Meilleures activités à Queen Elizabeth National Park

The best things to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park are a game drive on the Kasenyi plains, a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, a morning among the fig trees of Ishasha and a walk into Kyambura Gorge. Around them sit crater lakes, a salt lake, birding and village visits. The park is among the most varied in Uganda, with savanna, forest, wetlands and water within a short drive, set against the Rwenzori Mountains.

This guide describes each activity, how long it takes and who it suits, then shows how to fit them into two or three days.

The park sits between Lake George and Lake Edward, joined by the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway about 32 kilometres long. On either side are open plains, acacia woodland, papyrus swamp, crater lakes and the forests of Kyambura and Maramagambo. The mix produces many habitats, and it explains the park's long lists of mammals and birds, with more than 600 species of birds recorded. The Rwenzori range rises beyond the park, often hidden in cloud, and appears in the clear morning air.

A game drive in Queen Elizabeth is a slow ride with a guide through open country. The Kasenyi plains in the north are known for Uganda kob, which are a favourite prey of lions, and for buffalo, elephants and warthogs. The Mweya Peninsula and the channel shore add hippos, waterbuck and many birds. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times. A drive lasts from two to four hours, and many visitors do two in a day.

Lions, leopards and hyenas are possible, and sightings depend on luck and patience. Read Queen Elizabeth vs Murchison Falls to see how the park compares with Uganda's other big game area.

Yes, it is the most popular activity, and for good reason. The boat moves slowly along the channel, close to the shore, so you see hippos in the water, buffalo and elephants coming down to drink, crocodiles on the banks and many species of birds. The cruise lasts about two hours, in a boat with a roof, and a guide explains what you see. It is a calm activity that suits almost everyone. Read whether the Kazinga Channel cruise is suitable for families for the details.

The Ishasha sector in the south is known for lions that climb into fig trees to rest. They are seen on some days and not on others, so go with open expectations. A game drive in Ishasha takes you through open savanna and groves of fig trees, with Uganda kob, topi and elephants on the way. It is a natural stop between Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi. Many visitors sleep nearby and drive in the early morning. The 6-day Ishasha, boat safari and chimp tracking tour is built around this stretch.

Kyambura Gorge is a steep, forested valley that cuts through the savanna. A guided walk takes you down into the trees, with a chance of finding the resident chimpanzees as well as monkeys and birds. The walk goes down and up, and it can be muddy and tiring. Sightings are not consistent, and it is best treated as a scenic forest morning with a chimpanzee possibility. For a more reliable encounter, Kibale is the better choice. Read is Kibale the best place for chimpanzee tracking in Uganda.

Around the main activities sit several quieter experiences that fill an afternoon:

• Crater lakes. The Katwe area has volcanic crater lakes and a drive along the rim gives wide views, with flamingos in some seasons.
• Lake Katwe salt works. Local workers extract salt from the lake by hand, and a guided visit explains the work and its history.
• Birding. Papyrus, forest, savanna and lake each hold different species. A guide can take you to the best spots on a morning walk or drive.
• Village and community visits. Walks with local hosts show farming, crafts and food, and they spread the benefit of tourism beyond the lodge.
• The equator. A marker on the road near Kasese lets you stand on the equator, which is an easy photo stop on the way in or out.

These work well on the day of arrival or departure, when you want to see something without a long outing.

Here is a simple plan for two nights in the park:

1. Day one, afternoon. Arrive and take a short game drive on the Kasenyi plains.
2. Day two, morning. A longer game drive at dawn, then breakfast and a rest.
3. Day two, afternoon. The Kazinga Channel boat cruise, followed by an easy evening.
4. Day three, morning. Drive south through Ishasha toward Bwindi or north toward Kibale, with a stop for lions.

With a third night, add Kyambura Gorge on the morning of day three, and keep the crater lakes for the last afternoon. The plan gives you a mix of fast and slow days and avoids the common mistake of packing every activity into a single day.

Two nights is the practical minimum, and it allows a late-afternoon game drive, a morning drive or Ishasha visit, and the boat cruise. Three nights let you add Kyambura Gorge, a crater lake drive and a cultural visit without hurrying. Because the park sits in the middle of the western route, many travellers do two nights here as part of a longer trip. See the 10-day Uganda primates and wildlife expedition or the 8-day chimpanzee, big game and shoebill safari.

• First-time safari visitors who want variety in one park
• Families and older travellers who prefer easy activities
• Birders and photographers

• Visitors who want dense predator sightings every day
• Travellers who only have one night

Keep to the tracks and follow your guide. Never get out of the vehicle without permission, and keep your voice low near animals. Do not feed monkeys or baboons, which become aggressive and sometimes dangerous. Dispose of rubbish properly. Around the park live fishing communities and farmers, and their villages are part of the landscape. Ask before photographing people, and buy crafts and food from local sellers. Responsible visitors help the park earn the support of its neighbours, which is the best protection for wildlife.

Light neutral clothing, a hat, sunscreen, a fleece for the morning, comfortable closed shoes and a rain jacket. Binoculars and a camera are essential for the boat and the drives. Insect repellent protects against mosquitoes and tsetse flies, and a scarf helps against dust. Bring a small daypack for the vehicle. Read what to pack for a safari for a full list, and whether the Kazinga Channel cruise is suitable for families if you travel with children.

Game drives are best at dawn and in the late afternoon, when animals are active and the light is soft. The boat cruise works at any hour, with the afternoon departure popular for warm light on the shore. Kyambura Gorge walks start in the morning, before the heat. Crater lake drives and village visits suit the middle of the day, when wildlife is resting. Planning around these rhythms gives you the best of each activity and keeps the heat of midday for a rest by the pool.

• Booking one night. It leaves no time for the boat and a drive.
• Expecting lions on schedule. The park rewards patience.
• Skipping binoculars. Birds and distant animals are worth seeing closely.
• Leaving the boat cruise too late. It is popular, so reserve a time slot.

Around two hours, in the morning or afternoon.

Guided walks are available in certain areas, such as Kyambura Gorge and the crater lakes. Ask your guide.

Yes. A 4x4 vehicle with a driver guide is the best way to move around the tracks.

Read the best time to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for a month-by-month view.

Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will build the days in the park around the activities you choose. Talk to Our Tour Specialist, or browse the game drives page.