This slow-paced, easy going 4 Days Safari In Beautiful Queen Elizabeth National Park was especially prepared for the individual, friends, or family who has been moving too quickly through life, work, and everything in between.
The tour takes you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. Covering almost 2,000km2, this park is home to nearly 100 different mammal species, including tree-climbing lions, ground dwelling lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, Hippos, Crocodiles, Warthogs, Chimpanzees, and Hyenas. There is also over 600 species of bird!
And before you even get to the animals, the park also has some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes anywhere in Uganda. Situated in southwest of Uganda, right on the equator, Queen Elizabeth National Park sits on the floor of Great Rift Valley.
As you explore the park, you’ll see not only flat plain of the valley itself, with the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains in the background, but also rolling green hills, lush rainforests, dozens of enormous craters belonging to long-extinct volcanoes, sparkling lakes, and the hippo-filled Kazinga Channel.
Safari Highlights
- Wildlife Game drives
- Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- See the famous tree-climbing lions
- Katwe Salt Lake Community tour
- Comfortable accommodation
- Breathtaking scenery
- Exceptional birding opportunities
- Inspiring photographic opportunities
- Visiting the Uganda equator
- Visiting Igongo Cultural Centre for a traditional lunch
- Optional chimpanzee trekkingadventure
Summary
Day 1: Pickup & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 2: Morning Game drive in Kasenyi Sector & Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Day 3: Game drive up to Katwe Salt Lake Community & Transfer to Ishasha for Tree Climbing Lions – Optional Chimpanzee in Kalinzu Forest or Kyambura Gorge
Day 4: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha; Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup And Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park
Our Tulambule Uganda safaris guide shall pick you up very early in the morning from your place of stay in Entebbe or Kampala. After short tour briefing, you will begin your journey to Queen Elizabeth National park.
Queen Elizabeth is located in the southwestern part of Uganda on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The Rift Valley was formed by the pulling apart of two tectonic plates, and these literally earth-shattering movement millennia ago caused the formation of some truly magnificent views.
Along the way, watch out for the local people working in their gardens or doing business in the roadside market places. You will also see herdsmen tending to the interesting long-horned Ankole cattle.
Your driver guide shall make a brief stop at the Equator monument in Kayabwe to allow you stretch your legs. Uganda is one of the few countries on Earth where you can cross this imaginary geographical line on land. Observe how water swirls in opposite directions on either side of the equator and take some photos.
From there, the journey will continue and the next stop will be at the Igongo Cultural Center, a huge commercial enterprise with a five-star hotel, a top restaurant, craft shops, and one of the best museums in Uganda. Here you’ll enjoy a traditional lunch, before proceed on your drive to Queen.
As you approach the park, you’ll begin to see lovely views of the Rwenzori Mountains from the horizon as well as crater lakes, wildlife and the rift valley. This is where your guide will be most active as he shares with you details about all the features.
You’ll arrive in the afternoon and be taken to your hotel for some relaxation and refreshment.
In the evening, you will game drive at the Kasenyi plains to spot warthogs, buffaloes, elephants, and several species of antelopes among others. You’ll stay out until sunset and hopefully, you can spot some predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas as they start to become more active at this time.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains Camp
Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge/Bush Lodge/Park View Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 2: Game Drive in Kasenyi Sector & Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
Africa safari breakfasts are traditionally served before sunrise so that as the sun rises, you can start your wildlife safari game drive. Sunrise game drives offers the best game viewing opportunities as animals tend to be the most active during the golden hours of the day when the first rays of the sun come to rest on the African savannah.
So, on day two of your 4-day safari in beautiful Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will wake up very early for breakfast before going out into the savanna to view animals. You will traverse savannah plains of the Kasenyi, one of the most beautiful areas of Queen Elizabeth Park.
You will have a chance to tick off some wonderful wildlife like Lions, hyenas, buffalos, elephants, Uganda kobs, hippos, bushbucks, waterbucks, and Warthogs.
Occasionally, you’ll be able to see the legendary Rwenzori Mountains. If you are very lucky, you might even spot a Giant forest hog – Africa’s largest pig – or an elusive leopard. After the game drive of about 3 to 4 hours, you will return to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will have a relaxing boat tour on the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel that flows between Lakes George and Edward.
Some of the densest concentrations of hippo in Africa reside here, as well as a large number of elephants, crocodiles, buffaloes, and a plethora of waterbirds like fish eagles and pelicans.
After the boat cruise, you will take a short game drive along the channel track as you head back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Kyambura Gorge Lodge/Mweya Safari Lodge/Elephant Plains Camp
Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge/Bush Lodge/Park View Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 3: Game Drive Up To Katwe Salt Lake Community & Transfer to Ishasha For Tree Climbing Lions.
Crater Drive
After hearty breakfast today, you will check out of the lodge and take on a scenic Crater Drive. You will explore the volcanic explosion craters that remind us of the Albertine Rift’s violent tectonic history.
You will follow spectacular route around the rims of extinct craters filled, variously, with lakes, forests, and grassland. You will drive up to Katwe Salt Lake where the local community has been extracting salt for over 600 years!
You will meet a local guide from the community to take you for a tour around the salt mines while explaining how salt mining is done, the challenges faced as well as the opportunities available.
Lake Katwe salt extraction project is one of the living examples of man and biosphere reserves or conservation areas in the whole world where man harmoniously co-exists with wildlife.
Because of the salty condition of this Crater Lake, it can’t support any animals within it. However, you will be able to view elephants, buffaloes, and flamingos at the baboon cliff.
Drive To Ishasha Sector To See Tree-Climbing Lions
From Katwe, you will drive to park’s Ishasha sector. The Ishasha Sector lies near the southwestern edge of Queen Elizabeth Park.
This sector is known primarily for its incredible and unusual tree-climbing lions that have made old fig trees their regular – hangout. It is said they do this in order to get better viewpoints, and for protection from the winds.
However, the sector provides plenty more to do and see. This untouched area of savannah and rivers, decorated with fig, acacia, and cactus trees.
It’s a wonderful place to enjoy wildlife game drives, nature walks, and community tours. Ishasha is one of the best bird-watching spots in Uganda. And is also home to elephants, buffalos, hippos, waterbucks, and topis
The drive to Ishasha will take about 1-2 hours. On arrival, you will have lunch and some relaxation before embarking on a game drive.
Kyambura Gorge Chimpanzee Trekking – Optional
Often referred to as the Valley of the Apes, Kyambura Gorge is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Over the past two years a small family of wild Chimpanzees has been habituated to tolerate the presence of humans.
However, sightings are not guaranteed. So chimp trekking permits here are offered at considerably low rates compared to the more well-known Kibale Forest National Park. But this is a chance to discover this beautiful tropical gorge area and track the Chimpanzees in a remote and lesser-known location.
Kyambura is well known stunning scenery and a vast bio-diversity. Should you miss the chimpanzees, your guide will still point out Colobus monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys and mangabeys as well as different bird species and provide details of the traditional of the plant species within the forest.
Chimpanzee trekking adventures in Kyambura starts in the morning and afternoon. The treks usually lasts 3 to 4 hours with about 4-6 people in a group each led by a specialist guide from Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee Trekking – Optional
You can also opt to go for chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest near Queen Elizabeth National Park. This verdant forest is home to about 300 wild chimpanzees and it’s the best place to see them after Kibale Forest. You will learn about the habits and social activities of these endangered apes – our closest relatives in the animal world – and gain insights into current efforts to protect them.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Midrange: Enjojo Lodge
Budget: Enjojo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 4: Game Drive in Ishasha, Transfer To Kampala
Wake up and have an early morning game drive in Ishasha to see more of the lions and other Uganda wildlife in Ishasha. This sector will offer you a different experience because it has a different setting and landscape from Kasenyi.
After the game drive, you will begin the journey back to Kampala or Entebbe with lunch at the Igongo cultural Centre. You may tour have a brief tour of the centre to learn about the culture of the Ankole people.
That is you if did not get time on the first day. You then will continue the drive using the same route and bypass the Uganda equator crossing. Expect to reach Entebbe or Kampala at around 6 pm.
What’s Included
- Accommodation: Hotel/lodges (3 nights).
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
- Transport: 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
- All national park entrance fees
- Safari drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Wildlife boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Visit the Equator
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What’s Not Included
- Airfare to and from the destination
- Minimum medical and emergency evacuation insurance
- Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
- Your Uganda Visa
- Any activity not described in what’s Included
- Meals on your own
- Gratuities
