Queen Elizabeth National Park: The Medley of Wonders

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular and biodiverse safari destination. Set against the back drop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park covers nearly 2,000 square kilometers of sprawling savanna, humid forests, sparkling crater lakes, and fertile wetlands. Established in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, it was renamed in 1954 to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha

The park’s most iconic attraction is the unique population of Tree-climbing lions found in the southern Ishasha Sector.

• Treetop Predators: Unlike most lions, these prides spend their days lounging in the sturdy branches of Sycamore Fig and Acacia trees.

• The Sight: It is a surreal experience to see a massive lion draped over a branch, scanning the plains for Uganda Kob or escaping the heat and Tsetse flies on the ground.

The Kazinga Channel Wildlife Spectacle

The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometer natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George.

• Hippo Capital: The channel is home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of Hippopotamus.

• Boat Safaris: A boat cruise here offers “water-level” views of Nile crocodiles, African bush elephants, and buffaloes quenching their thirst along the banks.

Kyambura Gorge: The “Valley of Apes”

Hidden within the savanna is the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, a 100-meter deep “underground rainforest.”

• Chimpanzees: This sunken forest is a sanctuary for a community of habituated Chimpanzees.

• Primate Diversity: The gorge also harbors Red-tailed monkeys, Black-and-white colobus, and Vervet monkeys.

A Birder’s Paradise

With over 600 recorded species, Queen Elizabeth NP is a premier destination for birdwatching.

• Key Species: Look out for the prehistoric Shoebill, the African Fish Eagle, and seasonal congregations of Flamingos in the Katwe explosion craters.

Quick Facts for Travelers

• Location: Western Uganda, straddling the Equator (look for the iconic monument markers).

• Landscape: Volcanic explosion craters, open grasslands, and tropical forests.

• Best Time to Visit: Dry seasons from June to September and December to February are best for game viewing and lion tracking.

• Accessibility: A 7 to 8-hour drive from Kampala or via small aircraft to airstrips at Mweya, Kasese, or Ishasha.

“Queen Elizabeth National Park is the soul of the African savanna—a landscape where the forest meets the plains, and the wildlife reigns supreme in the shadow of the Mountains of the Moon.”