Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park occupies an area of approximately 200 000 hectares in the Western Region of Uganda, spanning the exotic sounding districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri. The Park extends from Lake George in the north-east to Lake Edward in the south-west, including the Kazinga Channel connecting the two lakes. Uganda's capital and largest city Kampala, south-west of the Queen Elizabeth National Park, is approximately 400 kilometres by road.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park crosses the Eqcuator with monuments on either side of the road marking the exact spot. The Katwe Explosion Craters mark the park's highest point at 1,350m above sea level, while the lowest point is at 910m, at Lake Edward.
The Park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, and renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. It’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big game Te Park also boasts ten primate species, including chimpanzees, and over six hundred species of birds.
Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the Park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel, its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephant, as well as the endless Ishasha Plains, where fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on unsuspecting Uganda Kob.