Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most biodiverse and popular savannah reserve, encompassing a spectacular range of habitats from sprawling plains to humid forests. Famed for its unique tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector and the abundant wildlife along the Kazinga Channel (home to the world’s highest concentration of hippos), the park is a prime location for classic big game viewing. It straddles the equator and offers diverse activities including boat cruises, game drives, and chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge.
One of the world’s most biologically diverse wildlife reserves, the Queen Elizabeth National Park is an excellent combination with your gorilla trek in Uganda. Located a morning’s drive from gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest, the QENP conserves a mix of savannah, forest, wetland, and river habitats; the result is wildlife ranging from elephants and hippos to big cats and chimpanzees plus a bird list of an almost unbelievable 600 plus species.
A Queen Elizabeth National Park safari is a multi-experience offering. Game drives in specially- adapted game viewing vehicles tend to be the main focus and the park’s famous tree-climbing lions are among the most sought after sightings. But a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel – a wonderland of birds and animals – is a must-do activity and there are opportunities to go chimpanzee trekking in the park’s Kyambura Gorge as well as go on hot-air balloon safaris and birding trips.
Accommodation is available in the national park as well as close by; there’s a good range of options – small boutique lodges, larger hotels and intimate hideaways – plus family-friendly lodges with larger or interconnecting rooms and all offer en suite comfort and great views.
The best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park coincides neatly with the best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. In a country where you can expect rain at any time of year, it is best to visit during the two dry seasons – December to February and again between June and September. These two periods offer the most comfortable and rewarding conditions for gorilla trekking and as well as for game viewing in Queen Elizabeth NP as wildlife is concentrated at water sources.
We’ve listed below our favourite things to do during a Queen Elizabeth National Park safari as well as our recommended accommodation. Browse through our choices or visit our Itinerary Ideas for inspiration; alternatively, simply contact us with your requirements and we’ll tailor-make a gorilla trek and Queen Elizabeth safari for you.
The question of when to go to Uganda usually goes hand in hand with when to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi Forest. It’s also important to know how the best time for gorilla trekking coincides with other destinations in Africa if you are thinking of combining Uganda with – for example – the Serengeti or Kruger National Park.
Uganda has a predictably warm and wet equatorial climate although the gorilla trekking destinations are often cold as they lie at higher altitudes. Happily for the gorilla trekker, the year has two distinct dry seasons. These periods are certainly when to go to Uganda for gorilla trekking if you want the most comfortable and rewarding experience.
The first dry season is from mid-December to early February and the second from early June to late September. It is at these times that you’ll enjoy the easiest conditions for hiking in the rainforest as well as the best gorilla sightings and the lowest malaria risk.
The best time to visit Uganda’s other destinations coincide nicely with the best gorilla trekking seasons. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest is better during the dry seasons for example – the chimps are easier to see and the jungle trails less challenging to hike on.
Game viewing in Uganda’s big game destinations – Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks – is best during the dry seasons and especially towards the end of them (February and March and September/early October) when animals such as elephants and buffalo concentrate at water sources. Bird watching in Uganda is fantastic all year round but at its peak between November and April when migratory birds arrive.
The best time to visit Uganda also coincides with some of the continent’s best holiday destinations at their peak. Uganda’s December to February dry season coincides with Cape Town’s sunniest and driest months as well as the Serengeti wildebeest migration during the exciting birthing season. Then during Uganda’s June to September dry season, the wildebeest migration moves to the crocodile-filled rivers that lie between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara for game viewing at its most dramatic.
Meanwhile, the Southern African destinations – the Kruger Park, Botswana, Victoria Falls and Namibia – are their most welcoming for safaris: the weather is at its driest and mildest, the malaria risk is lowest and game viewing is at its best.
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers one of Uganda’s widest selections of safari accommodation. From luxury lodges overlooking the Kazinga Channel to intimate tented camps in the remote Ishasha sector, travellers can choose a stay that matches their comfort level, interests and budget. Whether you’re here for classic game drives, chimp trekking in Kyambura Gorge or to search for the famous tree-climbing lions, the park’s lodges are perfectly positioned to maximise your experience.
The Mweya Peninsula is the most central and popular place to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Lodges here offer panoramic views, quick access to Kazinga Channel boat cruises, and convenient routes to the Kasenyi plains. This area suits families, first-time safari travellers and guests looking for comfortable, full-service properties.
A favourite for wildlife lovers, the Kasenyi plains are known for lion sightings, large herds of antelope and wide-open savannah. Mid-range lodges and tented camps dominate this area, making it ideal for guests wanting classic game drives and good value.
Located in the remote southern part of the park, Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions. Accommodation here is more secluded, offering quiet camps along the river and deep in the bush. It’s the best base for travellers seeking a more exclusive, off-the-beaten-path safari.
These eastern sectors are perfect for guests who want to combine a traditional safari with chimpanzee trekking and forest walks. Lodges here offer dramatic crater-rim views and quick access to the Kyambura Gorge.
The River Station is a peaceful and unique safari lodge, perched on the banks of the quietly flowing Kazinga Channel, the river that connects Lakes Edward and George. The river features prominently at the River Station: guests will arrive by boat, travel by river taxi to the vehicles for game drives, and enjoy sunset dhow cruises.
Honeybear Bush Camp is situated on the south bank of the Kazinga Channel, in the Kyambura Game Reserve, part of the QEPA. An intimate, classic safari experience is guaranteed as Honeybear is the only camp in the entire reserve.
Overlooking Kyambura Gorge itself, this is a great choice for chimpanzee trekking as well as big game safaris. It’s a stylish & contemporary camp with accommodation in the form of 8 luxury timber & brick chalets with battery charging stations, a private balcony & butler service.
It’s a remote riverside setting for this luxurious bush camp. With only 10 tented suites, it’s a warm & intimate accommodation with opportunities to visit local communities as well as enjoy game drives in an area famous for its tree-climbing lions.
Begin your Queen Elizabeth journey by crossing the Equator, the gateway to Uganda’s “Medley of Wonders,” focusing immediately on the core experience: the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise, where you glide past the world’s densest concentration of hippos, massive buffalo herds, and colossal Nile crocodiles. The next day dawns with the thrill of an early Kasenyi Plains Game Drive, traversing the vast savannah to track the legendary lions and observe thousands of grazing Uganda Kob, followed by an afternoon of deep exploration; either descending into the remarkable sunken forest of Kyambura Gorge for a humid chimpanzee trek or touring the scenic, saline pools of the Katwe Crater Lakes. For those with three or more days, the narrative extends south to the remote Ishasha Sector, where the climax awaits: a sighting of the famously unique tree-climbing lions draped dramatically across large fig branches, solidifying QENP as an essential, multi-faceted chapter in any Ugandan safari adventure.
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Once the spectacular wildlife and diverse habitats of Queen Elizabeth National Park are fully explored, your Ugandan safari naturally branches in two distinct, world-class directions. For those prioritizing primates and lush forests, the next logical stop is north to Kibale Forest National Park. A drive of only three to four hours, Kibale is globally celebrated as the “Primate Capital of the World,” offering the unparalleled experience of Chimpanzee Trekking or the full-day Habituation Experience (CHEX). This transition from QENP’s open savannah to Kibale’s dense canopy provides a complete picture of Uganda’s biodiversity, often rounded off with a nature walk in the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
Alternatively, for travelers seeking the ultimate wildlife experience, the journey turns south towards the mist-shrouded peaks of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The five to seven-hour drive often includes a final game viewing opportunity in QENP’s Ishasha Sector before arriving at the home of nearly half the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas. This challenging yet profoundly rewarding leg of the journey culminates in the iconic Gorilla Trekking experience, spending one unforgettable hour with a gorilla family. This route seamlessly links the “Big Game” of the savannah with the rare and fragile magic of the gorillas, creating the definitive highlight of any Ugandan safari. For shorter scenic breaks, the numerous volcanic Ndali-Kasenda Crater Lakes surrounding QENP offer beautiful viewpoints and opportunities for local cultural interaction before final departure.
