4 Days Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
The 4 Days Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari takes you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s finest wildlife destinations and a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Covering approximately 2,000 square kilometers in western Uganda, the park hosts four of the Big Five, lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant, across a landscape of gorges, crater lakes, swamps, a salt lake and open savanna.
This itinerary combines classic savanna game drives with a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee trekking in the dramatic Kyambura Gorge, and a dedicated game drive through the Ishasha sector, Uganda’s best-known spot for the rare tree-climbing lions.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 4 days / 3 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Kampala or Entebbe |
| Main destination | Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| Key activities | Game drives, Kazinga Channel boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking, Ishasha tree-climbing lions |
| Physical level | Easy to moderate |
| Best for | Wildlife and birding enthusiasts, first-time safari travelers |
Safari Highlights
- Game drives across the Kasenyi plains
- Boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge
- Tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Pick-up and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, afternoon game drive |
| Day 2 | Morning game drive, Kazinga Channel boat cruise |
| Day 3 | Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, Ishasha game drive for tree-climbing lions |
| Day 4 | Morning game drive in Ishasha, transfer to Kampala |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick-up and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Afternoon Game Drive
Your driver-guide will collect you early from your hotel in Kampala or at Entebbe International Airport and begin the journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. Along the way, you will pass rolling hills and rural communities going about daily life, farming and trading in roadside markets.
You will stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for photos and the chance to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres at once, before continuing on to arrive at the park in time for lunch and check-in. In the afternoon, head out for a game drive across the Kasenyi plains, keeping an eye out for warthogs, buffalo, elephants, lions, small primates and several antelope species.
Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge (Budget), Park View Lodge (Mid-range), or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Morning Game Drive, Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel
Wake early for breakfast before heading into the park for a morning game drive across the Kasenyi plains, one of the best times to spot early risers and nocturnal animals like leopards returning to their dens. You will pass through a landscape of savanna, crater lakes, swamps, rivers and woodland, watching for buffalo, lions, elephants, leopards, Uganda kob and topi.
After returning to the lodge for lunch and a short rest, head out in the afternoon for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The cruise offers an outstanding vantage point for viewing wildlife gathered to drink and bathe in one place, and the channel is widely regarded as one of the best birding spots in both Uganda and Africa, with water birds feeding within close range of crocodiles, elephants and hippos.
Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge (Budget), Park View Lodge (Mid-range), or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge, Ishasha Sector for Tree-Climbing Lions
Start the day early with a transfer to the briefing point at Kyambura Gorge, a striking sunken forest carved into the savanna by secondary faulting during the formation of the East African Rift Valley, and home to a rich mix of primates, birds and other wildlife.
Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge is a memorable, sometimes physically demanding experience, but the hour spent with the chimpanzees makes the effort thoroughly worthwhile. Return to your lodge for lunch, then head out in the afternoon to the Ishasha sector, where you have a genuine chance of spotting Uganda’s famous tree-climbing lions resting in the branches overhead.
Accommodation: Enganzi Lodge (Budget), Park View Lodge (Mid-range), or Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive in Ishasha, Transfer to Kampala
Rise early for a further morning game drive in the Ishasha sector, with another chance to spot lions alongside topi, elephants and buffalo. Afterward, bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth National Park and begin the drive back to Kampala, stopping for breakfast en route in Mbarara.
Your guide will drop you at the airport in time for your onward or departure flight, bringing your safari to a close.
Safari Price Includes
- Transportation in a 4×4 vehicle with pop-up roof throughout the safari
- An English-speaking driver-guide for the full trip
- Ranger fees
- Park entrance fees
- Accommodation for three nights (full board)
- All meals and bottled water while on the trip
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Three game drives
- Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel
- Airport transfers
- All activities listed in the itinerary
Safari Price Excludes
- International flights and related bookings
- Visas
- Personal expenses such as alcoholic drinks, tips, cigarettes, phone calls and laundry
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Queen Elizabeth National Park special?
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve hosting four of the Big Five, alongside the rare tree-climbing lions of Ishasha and the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s best wildlife and birding boat cruises.
Is chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge included in this safari?
Yes, the chimpanzee trekking permit for Kyambura Gorge is included in the safari price, along with all park fees and activities listed in the itinerary.
Where can I see tree-climbing lions in Uganda?
The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most reliable place in Uganda to see lions resting in tree branches, and this itinerary includes two dedicated game drives through the area.
How physically demanding is this safari?
This is an easy to moderate itinerary overall. Chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge can be physically demanding at points due to the gorge’s terrain, but game drives and the boat cruise require no particular fitness level.
Book Your 4 Days Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari
With game drives, a boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking and a strong chance of spotting tree-climbing lions all packed into four days, this itinerary offers one of the most efficient ways to experience the full range of what Queen Elizabeth National Park has to offer.
Get in touch to confirm availability and start planning your 4 Days Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari.