Climbing Lions in Ishasha sector – Queen Elizabeth National Park

One of Africa’s most amazing wildlife encounters may be seen deep in the  limits of Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern Uganda: the Ishasha sector, a popular home for tree-climbing lions. Although lions are usually considered of as ground-dwelling predators, the Ishasha sector houses lion’s  with a unique habit of relaxing among fig and acacia tree branches. This phenomenon has attracted the attention of safari travelers and wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. Ishasha sector is one of the most memorable highlights of a Uganda safari.

Though the Ishasha sector is more popular for climbing lions, it also offers sights of  other wildlife including mammals, primates and several bird species. these can be witnessed through morning and afternoon game drives, birding safaris and guided nature walks. These activities   are always carried out with the guidance of armed ranger guides for both personal and animal safety.

Why do these lions climb trees?

There are several theories that have been proposed to explain this unique behavior of lions climbing trees, yet lions are always known for being ground dwellers.

Like other cats, lions have sharp claws and naturally climb trees. it should not be a surprise that lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Ishasha sector   spend some their time in tree branches.

It should also be noted that this habit of lions climbing trees has been embraced from countless generations.

Research also shows that these lions climb trees tom escape from insect bites like tsetse flies and mosquitoes on the ground.

To get away from the ground heat mainly in the hot dry season. Branches and leaves of acacia and fig trees offer cool rest.

Climbing on tree branches enables the lions to have clear spots of their prey like antelopes.

They are also able to spot and identify other predators   like leopards and hyenas that may trespass their territory.

Spotting climbing lions of the Ishasha sector

The Ishasha sector is a bit different and remote compared to other sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The plains are mostly made up of savanna grasslands and woods along rivers which renders the place les attractive. Few people actually go to Queen Elizabeth National Park to see the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. This is an indication of the many wonders the park has to offer. Most visitors to the park spend more time in the Mweya and Kasenyi plains because from there, it’s easy to go on game drives, boat cruises along the Kazinga channel, monkey tracking in Kyambura Gorge, or guided nature walks in the Maramagambo forest.

For travellers greatly interested in seeing the tree climbing lions, the search activity is done in the early morning when the lions haven’t returned to their hideouts after the night hunt or in the evening as they rest to spot their prey.

The climbing lions of Ishasha sector are spotted during game drives. If they are a bit distant, tourists can use   cameras and binoculars to capture clear photos and videos.

Queen Elizabeth National Park has estimably three prides of lions with at least 50 members in each pride- roaming freely in the park jungles. Thelions are always monitored by park authorities trackers and offer the lion tracking activity on request.

Besides the tree-climbing lions, tourist encounter other wildlife including buffaloes, leopards, Topis, Uganda Kobs, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, side-striped jackals, warthogs, elephants, and giant forest hogs.

Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park- Ishasha sector

Tourists can drive from Entebbe/Kampala to get to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The route goes from Entebbe to Ishasha sector, via Kampala, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Kasese, and finally Ishasha. From Mbarara to Ntungamo, then branch off at Rukungiri, and connect Ishasha in the southern part of the park.

Where to stay in Ishasha sector.

Tourists to Ishasha sector in queen Elizabeth national park have a range of accommodation facilities to chose from. They are either high-end, mid-range or budget options.  These include Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Elephant Plains Lodge, Buffalo safari lodge, Enjojo Lodge, Topi Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge and many others.

Uganda has other tourist spots with lions besides the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park. These include Kidepo National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park. However, the lions in these other parks don’t climb trees like the ones in Queen Elizabeth.

From the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park, Visitors can tailor their itineraries to Kibale National Park for chimpanzee tracking, Bwindi impenetrable National park , Mgahinga National park in Uganda, the Virunga National Park in DR Congo , and Volcanoes National park in Rwanda to encounter the rare mountain gorillas.