Queen Elizabeth National Park – A Travel Guide
Located on the western edge of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is one of the country’s best conservation areas and a must-visit travel destination. This diverse and breathtaking park offers an unforgettable experience for adventure lovers and nature enthusiasts.
From the vibrant wildlife to its various activities, Queen Elizabeth National Park promises an exciting journey into the wilds of East Africa.
History of Queen Elizabeth National Park
First established in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, it was renamed two years later in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth II of the UK’s visit to Uganda. The park spans nearly 2,000 square kilometers, making it the second largest national park in the country.
It is one of Uganda’s oldest and most popular national parks. Its history is deeply intertwined with the local communities and the various conservation efforts aimed at preserving its unique ecosystems.
In geological terms, the area is a site of vast tectonic movement which led to intense volcanic activity, the result of which can still be seen today. The land is pockmarked with circular craters which are filled with water, grasslands, and forests today.
The two large lakes—Lake Edward and Lake George—were also formed thanks to the diverging fault line.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bounded by the Ishasha River and Lake Edward on the west, the park stretches far to the northeast, covering Lake George and the famous Kazinga Channel which links the two lakes.
The Ishasha River in the southwest feeds into Lake Edward and forms the natural border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Lake Edward itself is considered one of the African great lakes which later feeds into the Nile.
QENP’s varied landscapes include savannah, bushland, wetlands, and lush forests, providing a habitat for an incredible diversity of wildlife and plant species.
An interesting fact is that it lies on the equator which runs through the northern part of the park. You’d assume they’d make a big deal about it but have removed the previous landmark and are constructing a new one, so hopefully it’s ready by the time you arrive!
For a variety of reasons, including its unique biodiversity and the diverse ethnic groups that live nearby, Queen Elizabeth National Park is part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program. MAB aims to improve the relationship between local communities and their environments.
Is Queen Elizabeth National Park Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! Queen Elizabeth National Park is a no-brainer for anyone traveling to Uganda. Its stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and diverse ecosystems make it a unique location.
Whether you’re interested in seeing animals on safari, exploring volcanic craters, or simply soaking in the natural beauty, you cannot miss Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth
The park holds an incredible array of wildlife, home to the largest number of species of any of Uganda’s parks. It’s estimated to have 95 species of mammal and over 600 species of birds.
There’s a chance to see four of the famous big five—elephants, lions, leopards, and buffaloes—as well as hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, bucks, and much more in the Kazinga Channel.
The lions here are famous for their rare tree-climbing abilities, a behavior only observed in a few places.
Things to Do in Queen Elizabeth National Park
As with all of the official national parks in Uganda, the organized activities are mostly arranged by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Although there are more community run projects at QENP than other areas.
Boat Safari
One of the most popular activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and certainly our favorite, is the boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. This natural channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and is teeming with wildlife.
The boat departs from the north side of the channel near Katunguru and travels along Kazinga to the mouth of Lake Edward.
During the boat safari, you can expect to see a huge number of hippos as well as crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, monitor lizards, and bucks.
As well as close-up views of a variety of interesting bird species including the hamerkop, cranes, storks, ibis, many kinds of kingfisher, egrets, jacana (a.k.a. the ‘Jesus bird’ that appears to walk on water) and the African Fish Eagle.
Game Drives
Game drives are another fantastic way to explore the park and witness some of Africa’s best wildlife in their natural habitat.
Of course, if you have a guided driver then there’s no need to plan your own route. Most of the drivers have a lot of experience in the National Parks and will take you to the various highlights and spot the wildlife. You can also hire a local UWA ranger to guide your driver and aid with the spotting.
For those self-driving, you can either choose to navigate around yourself or hire a guide from inside the park.
We chose to go it alone and had a lot of fun map-reading and exploring the park ourselves. The one thing we would say is that many of the routes are not well maintained and overgrown.
To the west of the main road, you have the North Kazinga Plains and to the east you’ll find the Kasenyi Plains. We’d recommend avoiding the Leopard Loop on the west side and Track 3 to the east as both were overgrown with acacia.
Some of the best tracks include the Royal Circuit, Kob Circuit, Queen’s Mile and the Channel Track and Link Track over on the west. In the east you can see most wildlife from the main Kasenyi Road running through the plains.
Keep your eyes peeled around here as that’s where you can find the tree-climbing lions.
When you’re over on the east side, be sure to go the viewpoint near Kasenyi Safari Camp overlooking the salt pans.
Crater Lakes
This area of western Uganda lies on the Albertine Rift which was the site of intense volcanic activity. Thanks to that turbulent past it’s now dotted with numerous beautiful crater lakes.
The area north of Mweya, park is dotted with huge craters some of which are filled with trees or grassland, but the most impressive are the lakes like Lake Nyamunuka and Lake Kitagata.
There’s a 15-mile track that follows the rims of the craters offering incredible views from above. It’s still possible to see some of the wildlife up here, mainly warthogs that often use the road as a faster route through the vegetation.
Bird Watching
With over 600 bird species recorded, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a bird watcher’s paradise. With its unique location as part of the Albertine Rift, many of the bird species can only be found around here.
The boat safari is a great way to see dozens of species of birds, as mentioned above, as well as colorful kingfishers and bee-eaters.
For the keener birdwatchers, the southern part of the park – Isasha – is the place to go. Here you can find some of the Albertine endemics like the Rwenzori Turaco on guided walks through the forest. There’s also a very rare chance to see the elusive shoebill stork in Lake Edward Flats.
Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park
The roads to Queen Elizabeth National Park are pretty decent, especially when compared to some of the other parks like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park which involve difficult off-road routes. There are two options for getting here – hiring a driver or self-driving a rented vehicle.
Self-Drive with Road Trip Africa
Self-driving is a great choice to explore freely and flexibly. Of course, it’s not for the faint-hearted, and you’ll want to be a confident and competent driver. You can rent 4×4 vehicles to self-drive around Uganda from Road Trip Africa and you can add on camping gear which we found to be very comprehensive.
Driving from the South – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
If you’re heading around in a clockwise direction, then you’re likely coming from Bwindi. The best route varies depending on where in Bwindi you’re staying.
If you’re staying in the northern areas like Buhoma then your best bet is to head north and join the main road running from Ishasha to Queen Elizabeth NP.
If, on the other hand, you’re coming from one of the southern towns like Rushaga, then the most convenient route is probably to head to Kabale via Muko. Even though it looks like a long way on a map, the roads are far better, and it will take less time than more direct roads. From Kabale, take the main road east which then turns north through Ntungamo and Ishaka.
On the other hand, if you’re coming from one of the southern towns like Rushaga, then the most convenient route is probably to head to Kabale via Muko. Even though it looks like a long way on a map, the roads are far better, and it will take less time than more direct roads. From Kabale, take the main road east which then turns north through Ntungamo and Ishaka.
Driving from the North – Kibale National Park
If, instead, you’re coming from Kibale National Park then head north to Fort Portal then take the A109 south to Queen Elizabeth NP.
Hire 4×4 with a Driver
If you don’t like the self-drive option, then you’re better off hiring a 4×4 with a driver – Road Trip Africa offers this option as well. This offers you a hassle-free experience where you can relax and enjoy the scenic views.
Queen Elizabeth National Park Accommodation
Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a range of accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences. From luxury lodges and tented camps to budget-friendly guesthouses and camping sites.
We would highly recommend not staying in one of the UWA campsites here at QENP as they are terrible. There are no amenities whatsoever and the ground was just dry mud which made pitching a tent almost impossible. We had already paid for a pitch but still decided not to stay there and it turned out to be a great decision.
Instead, we opted for Songbird Safari Lodge and Campsite, just outside the park gates. It’s a lovely little campsite that offers pitches, ready pitched tents, and small wooden cottages.
The best part about staying here is all the wildlife – an elephant came walking through while we were pitching the tent and as night fell there were dozens of waterbucks lying around the site.
If you’re looking for some luxury, look no further than Mweya Safari Lodge with a spa, outdoor pool, a la carte dining, and incredible views of Lake Edward and the Kazinga channel.
Where to Eat in Queen Elizabeth National Park
As with most of the national parks and rural areas, the main dining options in Queen Elizabeth National Park is within your accommodation. Most lodges and campsites serve 2 or 3 course set menus daily. Some of the higher end ones have a la carte menus.
For lunch places within the park, Kazinga Restaurant in Mweya Safari Lodge is open to non-guests or for a cheaper option there’s the Tembo Canteen just down the road.
Final Thoughts on Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a destination that encapsulates the beauty and diversity of Uganda. Its rich wildlife, stunning landscapes, and variety of activities make it a perfect destination for adventurers and nature lovers.
Whether you’re embarking on a boat safari, exploring the crater lakes, or animal spotting on game drives, QENP promises to be an unforgettable experience.
Queen Elizabeth National Park – A Travel Guide
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