Ishasha sector home to tree-climbing lions

Ishasha sector home to tree-climbing lions: Located in the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Ishasha sector is a habitat for rare tree-climbing lions. Ishasha sector is one of the places to visit while on a safari in Uganda as it’s the only place where tree-climbing lions can be spotted. In the whole world, Ishasha sector is the best place to find the tree-climbing lions but a few can be seen in Lake Manyara National Park.

Ishasha sector known for tree-climbing lions, is home to other attractions of Queen Elizabeth National Park. These include some of the park mammals, primates, and birds best spotted by taking part in the park activities such as bird watching, game drives day and night, and nature walks. These activities are carried out with the help of armed ranger guides and well-trained guides for the safety of the animals and tourists.

Why do lions of Ishasha sector climb trees?

There are a few reasons as to why lions of Ishasha sector climb trees.

To avoid irritation from insects and bugs. Climbing in the trees will help the lions to avoid harmful insects like tsetse flies which are more on the ground, especially in the rainy season.
To escape ground heat. During the dry season, the ground can be so hot, and this makes the lions to climb trees and find cool shade.
To get a clear view of their prey. When lions are on tree branches, they easily spot their prey, like antelopes.
To spot their threats so easily, Lions are able to invade their territory, and this enables them to watch other predators such as leopards and spotted hyenas.

The search for these lions is done in the form of game drives

The search for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha sector

The main reason why tourists visit Ishasha sector is to look out for the tree-climbing lions. The search for these lions is done in the form of game drives, and tourists move around the sector using the game tracks. Checking tree by tree, tourists are able to find some of the lions lazily hanging on the tree branches.

Searching for tree-climbing lions in Ishasha sector is done early in the morning, when lions haven’t gone back to hiding, or in the evening when they are resting. Searching takes as many hours as one can, and while searching other park wildlife are spotted, among these include the mammals, a few primates, and birds.

Lions in the Ishasha sector can be found on tree branches, sleeping or resting as they scan their territory for prey or threats. Tourists can be lucky to spot them easily if they are on the trees near the game tracks. If the lions are far from the game tracks, tourists can always use a pair of binoculars to spot them easily or even good cameras to capture videos from a distance.

Apart from searching tree-climbing lions, tourists get to see wild animals in Ishasha sector among which include buffaloes, lions, topis, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, spotted hyenas, side-striped jackals, warthogs, and giant forest hogs, to mention but a few. These animals can be seen grazing or resting in the Savannah vegetation of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Bird lovers in Ishasha sector looking out for tree-climbing lions will also have an opportunity to spot a few bird species. With the help of a pair of binoculars, birders will be able to see species such as martial eagle, African skimmer, pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed stork, black bee-eater, saddle-billed stork, nubian woodpecker, greater honey guide, and European roller, to mention but a few.

Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Tourists on a safari in Ishasha sector have a lot of accommodation facilities where they can stay. These lodges range from standard to mid-range to luxury options, such as Ishasha Wilderness Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodges, Topi Lodge, Ishasha Pride Lodge, Enjojo Lodge, and Ishasha River Lodge to mention but a few.

Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park

From Entebbe, tourists can get to Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park by using road transport. From Entebbe, they drive through Kampala, Masaka, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Kasese, and to Ishasha sector. From Mbarara, tourists can also drive to Ntungamo, Rukungiri, to Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park.

Cost of accessing Ishasha sector

Ishasha sector is found inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, and to access any national park in Uganda, you need to pay entrance fees. The entrance fees that last 24 hours to Ishasha sector can be paid at Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters or at the gate. It’s $40 for foreign non-residents, $30 for foreign residents, $25 for Rest of Africa, and UGX20,000 for citizens of East African member states.