WHERE CAN I SEE TREE CLIMBING LIONS IN UGANDA

Apart from gorilla trekking in Uganda, Uganda is one of the final refuges for lions in Africa. Lions can be seen in Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park. There are over 130 of Uganda’s 400 lions that can be found at Queen Elizabeth National Park, the country’s busiest park. Queen Elizabeth National park also stands out for its amazing terrain, which includes the Maramagambo woodland, Kazinga Channel, craters, and Kyambura Gorge, as well as its bird population and fauna, and particularly the unique tree climbing lions.

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Where in Africa can you see tree-climbing lions?

There are extremely few adult tree lions. Once they reach a particular size, most lions avoid climbing trees, with the exception of situations where it is their only means of safety, like being encircled by a herd of buffalo. Lions that can climb trees can be spotted primarily in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park, the Serengeti National Park, Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha region, and the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where specific lions have also been seen scaling trees.

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Tree-climbing lion sightings in Queen Elizabeth National Park cannot be compared to any other destinations in Africa. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the ideal location to see tree-climbing lions because an entire pride may be seen in the Ishasha region. For more information on exploring one of Africa’s last surviving real wildernesses, please contact us for more African safari packages. Additionally, we have created Rwanda trip packages that include details about the country’s volcanoes, stunning landscapes, and mountain gorilla trekking.

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Why do some lions climb trees?

The majority of lions prefer to stay on the ground, leaving climbing trees to their young or other smaller cats like leopards. But instead of acting normally, lions in Queen Elizabeth National Parks can now be observed napping under fig and acacia trees. Why do they do this while not being a distinct subspecies? There have been many explanations put forward to explain this unusual behavior. Some people think that all cats, even lions, can naturally climb trees.

According to the lion researchers, lions climb trees to escape being bitten by insects and vermin that live on the ground, such as Tse Tse flies and mosquitoes. Additionally, according to the experts, lions would climb trees to escape the midday sun on the ground, particularly during the dry season. A fresh wind is provided by the leaves and tree branches, providing relief from the intense midday heat. The lions may take uninterrupted naps while keeping an eye on their areas for prey and rivals like hyenas and leopards by scaling the tops of the fig and acacia trees. Whatever the reasons for the lions’ fascinating habit of climbing trees, the lions continue to draw an increasing number of tourists to Queen Elizabeth and Lake Manyara National Parks each year.

Where is the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park?

The isolated Ishasha plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park are noticeably different from other sectors. Savanna grasslands and riverine forests dominate the plains. The fact that few guests really travel to Ishasha to view the tree climbing lions is a tribute to the range of attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Mweya and Kasenyi plains are where most tourists staying in the park stay. From there, it is simple to embark on game drives, boat tours along the Kazinga channel, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge, or nature hikes in the Maramagambo forest. After seeing the regular lion prides in the Kasenyi sector, they are typically happy.

Lack of knowledge regarding the existence of these unusual cats may be one factor in the decreased visitor numbers. Many visitors learn about the tree-climbing lions of the Ishasha on a pre-planned safari. It can be challenging to find time during a scheduled safari to visit the tree-climbing lions. Within the Ishasha Plains, lions can be found in four different prides. The four primary prides are thought to have 50 lions in total. Particularly during the dry seasons, lions enjoy scaling the enormous sycamore fig trees and ubiquitous acacia trees in the plains. The likelihood of spotting lions at Ishasha is very high because entire prides spend their days perched on top of trees.

When is the best time to visit Ishasha?

Visitors on a Uganda safari can explore Queen Elizabeth National Park and other national parks at any time of year. In Uganda, the dry season (April, June, July, and August) is thought to be the busiest time for travelers because Queen Elizabeth National Park is less soggy and the lions are easier to find during this time of year, making it ideal for a safari. The rainy seasons, which are April, May, October, and November, are best for bird watching. If you wish to combine a game drive in Ishasha with additional activities like the gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi or even Rwanda safaris,

How can I reach the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park?

The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth can be reached by car or plane. A chartered flight can be taken directly to the park from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi in Kampala, landing on an airstrip at Ishasha. A six-hour drive from Kampala or Entebbe to the park via Mbarara allows visitors to take in the Ugandan countryside and explore the little towns that are on the way there. After doing gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, visitors can also reach the Ishasha sector.