The  3 day Queen Elizabeth National Park safari in Uganda exposes you to one of Africa's most beautiful scenery, an array of big game and hundreds of species of birds. The park is Uganda's second largest, covering approximately 1978 square kilometres of land. The park is popular for her lush hills, plenty of big game, woodland, acacia and sparkling crater lakes that attract plenty of wildlife. Numerous habitats occur in Queen Elizabeth National Park which support a remarkable diversity of wildlife including 66 mammals and over 600 species of birds. Lake Munyanyange adjacent to the park is a bird sanctuary as well as a migratory location for the lesser flamingo from August to November. The park altogether has the highest number of birds found in any protected area in East Africa. 

Divided into two sectors, that is the North and the South, the park offers  scenic views of lion prides and herds of elephants and cape buffalo in the North while the south, also known as Ishasha is famous for tree climbing lions. To compliment the biodiversity, the park also hosts a small population of Chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge forest.

This 3 day Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park safari is one of the best trips for animal viewing safaris in Uganda. In addition to the amazing wildlife, the park has a rich cultural history with a lot of fishing villages adjacent to the park. Some of the villages around the park include: Leopard village, Kikorongo village community, Nyanz'ibiri Cave Community. Visitors have opportunities engaging with local communities and enjoying the stories, music and dance. The visitors can get to engage in the daily activities of the locals like harvesting and cooking a quick vegetable meal and making crafts. Queen Elizabeth is also punctuated by numerous craters that provide an incredible scenery.

On this 3 day Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari, you will do game drives, have boat cruises on the Kazinga channel and enjoy a plenty of birdlife.

 

Activities

  1. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Game Drive

Transfer from Kampala/Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Evening Game Drive through Kasenyi Savannah Plains

  • Journey time: 7 - 8 hours
  • Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Luxury), Katara Lodge (Upmarket), Kasenyi Safari Camp or Marafiki Safari Lodge (Midrange), Marafiki Safari Lodge (Budget)
  • Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner
     
  • The driver guide shall pick you up from your hotel at 7:00am and you will set off to Queen Elizabeth National park in southwestern Uganda. You shall make a stopover in Mbarara town for lunch after which you continue to the park arriving in the late afternoon. Check into your accommodation to relax, before you will go on your first game drive. This is an ideal time to spot big cats, as temperatures drop and the cats start to become more active. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2

Game Drive

Boat Cruise

Crater Drive

Morning Game Drive in the Kasenyi Plains, Afternoon Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel & Scenic Crater Drive

  • Accommodation: Kyambura Gorge Lodge (Luxury), Katara Lodge (Upmarket), Kasenyi Safari Camp or Marafiki Safari Lodge (Midrange), Marafiki Safari Lodge (Budget)
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  • Be up by 6:00am, have a cup of tea/coffee with a snack and set out for the morning game drive. Explore the vast Kasenyi Plains (main mating grounds for many anteopes) for plenty of game sightings which include: Elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes, Lions, and Hyenas. After 3 hours, return to the lodge for breakfast and relax. After lunch, transfer to the Mweya penisula and set off for the 2 hour Boat safari on the Kazinga Channel. Expect to see a variety of wildlife such as Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants, Buffaloes and so many birds; over 100 speices of birds flock the kazinga channel with examples like the Fish Eagles, Skimmers, Egrets, Pelicans among others. On the way back from the boat cruise, you will do a loop through one of the most scenic part of Uganda: the carters of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Take your time and make a few stops for photos when driving through this spectacular landscape and enjoy the sundowner. Afterthere return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3

Uganda Equator

Drive back to Kampala/Entebbe with Stopover at the Uganda Equator Line

  • Journey time: 7 - 8 hours
  • Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

  • After breakfast, check out and depart for Kampala/Entebbe. We will have lunch en-route at the Ajip Motel in Mbarara town. You shall also make stopover at the Uganda Equator. Get to Kampala/Entebbe and drop-off at your hotel or the airport.

Gerneral Tips:

  • OPTIONAL: HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARIS are offered at Queen Elizabeth NP and can be booked in addition!
  • OPTIONAL: Are you interested in getting a close-up experience with the Lions? Then book the LION EXPERIENTIAL at Queen Elizabeth National Park and get closer to the big cats than anyone else, as you will leave the main tracks and drive on unbeaten tracks through the park accompanied by the Cat Doctor.
  • If time allows, we recommend to increase the number of nights and visit the southern sector of the park, Ishasha. It's known for its famous tree climbing lions.

What to bring:

  • Sun screen is highly recommended.
  • Mosquito repellant is adsivable.
  • Binoculars are always useful, especially when booking the Hot Air Balloon Safari.