2-Day Queen Elizabeth Safari with Kazinga Channel Cruise

Kazinga Channel holds thousands of hippos you watch from the boat at close range.

A 2-day safari tour from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's second-largest park, with game drives in the Kasenyi sector and a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel where hippos, elephants, buffalo and lions gather near the water. The itinerary includes breakfast and dinner, a morning game drive on day two, and a stop at a local drum-making center on the return to Kampala.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel and Kazinga Channel cruise

• Have breakfast in Kampala
• Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Stop at the equator for photos
• Have lunch in Mbarara
• Arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
• Dinner and overnight at lodge

Day 2: Game drive and return to Kampala

• Have breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive in Kasenyi sector
• Check out of lodge
• Optional primate walk in park
• Have lunch en route
• Stop at Mpambire Drum Centre
• Drive back to Kampala
• Drop off at hotel in evening

The experience

The route from Kampala takes five to six hours on tarmac via Mbarara, with a lunch stop at the equator for photos and a break in Mbarara town before you reach the park in the afternoon. That first evening you board a boat on Kazinga Channel, where the concentration of wildlife (hippos, elephants, buffalo, antelopes and Uganda kobs) is densest in the park's grassland thickets. The boat puts you close enough to see them in their natural setting without the distance a game drive keeps.

Day two starts with a morning game drive through the Kasenyi sector, where lions hunt the Uganda kobs on the plains and smaller game moves through the thickets. After breakfast and checkout, you have the option to add a primate walk in the park if you want it, then stop at Mpambire drum center to watch locals make traditional drums and buy souvenirs before the drive back to Kampala, where you arrive in the evening.

Breakfast and dinner are included throughout. The operator provides a live English-speaking guide, and hotel pickup in Kampala is part of the booking. Children from age three are welcome when accompanied by an adult. Vegetarian meals and any dietary needs can be arranged if you mention them when you book.

What’s included

• Breakfast and dinner each day.
• boat cruise on Kazinga Channel.
• morning game drive in the Kasenyi sector.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Kampala.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• stop at Mpambire drum center on the return journey.

Options for this experience

2 options

Luxury Option PrivateGuide in English · 06:30Engiri Game Lodge available on request, luxury level, lasting 2 days following the itinerary, Queen Elizabeth Park safari vehicle; pickup is included

Queen Elizabeth National Game ParkGuide in English · 06:30Standard lodges, lasting 2 days, with full board meals throughout and a 4x4 tour van; pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (20 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 19 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Inspire African Safaris

Is this one for you?The boat cruise on Kazinga Channel is what sets this safari apart from a land-only game drive tour. You see hippos and elephants from the water where they congregate most densely, a perspective a vehicle cannot match. Choose this if you want both the close wildlife viewing the boat offers and the wider landscape the morning game drive covers.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 19 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (3 to 5 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I see on the Kazinga Channel boat cruise?

Kazinga Channel is home to thousands of hippos, along with elephants, buffalo, antelopes and Uganda kobs that gather at the water's edge. Lions hunt in the eastern Kasenyi plains and along the Kasese road, preying on the Uganda kobs in the grassland thickets.

How long is the drive from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park?

The journey takes five to six hours on tarmac via Mbarara, with a lunch stop at the equator and a break in Mbarara town included in the route.

What happens on the second day of the safari?

Day two includes a morning game drive through the Kasenyi sector, breakfast at the lodge, and checkout. You can choose to add a primate walk if you want, then stop at Mpambire drum center to see traditional drum-making before returning to Kampala in the evening.

Is hotel pickup in Kampala included?

Yes, hotel pickup in Kampala is included in the tour, and you are dropped at your hotel on the return in the evening of day two.

Can I arrange vegetarian meals or meals for dietary requirements?

Vegetarian options and any specific dietary requirements can be arranged. Advise the operator at the time of booking so they can prepare your meals.