Queen Elizabeth National Park Entry Guide: Gates, Fees and What to Expect

Queen Elizabeth National Park has multiple entry gates and a layout that confuses first-time visitors. Knowing which gate to enter through, what to expect at the payment process, and how to orient yourself on arrival saves time and gets you onto the game circuit faster. This guide covers the practical entry logistics for self-drive visitors.

Main Entry Gates

• Katunguru Gate (central): The main gate for visitors heading to Mweya Peninsula — the park’s most popular zone. Located on the Mbarara–Kasese highway (A109). This is where most visitors enter. Fees payable by card or mobile money. UWA staff issue a park entry receipt and basic circuit map.
• Ishasha Gate (south): Entry point for the southern Ishasha sector (tree-climbing lions). Located on the Bwindi–Queen Elizabeth approach road from the south. If you are coming from Bwindi, entering via Ishasha and driving north through the park to Mweya is the logical sequence.
• Kasese Gate (north): Entry from Kasese town — used by visitors coming from Fort Portal or the Rwenzori Mountains.

Entry Fees (2024)

Planning your East Africa self-drive circuit? Car Hire 4×4 Drive provides fully-equipped 4×4 vehicles for Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda with COMESA insurance and cross-border documentation included. See how the booking process works or send a circuit enquiry for a quote within 24 hours.

USD $45 per person per day + USD $30 per vehicle per day. Children under 5 are free; children 5–15 are USD $25 per day. Payment accepted: Visa, Mastercard, MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money. USD cash is accepted at some gates. The fee covers a 24-hour period from entry time — re-entering on the same day within this window does not incur additional charges.

What to Do Immediately After the Gate

After paying at Katunguru gate, drive northwest toward Mweya (18 km, 20 minutes on tarmac). At the UWA headquarters on Mweya Peninsula, you can:

• Book the Kazinga Channel boat trip (departs 9am and 2pm, USD $30 per person) — book same day or day before
• Hire a UWA ranger guide for the day (optional, USD $20–$30) for lion-finding assistance on the Kasenyi circuit
• Get an updated wildlife sighting report from the UWA desk — rangers know which areas held lions that morning
• Pick up a more detailed park map than the basic one issued at the gate

Park Rules

• Do not leave your vehicle during game drives unless at a designated viewpoint
• Maximum driving speed inside the park: 40 km/h on game circuits, 60 km/h on the main internal road
• Do not drive off the designated tracks
• No littering — take all rubbish with you
• No flash photography — particularly important during any primate encounter
• Do not feed wildlife — the baboon population at Mweya is habituated to humans and will aggressively approach vehicles if food is visible
• Return to your accommodation before dark — night driving is not permitted for self-drive visitors (night drives must be booked through lodges with a ranger)

Car Hire 4×4 Drive provides vehicles suitable for all Queen Elizabeth National Park circuits. Contact us for rental availability and arrival logistics planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need 4WD for a self-drive safari in East Africa?

4WD is essential for any circuit that includes the Ngorongoro Crater descent (which requires centre differential lock), the Bwindi Impenetrable approach road in wet season, or Kidepo Valley National Park. For circuits that stay on sealed national highways and well-maintained murram roads in dry season, a capable 2WD vehicle can manage — but the Toyota Land Cruiser V8 GX with full 4WD and diff lock is always the safest and most reliable choice for any East Africa circuit.

What documents do I need to drive across East Africa borders?

You need the COMESA Yellow Card insurance certificate (valid for all East Africa Community member states), a cross-border authority letter from the vehicle owner for each transit country, and the vehicle registration document. Car Hire 4×4 Drive prepares all cross-border documentation for the specific countries on your circuit as part of the standard hire process — no separate arrangement needed.

Can I self-drive in East Africa without previous off-road experience?

Yes. Most East Africa self-drive circuits do not require technical off-road skills — the majority of the driving is on sealed national highways or well-maintained murram park roads. The vehicle handover at collection includes a full demonstration of the 4WD system. If your circuit includes genuinely technical sections (Ngorongoro crater descent, Bwindi wet-season approach), consider a car with driver for those sections if you have no prior 4WD experience.

How far in advance should I book my East Africa self-drive vehicle?

Book 4 to 8 weeks in advance for standard circuits. For July–August peak season (wildebeest migration) and December–January, book 3 to 4 months ahead. Rwanda gorilla permits should be booked 3 to 9 months in advance via the RDB portal; Uganda gorilla permits (Bwindi) should be booked 2 to 6 months ahead via UWA. See the full FAQ and the How It Works page for the complete booking process.

Which vehicle is best for a multi-country East Africa circuit?

The Toyota Land Cruiser V8 GX is the standard recommendation for any circuit covering two or more countries, or any circuit that includes Tanzania (Ngorongoro is mandatory 4WD with diff lock) or Uganda’s challenging approach roads (Bwindi, Kidepo). For Kenya-only or Rwanda-only dry-season circuits, the Land Cruiser Prado is a cost-effective alternative. For groups of 6 or more passengers, the Toyota Hiace 9-seater safari van with pop-up roof is the most cost-effective per-person option.