Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the scenic southwest of Uganda, is the country's most popular and biodiverse safari destination, a beautiful landscape of open savanna, crater lakes, wetlands and forest set beneath the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled Mountains of the Moon. It teems with wildlife, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and abundant birdlife, and is famous for the rare tree-climbing lions of the remote Ishasha sector, best explored on game drives and on a boat cruise along the wildlife-packed Kazinga Channel.

What you actually see

• The Kazinga Channel cruise - the boat trip past hippos, elephants and birds.
• The tree-climbing lions - the famous lions of the Ishasha sector.
• The wildlife and birds - the elephants, buffalo and rich birdlife.
• The crater lakes and Rwenzoris - the scenery beneath the mountains.

When to go

The drier seasons, June to September and December to February, are best for wildlife and easier access, when animals gather near water and the roads are better; the park is scenic and green year-round, and the Kazinga cruise is excellent in any season.

Honest expectations

The famous tree-climbing lions are found only in the remote Ishasha sector, a long drive away, and are not guaranteed even there, so do not count on them. Wildlife density is lower than in the great East African parks like the Serengeti, so it is more about scenery, variety and the boat cruise. It combines superbly, though, with the nearby gorilla and chimpanzee trekking for a rich Ugandan safari.

Nearby

Bwindi, the Kibale chimpanzees and the Rwenzori Mountains are within reach.