
Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Climb aboard and explore the wonders of the Kazinga Channel from the best viewpoints. Spot the grazing hippos and bathing buffaloes as an expert ranger guides you through the channel’s incredible flora and fauna.

Hippos are powerful creatures, an average adult male weighs 1,500kg.

Get unmissable views of bathing elephants on a boat cruise.

Buffaloes escaping the mid-day sun.

Thirsty elephants having an afternoon drink from the Kazinga Channel.

Look out for lurking Nile crocodiles.

The name 'hippopotamus' comes from the Ancient Greek for 'river horse'.
Introduction to the Kazinga Channel
The Kazinga Channel is a wide, 32-kilometre-long freshwater channel that links Lake Edward to its smaller neighbour, Lake George.
Boat cruises are the best way to immerse yourself in the plethora of wildlife that lives in and around the Kazinga Channel.
As well as seeing a range of wildlife, you will get a glimpse of one of the eleven fishing villages that are located within the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The channel is a popular area for wildlife tourism within Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The African bush elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal.
Boat Ride Operators
There are two independent boat ride operators, the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Mweya Safari Lodge.
Both trips cost around $30 per person and take 2 hours. Mweya Safari Lodge gives tourists a choice between its comfortable ten-seater boat, The Sunbird, and its stylish twelve-seater boat, the Kingfisher.
Both vessels have experienced guides and crew, but the Kingfisher allows you to travel in luxury, providing refreshments and canopies to protect you from the sun.

The grounds of Mweya Safari Lodge are spacious and well-maintained.
Wildlife in the Kazinga Channel
The channel is home to a wide range of animals and birds, including one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos (around 2,000) and countless Nile crocodiles.
Hippos are the world’s third largest land mammal, and they can be aggressive, so it is important to follow the instructions of your guide.
You can also expect to see elephants, buffaloes, and over 100 species of water bird, including the African Skimmer.
The Kazinga Channel is home to the African skimmer.
Our Most Popular Uganda Trips
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
Combine chimp trekking in Kibale Forest with mountain gorilla treks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A well-paced highlights tour unlocking some of Uganda's most impressive experiences. Consider breaking up the journey from Kibale to Bwindi with a classic safari at…
- 7 Days
- $4,539
If you had the chance to trek through lush forests; to stand metres away from a family of Mountain Gorillas - deep in the heart of Central Africa - would you take it? This 4-day adventure works great as a…
- 4 Days
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Game drives and boat safaris connect the dots between chimpanzee and gorilla trekking. An epic adventure across the wilderness of Uganda's southwestern safari circuit.…
- 12 Days
- $5,804
Mt. Stanley's Margherita Peak, at 5,109 metres, is the highest point in Uganda and the third-highest point in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. This 10-day trip includes 8 days on the mountain, summiting Margherita Peak on day 6.…
- 8 Days
- $1,910
Combine gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with beautiful lakeside retreats at Lake Mutanda. Tough treks and primate encounters paired with idyllic, calming lakes and oases make for an unforgettable experience in this remote pocket of Uganda.…
- 6 Days
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The forested slopes, clouded valleys, and snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains call out for exploration. Combine this perfect introductory trek with other destinations in the southwest to create a magical Ugandan…
- 5 Days
- $1,220
Light adventuring and charming safaris in Lake Mburo National Park coupled with lakeside retreats and days of reflection and exploration around Lake Mutanda. Close out the trip with a few days canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking and more in Jinja, Uganda's…
- 12 Days
- $5,107
Board a Cessna light aircraft and head into the southwestern pocket of Uganda. Trek through the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of the mountain gorillas. Retreat to luxury lodges for sundowners and delicious food. Hard days, soft…
- 4 Days
- $2,922
Beautiful landscapes, diverse wildlife, and a undercurrent of the wild vastness of central Africa that lies just beyond the borders, the north of Uganda beckons adventurers who dream of exploring the frontiers. It's proper adventuring, but luxury lodges mean you…
- 9 Days
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Spend 4 hours in the company of a gorilla family by joining the habituation trek. Combined with a luxury safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park, this trip offers truly once-in-a-lifetime wildlife…
- 7 Days
- $6,036
Discover the exceptional bio-diversity of Uganda by combining the beautiful savannah grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park with chimpanzee trekking in the forests of Kibale National Park. Connect the dots with epic road trips looping through northwestern Uganda.…
- 7 Days
- $2,702
Combine safaris in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park with a 4 day gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Top and tail with overnights in the bustling capital of Kampala.…
- 12 Days
- $8,724
Trek the Rwenzori Mountains where forests morph into ice-clad mountain peaks, cut through jungle thickets to hang out with mountain gorillas, and finish your trip relaxing lakeside amongst the staggering beauty of Lake Mutanda. This is Uganda.…
- 15 Days
- $5,041
The quintessence of Ugandan exploration. Start your adventure in the wild Kidepo Valley in the northern tip of Uganda before weaving down to meet the gorillas in southwestern jungles. Epic landscapes, incredible safaris, and luxury lodges; this is a proper…
- 20 Days
- $14,117
Open top road trips looping through Uganda's epic southwestern pocket; this is the safari adventure of your imagination. Track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, go in search of gorillas in Bwindi, cruise the savannah plains of Queens, and look out for…
- 14 Days
- $6,282
The full western circuit complete with luxury lodges, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, and the best safaris Uganda has to offer. Close out your adventure with kayaking and canoeing on the rapids of the river Nile.…
- 16 Days
- $8,312
Two visits to the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, moving through the forest along the most awesome trekking routes, and staying the night at the best lodges and exclusive camps in the park. This is Uganda gorilla trekking at…
- 6 Days
- $5,861
Travel to the farthest corners of Uganda where towering volcanoes mark the border between the thick jungles of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the untamed vastness of central Africa. After trekking the gorillas in Mgahinga, head inland for a couple…
- 6 Days
- $3,745
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