Queen Elizabeth

The park's vegetation varies from open savannah grasslands on the Kasenyi Plains to acacia woodland, papyrus swamps, and the dense Maramagambo Forest. The Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George, is fringed with lush vegetation that supports abundant wildlife. The crater lakes scattered across the park add further habitat diversity, each with its own unique ecosystem.

The Kasenyi Plains are known for their large buffalo herds and the lions that follow them. Uganda kob are abundant, their graceful presence a defining feature of the landscape. Elephants move through the savannah, while leopards are occasionally seen in the woodland areas. The park also supports giant forest hogs, warthogs, and several primate species including chimpanzees in the Maramagambo Forest and Kyambura Gorge.

The Kazinga Channel holds one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa, with pods of up to 200 individuals. Nile crocodiles bask along the banks, and elephants regularly come to drink. The birdlife is exceptional, with African fish eagles, kingfishers, and the elusive shoebill recorded. The Maramagambo Forest holds a unique bat cave, while the Ishasha sector is famous for its tree-climbing lions.

The tree-climbing lions of Ishasha are Queen Elizabeth's most famous residents. This behaviour, rarely seen elsewhere in Africa, sees lions lounging in the branches of fig trees, often in the heat of the day. The sight of a lion draped across a limb, tail hanging down, is unforgettable.

Ishasha is a remote sector of the park, where the plains are dotted with large fig trees. The lions here have adapted to climbing, possibly to escape the heat or avoid insects on the ground. Game drives through Ishasha offer excellent chances of sightings, with lions sometimes seen in groups of up to five. The experience of watching these powerful predators at rest, high in the branches, is unique to this corner of Uganda. Beyond the lions, Ishasha offers sightings of Uganda kob, topi, and elephants.