Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the western region of Uganda, covering an area of approximately 1978 sq. km and stretching from Lake George in the north-east to Lake Edward in the south-west, including the Kazinga channel that connects the two lakes. The park was established in 1952 as Kazinga National Park, but was renamed in 1954 in honor of a visit by Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a variety of habitats, including the Maramagambo forest, the Kyambura gorge, the Ishasha sector, and the Kazinga channel, and borders several other protected areas, including the Kigezi game reserve, the Kyambura game reserve, Kibale forest national park, and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The park is home to a variety of big game animals, including approximately 5000 hippos, 2500 elephants, and over 10,000 buffaloes. It is also home to ten species of primates, including chimpanzees, and over 600 species of birds, making it a must-see destination for birdwatchers. Other animals found in the park include warthogs, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, topis, sitatunga antelopes, lions, leopards, civets, and serval cats.
Visitors to the park can also experience the local culture, including music and dance, and take a breathtaking boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, which is home to a large concentration of hippos and Nile crocodiles.