Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in southwestern Uganda is one of East Africa’s most biologically diverse conservation areas — 1,978 km² of savanna, wetland, forest, and volcanic crater lakes that together support over 95 mammal species and more than 600 bird species. It is also home to one of Africa’s most famous and photogenic wildlife phenomena: the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector.
Why Queen Elizabeth NP is Special
Most East African parks specialise in one habitat type. Queen Elizabeth National Park has five distinct ecosystems within its borders:
- Open savanna (Kasenyi Plains) — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, kob, and large hyena populations
- Wetland and channel (Kazinga Channel) — the most productive hippo and crocodile boat cruise in East Africa
- Highland forest (Maramagambo Forest) — chimps, Giant Forest Hog, Vervet, and forest birds
- Volcanic crater lakes (Katwe Explosion Craters) — flamingo, endemic fish, and dramatic geology
- Ishasha sector (southern) — the tree-climbing lion habitat, fig tree plains, and elephant herds
This variety means that a 3-day QENP visit can feel like visiting 3 different parks.
The Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha
QENP’s Ishasha sector is famous worldwide for its population of lions that habitually rest — and are regularly photographed — in fig trees 5–10 metres above the ground. No one fully understands why Ishasha lions do this (hypotheses include insect avoidance, thermoregulation, and watching for prey) but the behaviour has been documented for over 50 years.
Sightings are frequent but not guaranteed — these lions cover a large home range. East Africa Bridge Tours visits Ishasha on afternoon game drives when the lions are most likely to be reachable in the fig-tree belt.
Best time: Late afternoon year-round. Dry season access roads (December–February, June–August) are better for reaching the southern sector.
The Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
A 2-hour launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel — the natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward — is one of the most reliable large-mammal wildlife experiences on the continent. Hippo pods of 50–100 individuals rest in the shallows, enormous Nile crocodiles sun on banks metres from the water, and the channel banks draw African Buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, and pelicans throughout the day.
Morning and afternoon cruises are available. The morning cruise (07:30–09:30) offers better light for photography and cooler temperatures.
Game Drives: The Kasenyi Plains
The Kasenyi area on QENP’s northern side is the primary lion and leopard habitat. Uganda Kob are present in huge numbers (often 500+ visible at once from elevated roads), which in turn attracts the park’s lion prides and frequent cheetah sightings.
Elephant herds enter the Kasenyi plains regularly from the north, and large buffalos are present year-round.
Wildlife Checklist
Predators: Lion (Ishasha and Kasenyi), Leopard (Maramagambo forest edge, night), Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger
Primates: Olive Baboon, Chimpanzee (Kyambura Gorge), Black-and-White Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey
Herbivores: African Elephant, African Buffalo, Uganda Kob (endemic subspecies), Topi, Waterbuck, Eland, Giant Forest Hog
Water species: Hippo, Nile Crocodile, African Clawless Otter
Birds (selected): African Skimmer, Saddle-billed Stork, Shoe-billed Stork (rare, Ishasha swamps), Palm-nut Vulture, Martial Eagle
Getting to Queen Elizabeth NP
By road from Kigali: 5–6 hours via the Cyanika border crossing (Uganda). Most East Africa Bridge Tours clients combine QENP with Rwanda itineraries: Kigali → Bwindi gorillas → Ishasha/QENP → Kazinga Channel → Kibale chimps → Entebbe.
By road from Entebbe/Kampala: 5–6 hours. Fly to Entebbe then private 4WD transfer.
By charter flight: Several airstrips in the park (Kasese, Mweya) accept charter flights from Entebbe. East Africa Bridge Tours can arrange fly-in safaris for guests with limited time.
Best Time to Visit
QENP is rewarding year-round. The dry seasons (June–August and December–February) offer easier road access to Ishasha and better visibility in the savanna. March–May (long rains) brings green vegetation — excellent for birding but muddy access to some zones.
Safari Tips
- Book Kazinga Channel cruises in advance in peak season — launch capacity is limited
- Combine QENP with Kibale Forest for chimps — the two parks are 2 hours apart
- Chimps at Kyambura Gorge (within QENP) offer a chimpanzee tracking option without driving to Kibale
- Sunset from Mweya Peninsula — one of the most dramatic sunsets in Uganda, above the junction of the two lakes
Planning a Uganda safari including Queen Elizabeth NP? Contact East Africa Bridge Tours for a private itinerary combining QENP, Bwindi gorillas, and Kibale chimps.
