Located 389km from Kampala, accessible by road or charter flight, this 1,978 sqkm park was established in 1952 as Kazinga National Park. However, following Queen Elizabeth's visit, the name was changed to the renown Queen Elizabeth National Park, two years later.
Adjoining Kibale National Park to the north east, Kyambura Game Reserve to the east, and it adjoining Kigezi Game Reserve, these parks and reserves encircle Lake Edward. On the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Queen Elizabeth National Park borders Virunga National Park noting that te two parks were designated a 'Lion Conservation Unit' in 2006.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to the famed tree climbing lions, located in Ishasha. Notably its male lions wear a black mane. Other wildlife sighted in the park include African buffalo, African elephant, topi, warthog, waterbuck, Ugandan kob, leopard, hippopotamus, spotted hyena and chimpanzee among others. The park holds the number one position in Africa for hosting the highest number of bird species, standing at 618, and the sixth position in the world.
Boat rides are another way of viewing game within the park on the Kazinga Channel; that connects Lakes George and Albert. Balloon safaris are also available within the park and are offered very early in the morning for an aerial game viewing experience, showing what the park has to offer in landscape and wildlife.
