3 Days Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari in Uganda
This 3 Days Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari offers an immersive introduction to one of Uganda’s most diverse and scenic protected areas. Queen Elizabeth National Park lies in western Uganda within the Albertine Rift Valley and covers approximately 1,978 square kilometers. The park is renowned for its wide range of ecosystems including open savannah, wetlands, crater lakes, riverine forests, and tropical woodland, which together support exceptional biodiversity.
During this safari, you will enjoy classic game drives, a boat cruise on the famous Kazinga Channel, optional chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, and cultural encounters with local communities. Wildlife highlights include elephants, buffaloes, hippos, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, spotted hyenas, and with luck, lions and leopards. The park is also a birding hotspot, with over 600 recorded bird species.
This itinerary is ideal for travelers seeking a short yet rewarding Uganda wildlife safari with varied activities and beautiful landscapes.
Day 1 Drive from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Evening Game Drive
After an early breakfast at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, you meet your professional safari guide and begin the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. The journey takes approximately six to seven hours depending on traffic and road conditions, with several planned stops along the way.
Your first stop is at the Uganda Equator crossing in Kayabwe, where you have time for photographs, a brief demonstration of the equatorial water experiment, and an opportunity to purchase souvenirs. From here, you continue southwest through scenic countryside characterized by rolling hills, farmland, and long horned Ankole cattle.
You arrive in Mbarara City for lunch, the main commercial hub of southwestern Uganda. After lunch, the drive continues toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through Kasese town with views of the Rwenzori Mountains, often referred to as the Mountains of the Moon.
Upon entering the park, you may already begin to see wildlife along the roadside, including Uganda kobs, warthogs, buffaloes, and elephants. After checking in at your lodge, you head out for an evening game drive in the Kasenyi plains or nearby sectors of the park.
The evening game drive offers excellent opportunities to spot grazing herbivores and predators beginning to emerge as temperatures cool. Animals commonly seen include elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, and warthogs. Lions and leopards are present in the park, although sightings depend on luck and timing.
After the game drive, you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options include Mweya Safari Lodge or the Institute of Ecology, both strategically located near the Kazinga Channel and offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
Day 2 Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
You wake up early for a light breakfast or a cup of African tea before setting out for a morning game drive, which begins around 6:30 am. Early morning is the best time for wildlife viewing, as predators may still be active and herbivores are out grazing before the heat of the day.
During this game drive, you explore the Kasenyi plains and other prime wildlife areas of the park. Expect to see large herds of Uganda kobs, buffaloes, elephants, and waterbucks. Spotted hyenas are often seen returning to their dens, and with good fortune, you may encounter lions or leopards resting after a night hunt. The open savannah also provides excellent bird watching opportunities, including sightings of martial eagles, secretary birds, and various vultures.
After the game drive, you return to the lodge for a late breakfast and time to relax before lunch. In the early afternoon, you prepare for one of the highlights of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.
The Kazinga Channel is a natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George and is famous for having one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa. During the boat cruise, you enjoy close range views of hippos, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and waterbirds gathering along the shoreline to drink and cool off.
The channel is a paradise for bird lovers, with frequent sightings of African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, pelicans, herons, cormorants, and storks. The relaxed pace of the boat allows for excellent photography and observation of animal behavior.
After the boat cruise, you may choose to visit Katunguru fishing village located near the channel. Here, you interact with local communities, learn about traditional fishing methods, and gain insight into daily life around the park. Cultural performances can be arranged depending on availability.
You return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge or the Institute of Ecology.
Day 3 Optional Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge and Return to Kampala
After an early breakfast, you check out of the lodge and proceed to Kyambura Gorge, located in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kyambura Gorge is a lush, forested valley often referred to as the Valley of Apes and is home to a small community of chimpanzees as well as other primates.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is optional and depends on permit availability. The trek involves descending into the gorge and walking through forested terrain while guided by experienced rangers. In addition to chimpanzees, you may encounter black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and a variety of forest birds.
It is important to note that chimpanzee sightings in Kyambura Gorge are less predictable compared to Kibale Forest, but the walk itself is scenic and educational, offering insight into the unique ecosystem of the gorge.
After the chimpanzee trek or a short nature walk if you opt out of trekking, you begin the drive back to Kampala. You travel via Kasese and Fort Portal road, passing through scenic countryside and making stopovers as needed for refreshments and lunch en route.
You arrive back in Kampala or Entebbe in the evening, marking the end of your 3 Days Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari.
This 3 day safari provides a well balanced experience of Queen Elizabeth National Park, combining wildlife viewing, boat safaris, optional primate trekking, and cultural interaction. It is an excellent choice for travelers with limited time who still want to experience one of Uganda’s most iconic national parks in depth.
End of Safari
