QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), Uganda’s most popular savannah park, is located in western Uganda, approx 438 kms/6 hrs southwest of Kampala. Her 1,978 km² of open savannah, rainforest, dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes extends from Lake George in the northeast to Lake Edward in the southwest and includes Maramagambo Forest and the Kazinga Channel that connects the two lakes.

Established in 1954, it is home to an incredible array of wildlife including almost 100 species of mammals, from hippos, elephants, leopards, lions, the elusive giant forest hog, the handsome Uganda kob to Chimpanzees in her Kyambura Gorge; all these in addition to over 600 bird species.

Much of the best game viewing is in the northern, Mweya Peninsula area which boasts a marvellous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzoris. The southern area of Ishasha exiting toward Bwindi is famous for its tree-climbing lions, whose males sport black manes, a feature unique to the lions in this area.

The park is also famous for its volcanic features; volcanic cones and deep craters, many with crater lakes such as Lake Katwe, from which salt is extracted.