Queen Elizabeth National Park in brief
Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda covers 1,978 square kilometers in the west of the country, right on the equator. It began as Kazinga National Park in 1952 and was renamed in 1954 on the occasion of a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. The lake shore of Lake Edward lies at 910 meters, the Katwe crater at 1,350 meters, and UNESCO has listed the wider area as a biosphere reserve since 1979.
This guide covers what visitors actually do here: game drives on the Kasenyi plains, boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge, the salt lake at Katwe, the Maramagambo forest, the shores of Lake Edward and Lake George, the Rwenzori Mountains and the town of Kasese. Fees for foreign visitors are in US dollars, local fees in Ugandan shillings (UGX). Always check the current amount before you book.
Our picks: Queen Elizabeth tours
The 8-hour game drive is the simple start if you are already near the park, and the 2-day safari from Kampala adds the boat ride. The 1-day Kyambura trip is the one for chimps, and the longer trips add Lake Mburo.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
4-day Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo safari
- All park entry fees
- Boat rides in both parks
- Lodging and all meals
Two days in Queen Elizabeth with the Kazinga cruise, then two days at Lake Mburo. A private 4x4 with a guide; no primate trekking is included.
Check availability →
6-day Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo safari with Kyambura trek
- Kyambura trek with chimp permit
- Five nights with full board
- Game drives in both parks
A private vehicle with driver-guide, park entries for both parks, the Kazinga boat ride and a guided nature walk. The price is per person.
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2-day Queen Elizabeth safari with boat ride
- Non-resident park fees
- Boat ride and Kasenyi drive
- Lodging and meals as per itinerary
A private trip with a driver-guide. A primate walk is optional, and no trekking permit is included.
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1-day Kyambura Gorge chimp trek with Kazinga boat ride
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Park entry
- Kazinga boat ride
A small-group day trip in a 4x4 with an English-speaking driver-guide, returning to Mbarara. Seeing chimpanzees is never guaranteed.
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Private 4-hour game drive with optional boat ride
- Park entry
- 4-hour game drive
- Boat cruise as an option
Park entry and a private four-hour game drive are included. Add the boat option if you also want the Kazinga Channel.
Check availability →
Queen Elizabeth game drive for up to four people
- Kasenyi, Mweya and Ishasha
- Night drive listed
- Small group of up to four
Eight hours in a van across the park's game areas. The Kazinga boat ride is optional, and you should ask whether park fees are included before you book.
Check availability →Queen Elizabeth National Park tours and safaris
Game drives, Kazinga Channel boat cruises and multi-day safaris to the park, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip to Queen Elizabeth
Start with safari and the boat cruise, then pick the areas you want to add.
Safari and game drives
Kasenyi and Ishasha, day and night drives, vehicle fees and park rules.
Tours from Kampala
Road, flight and combinations with Bwindi and Kibale.
Kazinga Channel cruise
The UWA boat fare, Mweya and the animals along the water.
Tree-climbing lions
What to expect in the southern sector, without promises.
Kyambura Gorge
Tracking permits, rules and the forest in the gorge.
Lake Katwe
Salt pans, crater lakes and the explosion craters.
Maramagambo Forest
Guided walks, primates and what to know about access.
Lake Edward and Lake George
Fishing villages, birds and the border lake.
Rwenzori Mountains
Treks toward Margherita Peak and what they demand.
Kasese
The town between the park and the mountains.
Park fees 2026
The UWA tariff, extra fees and how to pay.
Wildlife
Lions, hippos, elephants, primates and birds.
Weather and best time
Rainy seasons and what they mean for your trip.
Where to stay
Accommodation by area: Mweya, Kasenyi, Ishasha and more.
Kampala to the park
Road, scheduled flights, airport transfers and car hire.
History of the park
From game reserves to Kazinga National Park to today.
Which area for which experience
The park is large. Each sector has a different job.
| Area | Best known for | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Kasenyi plains | Open game drives | Safari |
| Mweya and the Kazinga Channel | Boat cruises, hippos, elephants, waterbirds | Kazinga Channel |
| Ishasha (south) | Lions resting in fig trees | Ishasha |
| Kyambura Gorge | Chimpanzee tracking | Kyambura |
| Katwe | Salt lake and explosion craters | Lake Katwe |
| Maramagambo | Forest walks and primates | Maramagambo |
For most first visits, a guided game drive on the Kasenyi plains plus the Kazinga Channel cruise covers the park well. Add Ishasha if you travel on toward Bwindi, and Kyambura if you have a spare morning.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, and the rest of your trip
The park fits into a longer route through western Uganda.
Many travelers join Queen Elizabeth to gorilla trekking in the southwest. The Ishasha sector is the usual link in that direction, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has its own guide with permits and sectors. Chimpanzee trekking in a different forest is covered by Kibale National Park. This site stays with Queen Elizabeth, the Kazinga Channel, Kasese and the Rwenzori foothills.
A few things to know before you go
Details that change how you plan.
Check the tariff period
The amounts on this site are the UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026. Rates can change after that, so check the current amount before you book.
Park fees →Yellow fever certificate
Since October 2026 Uganda's immigration authority no longer requires a yellow fever certificate for entry. Check the current rule before you go, and the rules of any country you travel on to.
Getting there →Chimpanzees in Kyambura
A monitoring project had identified 25 individual chimpanzees in the gorge by July 2026, and the work continues. No one can promise a sighting.
Kyambura Gorge →Flights go to Kasese
Scheduled flights in 2026 serve Kasese for this region. Check the current timetable, and do not plan around a daily scheduled flight straight to Mweya.
Tours and transfers →The bat cave in Maramagambo
Plan the forest walk and the primates. Ask UWA whether any access to the cave is open before you build a day around it.
Maramagambo Forest →Rwenzori prices differ by year
Trek prices change from year to year. Make sure a quote names the year it applies to.
Rwenzori Mountains →Travel advice for the west
The German Foreign Office advises special caution for Queen Elizabeth and the Rwenzori area and advises against non-essential travel into the rest of the border area with the DR Congo, within 20 km. Ishasha lies close to that border. Read your own government's current advice.
Safari and safety →More independent Uganda guides
Separate guides from the same team.
Jinja
The source of the Nile, rafting, boat trips and Lake Victoria at Jinja.
Kalangala
The Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria: Bugala, Banda, ferries and quiet beaches.
Bwindi
Gorilla trekking, permits, the four sectors and Lake Bunyonyi in southwest Uganda.
Murchison Falls
Safaris, Nile boat cruises to the falls, shoebills and the Ziwa rhinos.
Kibale
Chimpanzee trekking, Bigodi, the crater lakes and Fort Portal.
Lake Mburo
Zebras, boat trips and horseback safaris between Kampala and Bwindi.
Kidepo Valley
Remote savanna safaris in the Narus Valley, cheetahs, ostriches and Karamoja in the far northeast.
Queen Elizabeth National Park: frequently asked questions
Where is Queen Elizabeth National Park?
In western Uganda, on the equator. By road it is about 410 km from Kampala, and the drive takes at least 7 to 8 hours. See getting there.
How much does it cost to enter?
The UWA tariff for July 2024 to December 2026 lists $40 for an adult foreign non-resident per 24 hours, $30 for a foreign resident, $25 for a citizen of another African country and UGX 20,000 for East African citizens. Children from 5 to 15 pay $20 ($10, $5, UGX 5,000), and children under 5 are free. The park fees page lists the extra lines such as the boat and Kyambura.
What is the best time to go?
The main rainy seasons are March to May and September to December. Rain is regional, so check the weather page for the Queen Elizabeth area.
Will I see lions?
Lions live in the park and Ishasha is known for them resting in fig trees, but no one can promise a sighting. Not every lion climbs, and the park had fewer than 100 lions in 2018. See the Ishasha page.
Do I need a visa?
Many visitors need an eVisa. The single-entry tourist visa costs $50, and the East Africa Tourist Visa for Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda costs $100 for 90 days. Some nationalities are exempt, so check the immigration authority's current list before you travel.
Is queen-elizabeth-national-park.org run by UWA or a safari company?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, any lodge, boat operator or tour company.