Best Time to See Tree Climbing Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best Time to See Tree Climbing Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The best time to see tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park is throughout the year; however, the best time is during the dry season, which happens from June to September and December to February. These unique tree-climbing lions can be found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth, particularly the “Fig Tree Circuit,” where these lions are known to rest in large numbers.
Best time of day to view the tree-climbing lions: There are two sessions: early morning starts at 6:30 a.m.–10 a.m. and late afternoon starts at 4:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m., offering the perfect viewing and photography opportunities.
In general, the tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park are strategically found in the Ishasha sector. The park is renowned as the second largest game park located in the southwestern Uganda region and boasts over 95 mammals and around 600 bird species. Thus, it is the best destination for many visitors who come to experience Uganda Wildlife Safaris.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has wildlife sectors that offer unique experiences to all travelers who visit the park, and the Ishasha sector, located in the southwestern part of the park, is one of the places that provides unforgettable safari experiences for travelers on Uganda safaris. Many travelers flock to Queen Elizabeth National Park with zeal to visit the Ishasha sector due to its uniqueness of nature.
The Ishasha sector serves as the premier spot for observing the distinctive tree-climbing lions found in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Furthermore, the sector is a home to the kings of the jungle that live together in harmony in the biodiversity environment of the park. Within the park, the Ishasha sector is dotted with candelabra trees that have big branches and serve as homes for magnificent savannah woodland trees, such as acacia and massive fig tree species, whose branches attract tree-climbing lions.
This sector is not only home to unique tree-climbing trees but also harbors other wildlife animals, which act as a favorite food for the tree-climbing lions. It harbors a wide variety of animals, including Uganda Kobs, antelopes, massive herds of buffaloes, and herds of African elephants.
The large concentration of Uganda Kobs in the Ishasha sector makes it easy to spot tree-climbing lions, as Kobs are their favorite prey. Therefore, the Kobs can easily be hunted compared to other animals, though the lions can hunt any animal regardless of its size and shape.
The candelabra tree species in the Ishasha sector act as rest places from a hunt and a protecting area for these climbing lions from the hot temperature of the sun. Also, they act as a spying site for the lions to strategize which animal to hunt for food.
Travelers trekking to see the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector can enjoy observing their unique behavioral patterns and lifestyle, which are found only in Queen Elizabeth National Park and not elsewhere in Uganda. However, the tree-climbing lions can also be found in Tanzania, though they are difficult to hunt.
When is the best time to visit the Ishasha sector?
The best time to see tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park is all year round; however, the most interesting time to see them is during the dry season, when rainfall is less likely to interrupt your trekking experience and when the road to the Ishasha sector is dry and not slippery, compared to the rainy season.
During the dry season the savannah grasses give a clear view of the tree-climbing lions as well as observing their behavior patterns of life in the jungle. Visiting the tree-climbing lions can be combined with chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura gorge, boat cruise on the Kazinga channel or a with gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
The Park boasts several classic accommodation facilities that range from luxury to midrange and budget options, especially during your safari in the Ishasha sector, including Mweya Safari Lodge, Kasenyi Safari, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, The Fig Tree Lodge, Park View Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, and Ihambi Lodge, among others. Travelers are recommended to use a 4×4 Wheel drive vehicle.
Accessibility to the Queen Elizabeth National Park–Ishasha sector?
From Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park is approximately a 5-to-6-hour drive. However, there are a lot of connection points from other tourism destinations that offer an opportunity to access the sector.
Visitors from the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park via Kihihi cover about a 2-to-3-hour drive to the Ishasha sector. From Lake Mburo National Park in Mbarara, it is an estimated 6-to-7-hour drive, and from the Mweya peninsula of Queen Elizabeth, it is about a 2-hour drive to the Ishasha sector.
Alternatively, travelers can choose air transport from Kajjansi airstrip to Kihihi airstrip, which takes 1 hour, followed by a 2-hour drive transfer to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Lastly, the Ishasha sector is one of the main reasons we see many travelers visit Queen Elizabeth National Park due to observing these unique climbing lions that offer extraordinary Uganda Wildlife Safari experiences.
