3-Day Queen Elizabeth National Park Safari + Kazinga Cruise
Safari Overview:
This 3-Day Queen Elizabeth National Park safari takes you to the most visited savannah national park in Uganda and the second-largest national park after Murchison Falls National Park. This is the most 
popular and visited national park in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park stands out for its diverse landscape and wildlife because it receives more rainfall compared to the Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya and the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania, hence providing visitors with more panoramic views for much of the year. Among the amazing features in the park are exploration crater lakes, Gorges, Salt Lakes, and rift valley lakes, such as Gorge and Edward. Queen Elizabeth is famous for hosting the rare tree-climbing lions, but visitors can also spot chimpanzees at the Maramagambo and the amazing Kyambura Gorge. The Kazinga channel is one of the best places to spot birds in the world. During certain months of the year, the sheer density of birds within and around the channel will leave even the most seasoned birders very impressed. Other activities and attractions include nature walks at the Maramagambo forest, hot air balloon wildlife viewing, visiting the Katwe salt mining lake, cultural visits, and taking part in wildlife research tours.
Safari highlight
- Kasenyi game drive
- Kazinga cruise,
- crater lakes
- optional chimp
- Starts/Ends (Kampala or Entebbe; 6–7 hours drive)
- Best for (short savannah safari + boat wildlife viewing)
Key UWA fees (reference)
Park entrance (FNR): $40/24hrs
Kazinga cruise (FNR): $30
Kyambura chimps (FNR): $100 (optional; excludes entrance fees)
- What changes the quote (group size, lodge category, season, chimp add-on)
3-Day Itinerary (Game Drives & Kazinga Cruise)
Day 1 — Transfer, crater lakes & evening game drive (Kasenyi)
Depending on your location in Kampala/Entebbe, you will be picked up by our driver guide to set off to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park is located in thewestern part of the country, about a 6 to 
7-hour drive with an en-route stop at the Uganda Equator, where you will be able to take photographs and visit the craft shop, proceed to Mbarara, where you will have en-route lunch, as you proceed to the Park via Ishaka. Upon arrival, explore the crater lakes before you continue to your booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals based on full board
- Mweya Safari Lodge/Kyambura Gorge Lodge – luxury option
- Elephant Hub Safari lodge/Parkview Safari lodge/Kasenyi Safari lodge – Mid-range option
- Pumba Safari Cottages/Engiri Game Lodge – Budget option
Day 2 — Morning game drive & Kazinga channel boat safari
You will wake up early, have breakfast, and connect for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi area for chances of finding animals like the Lions, leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes, Antelopes, and Warthogs, just to mention a few, en route to the Katwa salt mines. Return to the lodge for lunch and wait for your afternoon activity. Connect to the starting point of the boat cruise along the Kazinga channel, where you will get an opportunity to see several bird species, elephants and buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles at the lake shores. The Park has the largest number of hippo pools in East Africa. This will take about 2 to 3 hours before you return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at the lodge as above
Day 3 — Kyambura chimps OR Katwe crater drive & return
Option A: Chimpanzee Tracking in the Valley of Apes
A costly primate add-on is available at Kyambura Gorge on the last morning. Known as the “Valley of Apes,” this deep, forested canyon offers one of the most unique chimpanzee tracking experiences in Uganda.
After an early breakfast, you will head to the gorge headquarters for a briefing. Your ranger will lead you into the ravine to observe a small, habituated community of chimpanzees, along with
other primates such as red-tailed and colobus monkeys.
Permit Note: This activity is optional and subject to the availability of a permit, which must be secured at the time of booking
Caption: The dramatic, 100-meter-deep Kyambura Gorge offers an intimate, highly scenic Chimpanzee tracking adventure
Option B: The Katwe Crater Lakes Scenic Drive
If you prefer to maintain the focus on Queen Elizabeth’s unique landscape, you can opt for a picturesque morning drive through the Katwe Explosion Crater Drive
This route offers panoramic views of the park, the Rift Valley Escarpment, and over a dozen
ancient craters, some filled with water. You will visit the highly saline Lake Katwe, where local communities have extracted salt using traditional methods for centuries.
This is a perfect Queen Elizabeth Crater Lakes safari opportunity, providing stunning vistas and photography chances without strenuous trekking.
Departure and Equator Stopover
Following your morning activity, you will check out and begin the scenic drive from QENP to Kampala/Entebbe.
Journey Details: The return trip typically takes 6-7 hours, winding through the vast Ankole tea plantations and beautiful grazing lands of the long-horned Ankole cattle.
Highlight: A final stop at the Uganda Equator Crossing offers a classic photo opportunity—standing simultaneously in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres—and a final chance to purchase souvenirs.
Conclusion: You will be dropped off at your preferred location in Kampala or transferred directly to Entebbe International Airport (EBB) for your outbound flight.
NOTE. Interested in adding Chimpanzee Tracking? Customize this 3-Day Queen Elizabeth Safari to include your permit and accommodation upgrade today!“
