QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Elephant Plains Lodge

From the rift escarpment above northern Queen Elizabeth National Park, the lodge looks east across crater fields, acacia woodland, and the Lake George basin. This elevated setting places guests between the Kikorongo area and Kasenyi game tracks, with broad visual reach over an active wildlife zone.

Built along the escarpment near Kikorongo, the lodge uses stone, timber, and thatch in a layout oriented toward Queen Elizabeth National Park below. Guest cottages are spaced for privacy and for long views across crater lakes and acacia country. The main lounge, bar, and dining room form the operational center, where staff coordinate game drives into Kasenyi and other northern sectors. Interiors stay practical, with wide windows and private verandas extending the visual connection beyond each room. By late afternoon, the ridge catches shifting light over Lake George, giving the lodge an elevated sense of place.

Inside the Lodge

Location

On the Kikorongo escarpment, just outside the northern boundary of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the lodge is about 1 hour from Kasese Airstrip. Road transfers from Mweya take around 1.5 hours, while Kibale Forest connections usually require about 3 hours by road.

Rooms

Accommodation is in cottages built with stone, timber, and thatch, each with an en suite bathroom, hot water, and a private veranda. Interiors include large beds, seating space, and wide windows facing the escarpment. Some units are configured for families with added sleeping space.

Amenities

The main lodge includes a restaurant, bar, and lounge arranged around the escarpment view. Guests also use a campfire area and central terrace for evening downtime. Staff coordinate game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and meals are served fresh on site throughout each day.

Unique Experience

The escarpment position creates a visual read of Queen Elizabeth, with crater rims, acacia zones, and the Lake George basin visible from one point. That elevated perspective works well before game drives, when morning haze lifts off the rift floor.

Nearby Experiences

Game Drives

Game drives across the park’s savanna tracks offer consistent sightings of large mammals moving between feeding and resting areas. Guided by experienced rangers, you follow elephants, buffalo, and antelope while scanning for predators along the edges of cover.

Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

A boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel brings you close to one of the park’s most concentrated wildlife areas. From the water, you observe hippos in large groups, elephants approaching to drink, and birdlife gathered along the banks. The slow pace allows for clear viewing.

Tree Climbing Lions

In the southern sector of Ishasha, you search for lions known for resting in the branches of fig trees during the heat of the day. You move through open ground and scattered woodland, watching carefully for movement above as well as at ground level. Sightings depend on timing and patience.

Chimpanzee Tracking

Within Kyambura Gorge, guided walks lead you into a steep-sided forest where chimpanzees move through the canopy. You follow trails beneath dense cover, listening for calls and watching for movement above. The experience offers a quieter contrast to the open areas of the park, shaped by sound, shade, and close observation.

Crater Lakes Exploration

Around the park’s northern sectors, you move through clusters of crater lakes formed by ancient volcanic activity. From raised viewpoints, you observe water bodies set within enclosed basins, each with its own vegetation and birdlife. Short walks and drives between these lakes reveal how varied the landscape becomes within a small area.

Our Immersive Safaris

7 Day Uganda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari
A well-paced Uganda safari combining chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, classic wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and gorilla trekking in Bwindi.
10 Day Best of Uganda Safari
A complete Uganda safari connecting Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Track chimpanzees, enjoy savannah game drives and boat safaris, trek mountain gorillas, then rest in Bwindi before exiting through Kigali.
3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safari
A seamless cross-border gorilla safari using Kigali as the gateway to Uganda’s southern Bwindi region. Travel through Rwanda’s green hills, cross into Uganda, and continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for mountain gorilla trekking.