Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector
Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector – Queen Elizabeth national park
Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector-Queen Elizabeth national park; tree climbing lions in Uganda can only be found in Ishasha sector southern part of queen Elizabeth national park which is one of the most visited national parks located in western part of Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park in Uganda and its known for harboring abundant wildlife species including the big four out of the big five mammals which are elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, other animals like Uganda kobs, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, hippos, primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys and more than 450 bird species. Tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector will be seen lazily lying up in acacia/ fig tree branches staring at the Uganda kobs which will be grazing in the open savannah plains. Apart from Queen Elizabeth national park tree climbing lions are also found in other destinations like Lake Manyara national park in Tanzania.
Why lions in Ishasha sector climb trees
Several theories have been proposed to explain why the lions in Ishasha sector climb trees but no one has come up with the exact explanation for their behavior for example,
- Some people believe that lions in Ishasha climb trees as an ingrained cultural behavior acquired or learned from the generation before them
- It’s also believe that lions in Ishasha sector climb trees to run away from biting insects such as mosquitoes, testifies and also to avoid ground heat and enjoy the cool breeze as they rest.
- There is another belief that lions in Ishasha sector climb trees to have a clear view of the surrounding so as to spot their prey when approaching.
Ishasha sector is also a home of other wildlife species including animals like buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, topi, hippos, variety of bird species like martial eagle, palm-nut vulture, brown snake eagle, hooded vulture, lappet faced vulture, greater honey guide, double toothed barbet, striped kingfisher, broad billed roller, African crowned eagle, African crake, yellow billed oxpecker, helmeted Guineafowl, black bellied bustard, grey backed fiscal, Ross’s turaco, long crested eagle, Senegal plover, African wattled plover, Bateleur, white browned robin chat among others.
Best time to see the tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector
Ishasha sector in located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park and can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best period is during the dry season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season Ishasha sector receives little or less rainfall therefore access roads to the sector will be passable and vegetation will be thin which gives you a chance to view the tree climbing lions will easily lying up in tree branches resting and enjoying the cool breeze.
Where to stay in Ishasha sector – Queen Elizabeth national park
There are several accommodation facilities in and near Ishasha sector where you can stay during your safari in Uganda such as Ishasha Jungle Lodge, At The River Ishasha Lodge, Topi Lodge, Savannah Resort Hotel, Enjojo Lodge, Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Mweya Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Parkview Safari Lodge, Pumba Safari Cottages, Elephant Hub Lodge, Ihamba Lodge, Engiri Game Lodge among others.
How to get to Ishasha sector – Queen Elizabeth national park
Ishasha sector is located in southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala or Entebbe via Masaka, Mbarara or Mubende, Fort Portal to Mweya peninsular in Queen Elizabeth national park and then connect to Ishasha sector which takes about 8 to 9 hours drive.
Ishasha sector can also be accessed from Bwindi impenetrable national park which takes about 3 to 4 hours drive in a 4WD safari vehicle.
Air transport, Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter flights with Aerolink Uganda from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Mweya airstrip or Kihihi airstrip and then connect to Ishasha sector by road.
Apart from the tree climbing lions Queen Elizabeth national park has a lot of interesting activities to offer to visitors on a safari in Uganda such as game drive in Kasenyi plains where visitors will be able to view different animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, leopards, boat cruise on Kazinga channel where visitors will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge where you will spend one hour with the chimpanzees in their environment, bird watching where you will be able to view variety of bird species, nature walks, lion tracking experience among others.
