3 Days Uganda Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park
from $650 per person
This safari is perfect for travelers seeking a classic Ugandan wildlife experience in a short and rewarding itinerary. Queen Elizabeth National Park offers exciting game drives, scenic landscapes, diverse wildlife, and a memorable boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. The combination of wildlife, nature, and beautiful scenery makes this one of Uganda’s most rewarding short safari adventures.
Safari Details: 3 Days Uganda Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Overview
Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Safari Type: Wildlife Safari & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Start Point: Entebbe/Kampala, Uganda
End Point: Entebbe/Kampala, Uganda
Main Activities: Game drives, Kazinga Channel boat cruise, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, scenic exploration, community experiences
Accommodation: Luxury, Mid-range, or Budget Lodge
Best Time to Visit: June to September & December to February
The 3 Days Uganda Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park takes travelers into one of Uganda’s most diverse wildlife destinations, known for its scenic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and the famous Kazinga Channel. Located in western Uganda, the park offers a rewarding combination of savannah game drives, water-based wildlife viewing, birdwatching, and spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, hippos, Uganda kobs, warthogs, and numerous antelope species. The park’s diverse habitats range from open savannah and woodland to wetlands, crater lakes, and the extensive Kazinga Channel, creating excellent opportunities for wildlife observation.
This short 3-day Uganda wildlife safari is designed for travelers who want to experience Queen Elizabeth National Park within a limited timeframe. The safari typically combines game drives across the park’s wildlife-rich areas with a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, where visitors can observe hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, elephants, and waterbirds along the shoreline.
Depending on the itinerary and accommodation location, the safari can explore areas such as the KasenyI Plains, Mweya Peninsula, or other suitable wildlife-viewing areas within Queen Elizabeth National Park. Travelers may also have opportunities to visit local communities and experience aspects of life and culture around the park.
Combining game drives, the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, wildlife, birdlife, and spectacular scenery, this 3-day Queen Elizabeth National Park safari offers an immersive introduction to Uganda’s wildlife and some of the most scenic landscapes in western Uganda.
Detailed Itinerary: 3 Days Uganda Safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 1: Kampala/Entebbe – Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe, meet your professional safari guide and begin your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda.
Travel through Uganda’s changing landscapes, with opportunities to enjoy views of rolling hills, rural communities, farmlands, plantations, and scenic countryside. Depending on your departure time and route, you may make a stop along the way for photography, refreshments, or lunch.
Continue toward western Uganda as you approach Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey offers an opportunity to experience Uganda’s countryside and observe local communities, agricultural landscapes, and the scenic foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Arrive at the park in the afternoon or evening and check in at your lodge. If time permits, you may enjoy a short evening game drive, offering an early opportunity to look for wildlife as animals become more active toward sunset.
Relax at your lodge and prepare for the following day's wildlife activities.
Accommodation: Lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Game Drive & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before heading out for a morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The early morning is a rewarding time to explore the park as wildlife can be active around the savannah plains. Your experienced safari guide will drive through selected game-viewing areas while looking for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, warthogs, antelopes, and other wildlife. With some luck, you may also encounter lions or leopards, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Continue exploring the park while enjoying its diverse landscapes, including open savannah, woodland, wetlands, and views toward the Rwenzori Mountains. Your guide will help identify wildlife and explain the park's ecosystems and conservation importance.
Return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax.
In the afternoon, head to the Kazinga Channel for a boat cruise. The channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George and provides excellent opportunities to observe wildlife from the water.
As you cruise along the channel, look for large concentrations of hippos, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, and a variety of waterbirds along the shoreline. The boat cruise also provides a different perspective of Queen Elizabeth National Park and its wetlands.
After the cruise, return to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kampala/Entebbe
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin the return journey from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kampala or Entebbe.
Depending on your departure time, you may enjoy a final short game drive as you leave the park, providing another opportunity to spot wildlife and enjoy the savannah scenery.
Continue through western Uganda, passing rural communities, farmlands, rolling hills, and countryside landscapes. Depending on your selected route and schedule, you may stop for photography, refreshments, or lunch along the way.
Proceed toward Kampala or Entebbe while enjoying the final views of Uganda's countryside.
On arrival, transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your departure flight or to your hotel for an additional overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Trip Includes
- Private safari transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of an experienced English-speaking safari guide
- Accommodation for 2 nights in a safari lodge
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Queen Elizabeth National Park entrance fees
- Morning and/or evening game drives as outlined in the itinerary
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise
- Bottled drinking water during safari
- All applicable government taxes and tourism levies
- Pick-up and drop-off in Kampala or Entebbe
- Fuel for the safari vehicle
- Park ranger/guide fees where required
- Game-viewing and wildlife photography opportunities
Trip Excludes
- International and domestic flights
- Uganda entry visa
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and drinks
- Alcoholic beverages and other drinks not specified
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, lodge staff, and boat crew
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary
- Extra accommodation before or after the safari
- Items of a personal nature
- Any services not specifically mentioned under Includes
- Costs arising from changes to the itinerary requested by the traveler
- Emergency evacuation or medical expenses
- Souvenirs and other personal purchases
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What our travelers say
Robert KVerified
Bucket list seeing the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Just an awesome trip . Everything went smoothly from booking to the end . All was as promised never missed anything , always on time , friendly etc. resort that was recommended was perfect , great food , comfortable . Saw the gorillas easily all was perfect . Jonathan the owner even took me in Kampala to buy the right clothes , took me him self . Noel and driver were excellent , never an issue they really cared. I trust this company , will use them again and highly recommend .
Maltes TravellerHighly recommended We had a wonderful experience with Jonathan. He welcomed us at the airport and took great care of us from the moment we arrived until the end of our trip. The selection of hotels was impeccable, and the route he designed was perfectly planned. Jonathan is extremely knowledgeable about wildlife and went the extra mile to make sure we saw lions and all of the Big Five during our visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. He was always attentive, patient, and eager to make our experience unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide — highly recommended!
bharti nExceptional experience, enriching and truly unforgettable. From the moment we landed we received a warm welcome. Jonathan was friendly and readily available to answer any queries throughout our trip. He was incredibly accommodating with our requests to visit schools, residences ensuring that we achieved everything we wanted from the trip. We had a great time with Jonathan and driver Isaac. Jonathan was very funny and very knowledgeable he became part of the family and the time just flew whilst we were there, we felt safe at all times. The food at each venue catered for all our needs. Definitely leant a lot on this trip. Just need to be aware that food ordered in restaurants do take a long time as they make it from scratch so if pushed for time might be advisable to pre order. We had unforgettable holiday and this company went above and beyond to make every moment special. I would recommend them to anyone.
vjparGreat service from this local company We done a road trip across East Africa from Uganda to Tanzania. Jonathan and his team facilitated our trip across Uganda and Kenya which proved to be a very enjoyable experience. Guided knowledge provided by Jonathan was excellent as was his humor and wit. We always felt safe and informed, he managed the journey very well indeed. We would definitely use Jonathan's services again.
Adam John SmithMagical Uganda Safari Journey – February 2025! I had an unforgettable experience with Ababa Uganda Safaris! From the moment I arrived, everything was well-organized, and the team was incredibly friendly and professional. The tour guides were knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights about the wildlife and culture. Seeing gorillas up close in Bwindi and exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park was a dream come true. The accommodations were comfortable, and every detail was taken care of. I truly felt immersed in Uganda’s beauty without any stress. If you're planning a trip to Uganda, I highly recommend Ababa Uganda Safaris for a seamless and memorable adventure!
MadhviVerified
.gorilla trek Our KQ flight was horribly delayed. From 2.30 pm to arriving @ almost 3 am the following day. Jonathan kindly arranged for airport pick at this early hour of day and even rescheduled our departure for bwindi so we could get some rest. That was very accommodating.the drive to bwindi was a long drive -11 hrs- n he informed hotel of our late arrival. The lodge he chose for us was good and comfortable. However the vehicle for transporti g us could be better as it was quite hot without air conditioning. Gorilla trek was good but tough. Overall Ababa safaris were very accommodating. I wouldrecommend them. The hotel in Kampala- Speke hotel leaves a lot to be desired
mo-marvinSuch a wonderful experience!! My family and I contacted Jonathan to help us plan our first Murchison Falls safari. Jonathan arranged our transport from Kampala, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and guided game drives through Murchison falls. Ronnie, our professional driver and guide, was very knowledgeable and paid close attention to details to make us comfortable. He met with us a day before takeoff to answer any outstanding questions and recommended a time for us to set off to avoid any traffic. His experience made our trip even more enjoyable because we knew what to expect for entry fees into the park, where to stop to use clean washrooms, eat good food, and also what side of the boat cruise to sit on for the best views! We saw lions, elephants, giraffes, job, rhinos, buffaloes and many other animals. We would definitely go with them for our next safari in Uganda! They had great communication, value for money, professionalism, knowledge of the industry and were very reliable.
Katelyn OA must-hire company! Punctual, professional, great communication. We used Ababa Safaris for a trip from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. I would HIGHLY recommend! Our driver picked us up in a large safari vehicle with a pop up roof. The driver was very punctual and had excellent communication while preparing for the trip and during the trip. Ronnie took us to a nice restaurant for a rest stop that had clean bathrooms and good food. He was friendly with many people we met along the way at the Rhino Sanctuary, on the safari trails, and at our chosen lodging. It felt as though he had good connections with people, which we took as a good sign. Ronnie was very knowledgeable about the best places to see the animals and gave us a great safari experience. As the person in the family who does much of the planning, it was a very enjoyable experience to hand all of that over to Ababa and really get to enjoy myself.
HoehlenhonkAnimals and beautiful nature in Uganda and Rwanda From being picked-up from Entebbe airport in the middle of the night until the drop-off eleven days later in Kigali it was a perfect tour. Jonathan, our guide, and the driver Moses was a perfect team - very friendly, knowledgable and always in time. We visited Entebbe for a tour through the botanical gardens and the zoo, did safaris and boat trips in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP and did trekkings to the chimpazees in Kibale and to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The primates are a must visit when you travel to this region. It's expensive but worth every dollar. The safari parks are of course not as rich in animals as for example the Masai Mara. But they are much cheaper, there are much lesser tourists and nevertheless it doesn't become boring regarding animal sightings. We saw a lot of different antelopes, beautiful giraffes, lions, many elephants, buffalos, a lot of hippos and crocodiles and much more. The choice of hotels was very good, simple and cheap where there was only a short overnight stay and a bit more expensive where it was worth to spend the money for staying close to the places of interest, e.g. close to the starting point for primate trekkings or in the middle of QENP and Murchison NP for not loosing game-drive-time.
Dilip PUGANDA SAFARI WITH ABABA We had a nice holiday with ABABA SAFARI in Uganda it was a nice experience in Uganda and the travel agent as well especially Jonathan was our tour guide very nice person he was always very helpful and kind. we traveled about 1200km but had no problem I am a vegetarian and wherever we go he always arranges something for me i recommend them at and competitive price I give them a 5-star