Kazinga Channel
Africa's Best Wildlife Boat Safari
Imagine watching hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes from the deck of a boat. Welcome to the Kazinga Channel, a 40-kilometre natural waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George in the heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Quick Facts
- Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Western Uganda
- Length: 40 kilometres
- Connects: Lake George (east) to Lake Edward (west)
- Best time to visit: Year-round; morning launches offer the best wildlife sightings
- Launch duration: Standard 2-hour boat cruise
Why the Kazinga Channel is Special
- Hippo Concentration: One of Africa's highest concentrations of hippos per kilometre
- Approachable Wildlife: Animals come to drink at the channel's banks, giving incredible photo opportunities
- Birding Excellence: African fish eagles, malachite kingfishers, and hundreds more species line the banks
- Elephant Sightings: Elephants frequently wade and swim across the channel
What You'll See
- 🦛 Hippos — hundreds basking in and around the water
- 🐊 Nile crocodiles sunning on the banks
- 🐘 Elephants coming to drink and bathe
- 🐃 Cape buffalo herds along the shoreline
- 🦅 Over 600 bird species including the African skimmer and pink-backed pelican
How to Experience the Kazinga Channel
The channel is experienced via a UWA-operated boat launch departing from Mweya Jetty inside Queen Elizabeth National Park. Launches run in the morning and afternoon.
- Standard launch: 2 hours
- Private boat hire available for smaller, more personalised experiences
- Park entrance fees apply; launch fees are additional
✨ Uganda's Most Memorable Safari Moment
The Kazinga Channel boat cruise consistently ranks as one of Uganda's top safari experiences. As your boat drifts past wallowing hippos and resting crocodiles, with the Rwenzori Mountains rising in the distance, you'll understand why visitors describe this as one of Africa's most magical wildlife moments.
Uganda from the water — a perspective you'll never forget.