephant, buffalo, hippo and birds in ridiculous numbers. The boat is not optional in our view; it is the point. Ishasha is a different park day: fig trees, southern woodland, lions on branches if you are patient and lucky. We do not promise the lions. We put you in the right habitat.

Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest offer chimpanzee tracking without going all the way to Kibale. Useful on short trips; redundant if Kibale is already on the sheet.

Almost every gorilla-and-wildlife itinerary we write spends two nights in Queen: one for Kazinga, one for Ishasha on the way to Bwindi. That is geography, not padding.

Wildlife

Tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, elephant, buffalo, hippo, chimpanzee in Kyambura or Kalinzu, and a huge Kazinga bird list.

What we book here

• Kazinga Channel boat safari
• Ishasha game drives
• Kyambura or Kalinzu chimpanzee tracking
• Crater-lake scenery on the equator

Where we put you

Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge, Elephant Plains, and Ishasha Wilderness Camp in the south. We split north/south when the itinerary actually uses both.

Getting there

From Kibale a half day. From Bwindi (Buhoma or Ishasha gate) a morning. From Kampala a long road day we prefer to break at Mburo.

How we combine it

Kibale chimps, Bwindi gorillas, Kyambura chimps, or a crater-lake night at Ndali on the Fort Portal road.

Best time

Year-round. Ishasha roads are easier when dry. Combine with Bwindi on the same circuit.

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