Queen Elizabeth National Park vs Murchison Falls National Park

    Compare Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park side-by-side: wildlife, lodges, climate, and best time to visit.

    Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Queen Elizabeth National Park

    Uganda

    Uganda's most popular savannah park, Queen Elizabeth is famous for its tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, the Kazinga Channel with its abundant hippos and birds, and a wide array of wildlife including elephants, buffalo, leopards, and various antelope species. The diverse ecosystems range from sprawling savannah to humid forests and volcanic craters.

    Murchison Falls National Park

    Murchison Falls National Park

    Uganda

    Uganda's largest national park, Murchison Falls is iconic for its powerful waterfall where the Nile River squeezes through a 7-meter gorge. It offers classic big game viewing with four of the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo), giraffes, and a spectacular boat cruise to the base of the falls, teeming with hippos and crocodiles.

    Queen Elizabeth National Park
    Murchison Falls National Park

    Size & Status

    Area
    1,978 km²
    3.877 km²
    IUCN Category
    II
    II
    Malaria risk
    high
    high
    Crowding
    Quiet
    Very quiet

    Wildlife

    Total species
    115
    120
    Mammals
    1
    0
    Birds
    99
    105

    Lodges

    Total lodges
    30
    13
    Eco lodges
    1
    0
    Family lodges
    1
    1

    Access

    Nearest airport
    Mweya Airport
    Bugungu Airport
    Airport distance
    11.3 km
    28.7 km