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Queen Elizabeth NP Budget Safari Tours
Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda's most popular safari destination. This is partly due to its proximity to the country’s gorilla trekking hubs, but also reflects its status as one of East Africa’s most biodiverse protected areas. Here you will find expansive freshwater lakes, swathes of equatorial rainforest, tracts of rolling savannah and brackish crater lakes nestled below the snowcapped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains. Four of the Big Five are present (no rhino), with elephant and buffalo easily seen and lion reasonably common too. The bird checklist of more than 600 species is the most of any national park in East Africa. Overall, Queen Elizabeth NP is a great addition to a budget holiday in Uganda.
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Top Rated Operator
15-Day Tailor-Made Tour & Vacation – Big 5 African Safari
$3,589 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Home To Africa Tours and Travel
5.0/5 – 247 Reviews
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5-Day Gorillas Chimpanzees and Wildlife Safari in Uganda
$1,660 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Queen Elizabeth NP, Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth NP), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Equator (Highlight), Entebbe (End)
Dav Safaris
5.0/5 – 48 Reviews
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12-Day Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Adventurous Safari
$3,380 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Jinja (Town), Entebbe (End)
Kajie Safaris
5.0/5 – 83 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Tour to Queen Elizabeth National Park
$950 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Queen Elizabeth NP, Entebbe (End)
East African Jungle Safaris
4.8/5 – 107 Reviews
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Best Seller
![5-Day Uganda Gorilla, Wildlife Safari and Chimpanzee]()
5-Day Uganda Gorilla, Wildlife Safari and Chimpanzee
$1,755 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Resort
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Entebbe Airport (End)
Africa Adventure Vacations
5.0/5 – 85 Reviews
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![4-Day Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Uganda Safari]()
4-Day Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Uganda Safari
$1,521 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Big Apes Africa
5.0/5 – 20 Reviews
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![6-Day Game Drives and Primates Tour]()
6-Day Game Drives and Primates Tour
$2,445 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe Airport (End)
Nsavi Safaris
5.0/5 – 11 Reviews
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![3-Day Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Trip]()
3-Day Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Trip
$720 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Queen Elizabeth NP, Entebbe (End)
Frena Adventures
4.9/5 – 62 Reviews
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![8-Day Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimpanzees]()
8-Day Uganda Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimpanzees
$3,600 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Lake Mburo NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kazinga Channel (Queen Elizabeth NP), Kibale NP (Chimps), Kampala (City), Kabale (End)
Myler Africa safaris
4.9/5 – 12 Reviews
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![6-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Queen Elizabeth Safari]()
6-Day Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Queen Elizabeth Safari
$2,015 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Entebbe Airport (Entebbe), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Entebbe (End)
Uganda Family Tours & Travel
5.0/5 – 21 Reviews
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6-Day Gorillas, Primates & Wildlife Budget Tour
$2,450 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Cottage
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth NP), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe (End)
Green Zones Safaris
5.0/5 – 4 Reviews
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![14-Day Budget Friendly African Tour]()
14-Day Budget Friendly African Tour
$3,520 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Kidepo Valley NP, Murchison Falls NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Verdoro Safaris
4.8/5 – 4 Reviews
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![5-Day Gorilla, Chimpanzee Trekking and Wildlife Safari]()
5-Day Gorilla, Chimpanzee Trekking and Wildlife Safari
$2,088 pp (USD)
Rwanda & Uganda: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Kigali (Start), Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Ishasha (Queen Elizabeth NP), Queen Elizabeth NP, Kibale NP (Chimps), Entebbe (End)
Primate Safaris
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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![5-Day Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari Combo]()
5-Day Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari Combo
$1,760 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Entebbe Airport (End)
Ngege Kufurahi Safaris
4.7/5 – 3 Reviews
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![8-Day 8-Day All-Inclusive Vacation Package]()
8-Day 8-Day All-Inclusive Vacation Package
$2,281 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Vibrant Holiday Safaris
4.5/5 – 2 Reviews
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![7-Day Your Gorilla Safari in the Pearl of Africa]()
7-Day Your Gorilla Safari in the Pearl of Africa
$2,100 to $2,200 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Resort
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kampala (City), Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Entebbe (End)
Mambo Gorilla Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 22 Reviews
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![8-Day All-Inclusive Uganda Tour]()
8-Day All-Inclusive Uganda Tour
$2,783 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kibale NP (Chimps), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe Airport (End)
Lionhead Tours and Travel
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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Best Seller
![7-Day Best of Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking & Wildlife]()
7-Day Best of Uganda Gorilla, Chimp Tracking & Wildlife
$2,350 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Murchison Falls NP, Hoima (Town), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)
Lulu Safaris Uganda
5.0/5 – 28 Reviews
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![14-Day Rwenzori Mountain, Gorillas & Savanah Safari]()
14-Day Rwenzori Mountain, Gorillas & Savanah Safari
$4,900 to $5,050 pp (USD)
Uganda: Shared tour (max 60 people per vehicle)BudgetMountain Hut & Lodge
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Kampala (City), Kasese (Town), Rwenzori Mountains (Mountain Range), Queen Elizabeth NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Lake Bunyonyi, Entebbe Airport (End)
Lush Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 16 Reviews
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![6-Day Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari in Uganda]()
6-Day Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari in Uganda
$2,009 pp (USD)
Uganda: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Entebbe (Start), Lake Mburo NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas), Queen Elizabeth NP, Entebbe (End)
Arrive Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 10 Reviews
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6 Questions About Queen Elizabeth NP Budget Safaris
Answered by
Philip Briggs
Philip is an Africa-specialized travel writer who first visited Uganda in 1988. He has returned on numerous occasions to research his Bradt Guide to Uganda (first published in 1993 and now in its 9th edition) and to lead wildlife tours and bird-watching safaris.
6 Questions About Queen Elizabeth NP Budget Safaris
Philip Briggs
Is Queen Elizabeth National Park recommended as a budget safari destination?
“Queen Elizabeth National Park is justifiably one of the most popular destinations for an affordable budget safari out of the Ugandan capital Kampala or nearby Entebbe International Airport. It is particularly recommended to travelers who also want to see gorillas, as it lies very close to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda's main gorilla trekking destination. Queen Elizabeth NP’s Ishasha sector is also one of the most reliable places in Africa for tree-climbing lions. For those who want to do a stand-alone budget safari that doesn't include gorilla trekking, we would regard Murchison Falls National Park as preferable to Queen Elizabeth NP. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that Murchison Falls is more than 100km/60mi closer to Kampala, which cuts about 2 hours off the driving time in either direction. The second is that Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary stands alongside the main road to Murchison Falls and is easily visited en route there.”
1Is 2 days enough for a Queen Elizabeth NP trip?
“Two days is theoretically enough for a stand-alone Queen Elizabeth National Park budget safari, and several operators offer this option. However, given that the driving time from Kampala or Entebbe is at least 7 hours in either direction, 2 days makes for a very rushed trip and will limit how much you can fit into your itinerary. For this reason, we would recommend a minimum of 3 days, preferably 4, for a stand-alone Queen Elizabeth NP safari. If you are also planning to track gorillas, we would recommend 4 days as the realistic minimum for your safari, and 5 days or longer as ideal.”
2What animals might I see on a Queen Elizabeth NP budget safari?
“Queen Elizabeth NP offers good general wildlife viewing. It is the easiest place in Uganda to see lions, which quite often climb trees in the Ishasha sector but are more common on the Kasenyi Plains, where they feed on large herds of Uganda kob. Elephant, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck and crocodile are generally numerous along the Kazinga Channel, which can be explored on boat trips that also offer great bird watching and occasional sightings of leopard and giant forest hog. The forested Maramagambo sector is a good place to look for monkeys and other forest wildlife.”
3Can I combine a Queen Elizabeth NP budget safari with gorilla or chimp trekking?
“A budget safari in Queen Elizabeth NP is often combined with gorilla and/or chimp trekking. The most convenient gorilla trekking destination coming from Queen Elizabeth NP is Buhoma, on the northern boundary of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Depending on which lodge or camp you stay at in Queen Elizabeth NP, it is only a 2- to 4-hour drive between there and Buhoma. It is also possible to drive between Queen Elizabeth NP and other trekking sites in Bwindi Impenetrable or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, but you'll be looking at more like 5 to 7 hours on the road. Queen Elizabeth NP is even more convenient for seeing chimps, since two popular trekking sites border the park and can be visited as a day trip from any lodge or camp in the vicinity. Of these, Kalinzu Forest Reserve is recommended to budget-conscious travelers over Kyambura Gorge since it offers an attractive combination of low fees and a high success rate. It is also straightforward to tag Kibale National Park – which is Uganda’s premier chimp trekking destination, but costlier than Kalinzu – onto a budget Queen Elizabeth NP safari.”
4What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Queen Elizabeth NP packages?
“Most cheap tours incorporating Queen Elizabeth NP will use budget camps and lodges. These typically offer rustic but clean accommodation in en suite rooms (though some may have ablution blocks) on full-board packages that include meals but not drinks. Some budget tours will use campsites but this is the exception rather than the rule. Before you book a tour, it is advisable to ask where you will be staying and look at the establishment’s website, assuming that it has one.”
5How much does a Queen Elizabeth NP budget safari cost?
“More affordable safari packages that focus solely on Queen Elizabeth NP typically cost around US$200 to US$250 per person per day. You can expect to pay slightly more for a package that includes chimp trekking, and significantly more for one that incorporates a US$600 gorilla trekking permit. In all cases, the price should be inclusive of accommodation, meals, transport, park fees and activity costs, but it will exclude tips, unscheduled activities, drinks and other personal purchases.”
6Queen Elizabeth NP Reviews
Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for CNN Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.
Greatest collection of mammal species in Uganda
The best way to get an early feel for Queen Elizabeth National Park is to join the two-hour boat cruise up the Kazinga Channel, which runs between Lake George and Lake Edward. Birdlife is fantastic but the whole journey, especially if you...
Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Uganda’s offering of a typical East African reserve supporting herds of game
My favourite activity at Queen Elizabeth is the boat ride on the Kazinga Channel. It’s said to contain the world's largest concentration of hippo, and you can watch thousands of them practically piled on top of each other in the shallows;...
Bale Mountains Brilliant Tours
Abdisa was our trek leader when me and three friends went for a 4 day trek through Bale. It was my first time in Ethiopia and he made us feel welcome and was really helpful in getting us what we needed, preparing for our trek, pacing us in...
PT
Amazing Experience
My expections were pretty high, since I have always heard amazing things about QENP. And I must say I was not disappointed. The day started in the best possible way: Reaching the main road of the park, we spotted a Hyena. As we were...
HU
Kyambura Gorge is amazing!
If you assess the park purely on the game drives, then it was very disappointing. There are only a few species that we saw: elephants, hippos, warthogs, buffalos, waterbucks and Ugandan kobs. However there are some activities which are...
US
Our safari guide, Moses Mugabirwa, single-handedly made all our dreams come true.
Fortunately, we ventured past our safari lodge and ended up in the village. There we met Moses Mugabirwa who ran his own tour company. This pleasant, and honorable man speaks perfect English and knew the park as though he lived there. In...