Elephants and buffalo are very common throughout Queen Elizabeth National Park, and lions are surprisingly easy to spot on the Kasenyi and Ishasha Plains. The most common antelopes are Uganda kob, defassa waterbuck, bushbuck and (only at Ishasha) topi. Hippos and crocodiles are common in the Kazinga Channel. A small community of chimpanzees has been habituated for tracking, and nine other primate species are present, including the black-and-white colobus.
Wildlife Highlights
Tree-climbing lions are a specialty of the Ishasha Plains, where they can often be found resting in huge fig trees. The rare giant forest hog is commonly seen along the Kazinga Channel, both on and boat trips. Buffalo in Queen Elizabeth NP are often reddish brown due to interbreeding with forest buffalo from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). is available in the steamy tropical forest of Kyambura Gorge.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
Queen Elizabeth NP can be visited throughout the year, but the best times for wildlife viewing are the Dry seasons (January to February and June to July) when animals gather near rivers and lakes. Some minor roads might become impassable after heavy rain.
View Photos (23)
