Queen Elizabeth National Park: safari guide

Fees checked October 2026. Park fees are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and can change — confirm with your tour operator or UWA when you book.

Queen Elizabeth National Park sits in western Uganda between Lake George and Lake Edward, with the Rwenzori Mountains on the horizon. It's one of the most varied parks in East Africa — savannah, forests, crater lakes and wetlands in one place.

Highlights

• Kazinga Channel boat safari — a cruise along the channel linking Lake George and Lake Edward, with huge numbers of hippos, buffaloes, elephants and water birds.
• Ishasha sector in the south, famous for its tree-climbing lions resting in fig trees.
• Kasenyi plains for early-morning game drives, lions and Uganda kob.
• Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzee tracking in a sunken rainforest — USD 100 for foreign non-residents, USD 80 for foreign residents.
• Crater lakes drive along the Katwe explosion craters.
• Katwe salt lake and the community that has mined salt there for centuries.

When to go

The park is open all year. The dry seasons (December–February and June–September) are best for game drives.

Combine it with

• Bwindi for gorilla trekking — Ishasha is on the way south.
• Kibale Forest near Fort Portal for chimpanzee tracking.

Getting there

About 6–7 hours by road from Kampala, or a short scheduled flight from Entebbe to Kasese (for the north of the park) or Kihihi (near Ishasha).

Fees

Park entry is paid per 24 hours: USD 40 for foreign non-residents, USD 30 for foreign residents and UGX 20,000 for East African citizens. Boat trips and activities cost extra.

Where to stay

Find lodges, camps and guesthouses near Queen Elizabeth on Waynari and in Kasese.