Queen Elizabeth National Park

Straddling the Equator, Famous for Lions That Climb Trees

Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most visited savanna park — 1,978 km² spanning crater lakes, open grassland, and the Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. It's best known for the Ishasha sector's tree-climbing lions, an unusual behaviour seen reliably in only a handful of places on Earth.

No one is entirely certain why Ishasha's lions climb — theories range from escaping biting flies at ground level, to avoiding the day's heat, to simply better vantage points for spotting prey across the plains. Whatever the reason, finding a pride draped across the low branches of a fig or sausage tree is one of the more surreal sightings in African safari travel, and Ishasha is the most reliable place in Uganda to see it.

The Kazinga Channel, in the park's main section, offers one of Africa's best boat safaris: a two-hour cruise past hippo pods (among the highest hippo densities on the continent), Nile crocodiles, and elephant herds coming down to drink, with over 600 bird species recorded in the wider park including African skimmers and pied kingfishers working the channel's edges.

Queen Elizabeth also spans the equator itself — a marked crossing point on the main Kasese road makes for an easy, slightly novelty photo stop between game drives. The park's diversity of habitat (savanna, wetland, forest, and crater lakes) supports ten primate species and all the classic savanna wildlife except rhino, which don't currently range here.

Most itineraries treat Queen Elizabeth as a transit stop between Bwindi (gorillas) and Kibale (chimpanzees), and a single night with one game drive and the Kazinga Channel boat safari is enough to see its highlights — though a second night, specifically in Ishasha, meaningfully improves your odds with the tree-climbing lions.

Highlights

◆Ishasha sector's tree-climbing lions — reliably seen in only a handful of places on Earth
◆Kazinga Channel boat safari — one of Africa's highest hippo densities plus 600+ bird species
◆Ten primate species across the park's savanna, wetland, and forest habitats
◆Equator crossing point on the main Kasese road
◆Natural stopover between Bwindi and Kibale — no detour required
◆Salt Lake Katwe and its centuries-old traditional salt-mining community

Where to Stay

Kazinga Channel Lodges

Properties overlooking the channel itself in the park's main section — excellent for the boat safari and general game viewing, with hippo and elephant often visible from camp.

Ishasha Tented Camps

Smaller, more remote camps specifically in the Ishasha sector, for travellers prioritising the tree-climbing lions — quieter, with fewer vehicles than the main park section.

Crater Lake & Mweya Peninsula Lodges

A cluster of lodges on the Mweya Peninsula between the two lakes, offering some of the park's best views alongside easy access to both the channel and game-drive circuits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tree-climbing lions guaranteed in Ishasha?

No sighting in the wild is ever guaranteed, but Ishasha is genuinely one of the most reliable places on Earth for this behaviour — an experienced local guide tracking known prides gives you strong odds over a two-night stay.

Is one night enough for Queen Elizabeth National Park?

One night with a game drive and the Kazinga Channel boat safari covers the park's headline highlights and works well as a stopover between Bwindi and Kibale. If the tree-climbing lions specifically are your priority, we'd recommend a second night based in Ishasha.

What will I see on the Kazinga Channel boat safari?

Extremely high hippo densities, large Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, elephant herds coming down to drink, buffalo, and excellent birdlife — it's consistently one of the highlights of a Uganda itinerary, and a good rest from game-drive vehicles.

Can I see rhino at Queen Elizabeth?

No — rhino don't currently range in this park. Uganda's rhino population is concentrated at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, en route to Murchison Falls, which can be added to a northern-circuit itinerary if seeing rhino matters to you.