Queen Elizabeth National Park is a vast savannah and wetland reserve in western Uganda, stretching across the Albertine Rift Valley between Lakes Edward and George. Renowned for its striking scenery and rich biodiversity, it is Uganda’s most visited national park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Established: 1952 (renamed in 1954 for Queen Elizabeth II)
Area: 1,978 km²
Location: Western Uganda (Kasese, Kamwenge, Bushenyi & Rukungiri Districts)
Wildlife: 95 mammal species, 600 + bird species
Elevation: 910 m – 1,350 m above sea level
The park’s terrain encompasses open savannah, tropical forests, crater lakes, and papyrus swamps set against the snowcapped Rwenzori Mountains. It lies along the equator, marked by twin monuments where the line crosses the park. The Kazinga Channel links its two major lakes, sustaining one of Africa’s highest concentrations of hippos.
Safaris feature dawn and dusk game drives across the Kasenyi Plains, boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee tracking, and hot-air-balloon rides. Nature walks in Maramagambo Forest reveal bats, pythons, and forest birds, while the crater-lake drive and Katwe Salt Lake offer scenic and cultural insights into traditional salt mining.