Ishasha’s Tree Climbing Lions
Ishasha’s Tree Climbing Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, particularly in the southern Ishasha sector, is famous for its unique tree-climbing lions, a rarity in Africa. Other parks in Tanzania, South Africa, and Kenya have reported sightings of lions climbing trees, especially in Lake Manyara National Park. However, in Kenya and South Africa, these instances are often of juvenile lions playing, unlike the established behavior of the lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Although lions exist in other parks like Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison Falls, they do not exhibit the tree-climbing behavior seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park, making it a notable destination for this extraordinary experience.
Ugandan lions are essential for maintaining ecological balance in Africa by controlling herbivore populations and preventing disease spread. However, their numbers have plummeted from over a million to approximately 25,000 due to human encroachment, particularly affecting tree-climbing lions in Ishasha. Uganda remains a vital habitat for lions, especially in Kidepo Valley, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park, the most visited in Uganda, is home to 130 of the country’s 400 lions and is known for its unique wildlife, making it a popular tourist site.
Why do lions climb trees?
This is a rare practice among lions despite being part of the cat family as part of their natural ability to use their retractable claws when scaling trees. Lions are found in several national parks with distinctive traits, but those in Queen Elizabeth National Park, particularly in the Ishasha sector, are notable for their tree-climbing behavior, similar to those in Lake Manyara, Tanzania. Research explains this behavior as a strategy to avoid insect bites during the rainy season, escape high ground temperatures over 28 degrees Celsius, and gain a better vantage point to observe prey like antelopes. The tree species they prefer, such as sycamore fig and acacia, provide broad branches that offer comfortable resting spots and shelter.
The Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Ishasha plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park are characterized by unique savanna grasslands and riverine woods, with their famous tree-climbing lions being a distinct attraction. However, most visitors prefer the more accessible Mweya and Kasenyi plains, known for game drives and other activities. This preference can be attributed to a lack of awareness about the Ishasha lions, leading to fewer visitors seeking them out. Ishasha is home to four lion prides, totalling around 50 lions, which frequently climb sycamore fig and acacia trees, especially during dry seasons. The likelihood of spotting these lions is high, and park officials monitor their movements. Visitors can combine a trip to Ishasha with tours of nearby parks like Lake Mburo and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
How to access the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Ishasha area of Queen Elizabeth National Park can be reached by chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport or by road from Kampala or Entebbe, taking approximately six hours. After gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Ishasha is a 2 to 3-hour drive away. The northern route via Katunguru Mweya may be unreliable during wet seasons due to mud and potholes; checking road conditions with park offices is recommended. Visitors should use a 4X4 vehicle due to seasonal road conditions, and hiring a guide or ranger is advisable for navigation and locating lions. Lions are commonly observed resting in trees after meals, with up to 16 individuals seen in one tree on a good day.
What is the best time to visit the Ishasha sector for the tree-climbing lions?
During Ishasha’s Tree Climbing Lions safari, visitors can explore Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Ishasha area at any time of year. With better visibility for animals, especially lions, the dry season—especially April, June, and July—is the busiest time of year for tourists. On the other hand, birdwatching is more enjoyable during the rainy months of April, May, October, and November.
Other activities
The Ishasha plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for tree-climbing lions, offer cultural visits to the Bakiga community led by Agartha. These tours provide insights into Bakiga culture, including meal preparation, gardening, and women’s roles, with opportunities for participants to harvest wheat and taste traditional beers. The park’s Ishasha sector features diverse wildlife, including waterbucks, topi, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, elephants, and several bird species, with game drives, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, and nature walks in Maramagambo forest. A boat trip along the Kazinga Channel is also recommended for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
Accommodation in the Ishasha Sector
Ishasha’s Queen Elizabeth National Park has few places to stay; therefore, reservations must be made in advance, particularly during busy times such as December to February and June to September, Ishasha Wilderness Camp and Enjojo Lodge are two noteworthy lodges. Ten opulent tents with first-rate amenities and chances to see animals are available at the Ishasha Wilderness Camp, which is located by the River Ntungwe. Campfire gatherings in the evenings and dinners by the river are available to visitors. In addition to comfortable lodgings made with local materials, Enjojo Lodge provides fishing at neighboring Lake Akanyanza and the opportunity to witness animals on the site.
Conservation Measures
Following Ishasha’s tree-climbing lions, these species are endangered mainly due to human activities, including recent incidents where 11 lions were poisoned by pastoralists in retaliation for lost livestock. During the dry season, local communities venture into the park with their animals, leading to increased lion-human interactions. To mitigate these conflicts, the Uganda Wildlife Authority promotes positive relations between communities and wildlife through shared tourism revenue and compensation for livestock losses. The Uganda Carnivore Project also supports conservation by tracking lions.