Open Park Days run at Queen Elizabeth National Park to 27 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 17:52 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Open Park Days run at Queen Elizabeth National Park from 25 to 27 September 2026, bringing a current visitor programme to Kasese in western Uganda. The initiative is led by the Uganda Wildlife Authority with the Uganda Tourism Board and forms part of Uganda's World Tourism Day activity.
Reports from the first day described visitors arriving from Kasese, Katunguru, Fort Portal and Rubirizi. The programme gives the park a specific place in a nationwide campaign focused on domestic tourism and access to protected landscapes.
Open Park Days bring visitors to Kasese wildlife
The 2026 Open Park Days began on 25 September 2026 and end on 27 September 2026. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the participating national parks, alongside Murchison Falls, Lake Mburo and Kidepo Valley, while several wildlife reserves are also included.
The 2026 programme dates and park list were announced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority before the campaign. The Uganda Tourism Board is working with the wildlife authority and other stakeholders, and the programme is linked to the World Tourism Day celebrations scheduled for 27 September 2026 in Mbale.
Coverage from 25 September 2026 recorded visitors at the park, including people from nearby towns and districts. The campaign therefore concerns the park itself rather than being only a city event in Kasese.
Kazinga Channel and Ishasha shape the park visit
The park combines open landscapes with wildlife habitats that were named in reporting on the first day. Elephants, buffaloes, lions and hippos are among the animals associated with the park, while the Kazinga Channel links Lake Edward and Lake George.
The channel and the Ishasha sector give Open Park Days a direct connection to recognisable parts of the reserve. The channel is associated with hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and water birds, while Ishasha is known for its tree-climbing lions. These are the named attractions that distinguish the Kasese programme from the campaign's other participating destinations.
Reporting from the first day said visitors came particularly from Kasese, Katunguru, Fort Portal and Rubirizi. It also recorded that specialised experiences, including boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel, still carried separate charges during the campaign.
Visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Open Park Days run from 25 to 27 September 2026 at Queen Elizabeth National Park, with the programme active on 27 September 2026.
- Entry fees were waived during the campaign, but specialised experiences such as Kazinga Channel boat cruises were separately charged.
- The park is in western Uganda, with Kasese among the nearby places identified in coverage of the first day. The named visitor areas include the Kazinga Channel and the Ishasha sector.
- The visitor experience combines wildlife viewing with open landscapes, a channel linking two lakes and the Ishasha sector's tree-climbing lions.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Queen Elizabeth National Park on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Queen Elizabeth National Park
When do Open Park Days take place at Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Open Park Days run from 25 to 27 September 2026, with the final day falling on 27 September 2026.
What can visitors see at Queen Elizabeth National Park?
The named attractions include the Kazinga Channel and the Ishasha sector. Reporting also identified elephants, buffaloes, lions, hippos, crocodiles and water birds in the park.
Where is Queen Elizabeth National Park and how do you get there?
The park is in western Uganda, with Kasese among the nearby places identified during Open Park Days on 25 September 2026. The available coverage names Kasese, Katunguru, Fort Portal and Rubirizi as visitor communities, but does not provide a single transport route.
