Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Animals, Birds and Where to See Them
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to more than 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species.
The main animals are the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, African elephants, Cape buffaloes, hippos, Nile crocodiles, leopards, spotted hyenas and Uganda kob.
Other antelopes include topi, waterbuck and bushbuck, and chimpanzees live in Kyambura Gorge. You can see four of the Big Five in the park: lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. There are no rhinos.
Covering about 1,978 square kilometres of savannah, wetland, forest and crater lakes in western Uganda, Queen Elizabeth is one of the most wildlife-rich parks in Africa.
This guide lists the park’s main animals and birds and where in the park to find each one. It also covers the best time to see them. For an overview of the park, start with our facts about Queen Elizabeth National Park.
List of Animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park
| Animal | Where to see it | Best activity |
| Tree-climbing lions | Ishasha sector | Afternoon game drive |
| Lions (on the ground) | Kasenyi plains | Morning game drive |
| African elephants | Kazinga Channel, Kasenyi, Ishasha | Boat cruise or game drive |
| Cape buffaloes | Throughout the park, Kazinga Channel | Game drive or boat cruise |
| Hippos | Kazinga Channel, Lake Edward, Lake George | Kazinga Channel boat cruise |
| Nile crocodiles | Kazinga Channel | Boat cruise |
| Leopards | Kasenyi and Mweya | Night game drive |
| Spotted hyenas | Kasenyi and Ishasha | Early morning or night drive |
| Uganda kob | Kasenyi plains, Ishasha | Game drive |
| Topi | Ishasha sector | Game drive |
| Waterbuck and bushbuck | Near water and thickets | Game drive or boat cruise |
| Warthogs and giant forest hogs | Mweya Peninsula and forest edges | Game drive or nature walk |
| Chimpanzees | Kyambura Gorge | Chimpanzee tracking |
| Monkeys and baboons | Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo Forest | Forest walk |
The Tree-Climbing Lions of Ishasha
The tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha sector are the park’s most famous animals. Lions here regularly rest in the branches of large fig and acacia trees, a behaviour seen in very few places in the world.
Experts believe the lions climb to escape the heat and biting insects on the ground, and to watch for Uganda kob, their main prey.
Ishasha lies in the south of the park and combines easily with gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Read our Ishasha sector guide and our article on the sleepy lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the Kasenyi plains in the north of the park, lions hunt kob on open grassland, especially in the early morning.
African Elephants
Queen Elizabeth has one of Uganda’s largest elephant populations. Herds roam the savannahs of Kasenyi and Ishasha and gather along the banks of the Kazinga Channel to drink and bathe, often seen up close on the boat cruise. See how much elephants weigh and what elephants eat.
Cape Buffaloes
Thousands of Cape buffaloes live in the park, grazing the plains in large herds and wallowing in the Kazinga Channel. They are one of the Big Five. They may look calm, but buffaloes can be unpredictable and dangerous, especially lone old males. Read our Big Five safari experience guide.
Antelopes in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park’s grasslands support large numbers of antelopes, which are also the main prey of its lions and leopards.
- Uganda kob:Uganda’s national antelope, seen on the country’s coat of arms. Huge numbers live on the Kasenyi plains, where males gather on breeding grounds called leks.
- Topi:A reddish-brown antelope with dark patches on its legs, found mainly in Ishasha.
- Waterbuck:A large, shaggy antelope with a white ring on its rump, usually near water.
- Bushbuck:A shy, solitary antelope that prefers thickets and forest edges.
- Sitatunga:A rare swamp antelope found in the park’s papyrus wetlands.
Hippos and Crocodiles in the Kazinga Channel
The 32 km Kazinga Channel, which links Lake George and Lake Edward, has one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa, with thousands of hippos in the channel and lakes.
On the two-hour Kazinga Channel boat cruise, you pass pods of hippos, large Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, and elephants and buffaloes coming down to drink. Learn more about the Nile crocodile and its bite force.
Leopards and Spotted Hyenas
Leopards and spotted hyenas are the park’s more elusive predators. Leopards are solitary and mostly active at night, so a guided night game drive in the Kasenyi area gives you the best chance to see one. Spotted hyenas are both hunters and scavengers, and are most often seen at dawn, at dusk or at night.
Primates of Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth is home to about ten primate species.
- Chimpanzees:A small habituated community lives in Kyambura Gorge, a sunken forest about 100 metres deep, known as the “Valley of Apes”. Guided chimpanzee tracking takes place in the gorge.
- Monkeys:Black-and-white colobus, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys, especially in Kyambura Gorge and Maramagambo Forest.
- Olive baboons:Common along roads and around Mweya.
Chimp sightings in Kyambura are less certain than in Kibale Forest, which has the highest chimp sighting rates in Uganda. Learn more in our facts about chimpanzees and chimpanzee family articles, or plan a trip to Kibale Forest.
Other Mammals to Look Out For
- Warthogs, often wandering around the Mweya lodges
- Giant forest hogs, the world’s largest wild pig, near forest edges
- Banded mongooses, living in large family groups around Mweya
- Side-striped jackals and civets, seen on night drives
- Fruit bats, in Maramagambo Forest’s Bat Cave
Birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park
With more than 600 bird species, Queen Elizabeth is one of Africa’s top birding destinations and an Important Bird Area. Highlights include:
- Shoebill stork:Rare in the park, but occasionally seen in the Ishasha wetlands and on Lake Edward. Hear the shoebill stork sound.
- African fish eagle:Often seen and heard along the Kazinga Channel. Read 20 interesting facts about eagles.
- Grey crowned crane:Uganda’s national bird. Read about Uganda cranes and grey crowned crane symbolism.
- Malachite and pied kingfishers:Common along the channel.
- Great blue turaco:A large, colourful forest bird found in Maramagambo Forest.
- Lesser flamingos:Seen seasonally on Lake Munyanyange.
- Waterbirds:Pelicans, cormorants, herons and many migratory birds along the channel. See waterfowl.
For more birding locations, see birdwatching hotspots in Uganda.
Best Places to See Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
| Area | Wildlife highlights |
| Kasenyi plains | Lions, Uganda kob, elephants, buffaloes, hyenas |
| Kazinga Channel | Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, waterbirds |
| Ishasha sector | Tree-climbing lions, topi, elephants, buffaloes |
| Kyambura Gorge | Chimpanzees, monkeys, forest birds |
| Maramagambo Forest | Primates, forest birds, Bat Cave |
| Lake Munyanyange and crater lakes | Flamingos and waterbirds |
Best Time to See Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The best time to see wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park is during the dry seasons, from June to September and from December to February. Animals gather near water sources, the grass is shorter and roads are easier to drive.
The wet seasons, from March to May and from October to November, bring green scenery, newborn animals and excellent birding, with migratory birds present from about November to April. Some roads can become muddy. Read the best time to visit Rwanda and Uganda.
Best times of day: Early morning game drives are best for lions and other predators. Afternoon boat cruises are excellent for hippos, elephants and buffaloes at the water’s edge.
Conservation of Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The park’s wildlife faces threats from poaching, snares, human-wildlife conflict and, in recent years, the poisoning of lions by herders protecting livestock. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and its partners protect the park through:
- Anti-poaching patrolsthat remove snares and arrest poachers. Read about UWA’s fight against poaching.
- Community programmesthat share park revenue with neighbouring villages and reduce conflict with wildlife.
- Research and monitoringof lions, elephants and other key species.
Every visit and park fee helps fund this work.
FAQs: Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park
What animals live in Queen Elizabeth National Park? More than 95 mammal species, including tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, leopards, hyenas, Uganda kob, topi, waterbuck and chimpanzees, plus over 600 bird species.
Can you see the Big Five in Queen Elizabeth National Park? You can see four of the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. Rhinos are not found in the park.
Where are the tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park? In the Ishasha sector, in the south of the park. Read our Ishasha sector guide.
Are there chimpanzees in Queen Elizabeth National Park? Yes, in Kyambura Gorge, where you can go on guided chimpanzee tracking.
Where can I see hippos in Queen Elizabeth National Park? On the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, which passes some of the largest hippo pods in Africa.
What is the best time to see wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park? The dry seasons, from June to September and from December to February.
Is Queen Elizabeth National Park worth visiting? Yes. It is one of Uganda’s best parks for wildlife, and easy to combine with gorillas in Bwindi and chimps in Kibale. Read is Queen Elizabeth National Park worth visiting?.
See the Wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park
From lions resting in fig trees to hippos crowding the Kazinga Channel and chimpanzees in a hidden gorge, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa. Combine it with gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale for the ultimate Uganda safari.
Plan your trip: Browse our Uganda safaris, current Uganda safari deals and best Uganda safari tours. You can also book the 5 Days Bwindi Gorillas and Queen Elizabeth Safari. Uganda Wildlife Tours will arrange your transport, park fees, game drives and lodges, so you can focus on the wildlife.