Tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector Uganda : Tree climbing lions of Ishasha sector Uganda are among the attractions which can be seen during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park.
These lions are part of the unique attractions that are found in Uganda and the only other destination famous for the tree climbing lions is Lake Manyara national park which is located in the northern part of Tanzania.
The Ishasha sector is found in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park which is one of the popular destinations to visit in Uganda for wildlife viewing experiences throughout the year in different parts of the park.
Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park in Uganda and it is located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. The national park is part of the destinations to visit during safaris around the western part of Uganda.
The national park consists of diverse ecosystem including savannah plains, woodlands, forests where different wildlife species can be seen during safaris. The Ishasha sector consists of savannah plains and fig trees where the tree climbing lions can be seen during safaris.
Different attractions border the Ishasha sector including Lake Edward in the north, the Ishasha river to the west among others. There are different reasons why the lions climb trees in Queen Elizabeth national park and they include the following;
- The lions climb trees in the Ishasha sector to avoid insect bites such as tsetse flies which are found in Queen Elizabeth national park.
- Another reason why the lions are said to climb trees in Ishasha sector is to stay away from the heat on the ground.
- The tree climbing lions also climb trees in Ishasha sector to be able to observe their prey in the savannah plains.
- Climbing the trees in the Ishasha sector also provides the lions with shelter from the rains in the Ishasha sector.
The practice of climbing trees among lions in the Ishasha sector is done by adult lions and can also be done by the cubs. Apart from the tree climbing lions, other wildlife species which can be seen during safaris around the sector include leopards, buffalos, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, topi, elephants, warthogs, hyenas among others.
There are also different bird species which can be seen during safaris around the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Where to stay during safaris in Ishasha sector
There are different lodges found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park and they include budget, midrange and luxury lodges.
Some of the lodges in the Ishasha sector include Ishasha wilderness camp, Topi lodge, Ishasha jungle lodge, Enjojo game lodge among others. many other lodges are found in Queen Elizabeth national park where tourists can stay during their safaris at the destination.
How to get to the Ishasha sector
Tourists visiting Queen Elizabeth national park can access Ishasha sector by road and also by flight during their safaris in Uganda.
- The flights to Ishasha sector can be booked from Entebbe international airport to different airstrips in Queen Elizabeth national park including Mweya airstrip, Kasese airstrip and also the Kihihi airstrip in Bwindi national park.
These domestic flights can be booked through airlines such as Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation.
- By road, tourists can access the Ishasha sector by driving from Kampala to Kasese which takes about 6 to 7 hours.
Best time to visit the Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Tours in the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park can be done at anytime of the year including the rainy season and the dry season.
The dry season is considered the best time for safaris in Ishasha sector during the months from December to February and also around June to September when the wildlife viewing conditions are favorable and many wildlife species can be seen during Uganda wildlife safaris. It is also easier to spot the tree climbing lions in the trees during the dry season.
In the rainy season around March to May and in November, tourists can also engage in safaris in the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park. Many bird species can also be seen during safaris around the destination.
Other activities to do around Queen Elizabeth national park
Apart from the Ishasha sector, tourists can engage in safaris in other parts of Queen Elizabeth national park which include the Kasenyi plains, Kyambura gorge, Mweya peninsula, Maramagambo forest, Kalinzu forest, Katwe salt lake area, Kazinga channel among others.
Activities which take place during safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park include game drives, boat safaris, guided nature walks, bird watching, community tours, visiting the salt lakes, hiking, mongoose tracking among others.
Game drives in Queen Elizabeth national park take place in the morning and in the afternoon and involve searching for the different wildlife species around the destination. Game drives also take place in the Ishasha sector as well as around the Kasenyi plains and the Mweya peninsula where wildlife species such as elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, kudu, waterbucks, bushbucks, impalas, hyenas, warthogs, topi, Uganda kobs, mongoose among others can be seen during safari.
Around the Kyambura gorge in Queen Elizabeth national park, tourists can engage in chimpanzee tracking experiences in the morning and in the afternoon and enjoy spending time watching the chimpanzees closely and also seeing many other primates and bird species in the forest. They can also engage in nature walks and hiking experiences around the gorge.
Boat safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park can be done along the Kazinga channel which is where Lake Edward and Lake George meet. Different wildlife species like hippos, buffalos and elephants and bird species can be seen by the water shores as tourists enjoy the boat tours in the morning and in the afternoon.
Mongoose tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park is an activity which takes place around the Mweya peninsula where many other wildlife species like antelopes and hippos can be seen during wildlife viewing experiences at the destination.
