Queen Elizabeth National Park
Crater lakes, a channel full of hippo, and the Ishasha sector
Set between the Rwenzori foothills and Lake Edward, Queen Elizabeth packs an unusual variety into one park — explosion craters, open savannah, wetland and a forested gorge. The Kazinga Channel that links its two lakes carries one of the densest concentrations of hippo anywhere.
Why visit
- The Kazinga Channel boat cruise, best in late afternoon
- The Ishasha sector, known for lions that rest in fig trees
- Crater lakes and escarpment views
- Kyambura Gorge and its habituated chimpanzees
- Easy to combine with Bwindi for gorilla trekking
Wildlife
Elephant, buffalo, Uganda kob, topi, hippo, lion, leopard, hyena and around 600 bird species — one of the highest counts of any protected area in the world.
Activities
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Game drives in Kasenyi and Ishasha
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge
- Crater lake drive
- Salt works and community visits at Katwe
Halal dining here
Halal meals arranged in advance. Kasese and Katwe have Muslim communities and dining options; we confirm arrangements before you travel. CLIENT: confirm your preferred suppliers.
Prayer
Prayer times fall naturally around the morning game drive and the afternoon cruise. We build in a stop for Dhuhr and time to pray before the boat departs. CLIENT: confirm mosque locations near Kasese and Katwe.
Good to know
Queen Elizabeth in pictures
Experiences here
Questions about Queen Elizabeth
No. Ishasha's lions are known for resting in fig trees but they are wild animals across a large sector. We plan enough time to give you a fair chance rather than promising a sighting.
The Ishasha sector sits between the two, so it is commonly used as a midway stop — roughly 3–4 hours from Bwindi depending on the sector.
Add Queen Elizabeth to your itinerary
Tell us your dates and the rest of your route, and we'll fit it together.