Top Things to Do in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most celebrated and diverse safari destinations, drawing travelers from around the world with its extraordinary wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and unique ecological variety. Straddling the western arm of the Great Rift Valley in southwestern Uganda, the park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that encompasses open savannahs, crater lakes, dense forests, and the famous Kazinga Channel — a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. Whether you are a first-time safari-goer or a seasoned wildlife enthusiast, Queen Elizabeth National Park delivers an unmatched range of experiences that make it one of East Africa’s top safari destinations. Here is a comprehensive guide to the top things to do when you visit.

1. Game Drive in the Kasenyi Plains

The Kasenyi Plains, located in the northern sector of the park, are widely regarded as one of the finest game drive circuits in Uganda. Early morning drives here offer exceptional opportunities to witness lions on the hunt, large elephant herds moving across the open grassland, and Uganda kob — the park’s most abundant antelope — grazing in their hundreds. Buffaloes, warthogs, topi, and spotted hyenas are also regular sightings. The flat, open terrain makes wildlife spotting remarkably easy, and the golden light of sunrise adds a spectacular photographic dimension to every encounter. For those looking to experience this as part of a longer Uganda circuit, the 6 Days Luxury Big Game Wildlife Safari includes Kasenyi as a central highlight, pairing it with other iconic western Uganda destinations.

2. Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Without question, the Kazinga Channel boat cruise is the single most iconic experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and one of the most rewarding wildlife activities in all of East Africa. This 2–3 hour cruise along the natural channel connecting Lake Edward and Lake George brings visitors within metres of one of the largest concentrations of hippos found anywhere on the continent. Enormous pods surface and submerge lazily around the boat, while Nile crocodiles bask on the sunlit banks. Elephants and buffaloes wade in to drink, seemingly unbothered by passing vessels, and the birdlife is nothing short of extraordinary — with over 600 recorded species in the park, the channel is alive with African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, goliath herons, and dozens more. The 6 Days Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth & Kibale Safari from Frena Adventures includes this iconic cruise as part of a beautifully crafted western Uganda circuit.

3. Spot the Famous Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha

The Ishasha sector, located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, is world-famous for a remarkable wildlife phenomenon — lions that rest and sleep in the branches of giant fig trees. While tree-climbing lions are extremely rare elsewhere in Africa, the Ishasha pride has developed this extraordinary habit, and witnessing them draped lazily across the branches against a backdrop of open savannah is one of Uganda’s most iconic and unforgettable safari sightings. Game drives through the Ishasha sector also reveal elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, and topi roaming the grasslands below the fig trees. Most visitors combine Ishasha with a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for gorilla trekking, making it a natural highlight on the western Uganda circuit.

4. Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge

Often referred to as the “Valley of Apes”, Kyambura Gorge is a dramatic sunken rainforest cutting through the savannah landscape of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Guided treks into this remarkable gorge offer the chance to track and observe habituated chimpanzees as they move through the canopy above. The contrast between the open savannah just metres away and the lush, dense forest of the gorge is visually extraordinary, and the chimpanzee tracking experience here is both intimate and deeply rewarding. Other primates, including black-and-white colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys, also inhabit the gorge, alongside a rich variety of forest birds. For those who want to combine this with full chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park — the primate capital of the world — the 8 Days Gorilla & Wildlife Combination offers a perfectly crafted itinerary.

5. Birdwatching

With over 600 recorded bird species, Queen Elizabeth National Park ranks among the richest birding destinations in Africa, attracting serious birdwatchers and casual enthusiasts alike. The Kazinga Channel, Maramagambo Forest, Kyambura Gorge, and the park’s crater lakes each offer distinct and rewarding birding habitats. The shoebill stork — one of Africa’s most sought-after and prehistoric-looking birds — can occasionally be spotted in the papyrus swamps near Lake George. Other notable species include the African skimmer, pink-backed pelican, great blue turaco, black bee-eater, and multiple species of kingfisher. Guided birding walks and specialized birdwatching drives are available, and early mornings are the optimal time to explore the park’s avian diversity. Browse our full range of Uganda safari tours to find an itinerary that maximizes birding opportunities across Uganda’s western circuit.

6. Visit the Maramagambo Forest

The Maramagambo Forest, located in the southeastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, is a dense tropical forest that offers a completely different dimension to the park’s wildlife experience. Guided forest walks here reveal chimpanzees, forest elephants, and a remarkable diversity of bird species, including many Albertine Rift endemics. The forest is also home to python caves — large underground cavities where enormous African rock pythons are regularly seen resting alongside colonies of bats. The interplay between these species makes the Maramagambo caves one of Uganda’s most unusual and fascinating natural attractions. The forest also shelters bush babies, giant forest hogs, and a variety of smaller mammals, making every guided walk a rich and rewarding experience.

7. Crater Lakes Drive and Scenic Views

Queen Elizabeth National Park and its surrounding landscape are dotted with ancient volcanic crater lakes — over fifty of them — that create some of the most dramatic and photogenic scenery in all of Uganda. The crater lakes drive, particularly around the Bunyaruguru cluster near the park’s southern boundary, takes visitors through a landscape of extraordinary beauty. Some lakes are vivid green due to algae, others deep blue, and each crater edge offers panoramic viewpoints looking out over a mosaic of forest, savannah, and shimmering water. This scenic drive is ideal for photography, leisurely exploration, and appreciating the geological forces that shaped this remarkable landscape over millions of years.

8. Cultural Encounters with Local Communities

Beyond its wildlife, Queen Elizabeth National Park is surrounded by vibrant local communities whose traditions, crafts, and daily rhythms offer a meaningful cultural dimension to any safari visit. Guided community walks introduce visitors to local fishing villages along the channel, traditional salt mining operations at Lake Katwe — one of the few places in East Africa where salt is still harvested by hand — and craft cooperatives where local artisans produce handmade goods. These encounters provide genuine insight into the lives of the people who share this remarkable landscape and support community-based conservation initiatives that benefit both wildlife and local livelihoods. For a safari that combines community visits with wildlife encounters across multiple parks, the 11 Days Uganda and Rwanda Primate & Cultural Safari is a highly recommended option.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is, without question, one of the most complete and rewarding safari destinations in East Africa. From the legendary Kazinga Channel cruise and tree-climbing lions of Ishasha to world-class birdwatching, chimpanzee tracking, and breathtaking crater lake scenery, the park delivers experiences that stay with you long after you return home. Whether visited as a standalone safari or combined with Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, or as part of a wider Uganda safari holiday, Queen Elizabeth National Park is a destination that rewards every type of traveler. Contact our team today to start planning your Queen Elizabeth National Park adventure.