The Tree Climbing Lions of Isasha sector Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.

The tree climbing Lions in Uganda are part of a wider lion family. The largest cat family still roaming the African Wild. Lions in general help to balance the eco system by maintaining the population of herbivores animals like the African Buffaloes and species of antelopes. Lions also prey on weaker & sick animals helping to reduce the spread of diseases & parasites.
Unfortunately, the population of Lions in Africa has constantly been reducing with about 25000 Lions still living in the wild. Over 1 million Lions roamed the African Wild a century ago. The remaining ones have fallen victoms to poaching & new diseases. Uganda is one of the last strongholds of Lions in Africa. Lions can be sighted in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison falls national Park & kidepo valley national Park. Of the about 400 Lions, almost 130 are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the most visited national Park in Uganda. The park receives good rains and retains it's beauty scenic for most parts of the year unlike say the drier Masai mara in Kenya. The park also stands out of it's amaizing landscape, the famous kazinga channel offering authentic wildlife boat safari experience, the kyambura gorge for Chimps trek experience, the amazing crater lakes with in the area, birding paradise for the birders & the amazing wildlife in it's Savannah & the famous tree climbing Lions which is one of the leading tourist attraction in the world as the best place to see these climbing Lions.





Where to see the Tree Climbing Lions in Africa.

Tree climbing Lions are very rare to spot. Most Lions keep away From trees once they reach a certain size especially let's say when surrounded by a herd of Buffaloes & a climbing tree is the only option for safety. Tree Climbing Lions are so popular found in Isasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park uganda & Lake manyara national Park in Tanzania. Individual Lions have also been sighted climbing trees in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania & Kruger National Park in South Africa. However these are rare sighting and can't be compared to that of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda & Lake manyara national Park in Tanzania. In Isasha sector Queen Elizabeth National Park, a whole pride of Lions can be spotted which makes it the best place to spot them. The tree climbing Lions in manyara national Park in Tanzania are more difficult to locate & finding them is not guaranteed. Please Check our SAFARIS packages heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can be able to see them.



Why do some Lions Climb Trees?

Most Lions prefer staying on the ground leaving the trees for the cubs or smaller cats like leopards. The Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park or Manyara national Park have however deviated From usual behavior & can be seen lazing around accacia tree or fig trees in early afternoons. Why do they do this yet they ain't a unique sub specie. Several theories have been proposed to explain this unique behavior.. Some believe that Lions have a natural ability to climb trees just like other cats. So climbing should not be a surprise since all cats climb. Others believe that the Lions in Isasha have adapted this behavior from countless generations of Lions prides before them. Some researchers believe that they climb to avoid bites from insect's and pests like mosquitoes and tse tse flies that live on lower ground. Others believe that they do this to escape the midday heat on ground especially during dry season. Whatever the reasons maybe, this is truly an amazing experience sighting them , something not to miss when in Queen Elizabeth National Park.



The Isasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The remote Isasha plains are remarkably different from other sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The plains consist mainly the Savannah grasslands & riverine Forrest. It's a testament to the variety of attractionsin Queen Elizabeth National Park that few tourists actually go to see the climbing Lions here. Most visitors to this Park Visit the mweya & kasenyi plains where they go for game Drives, Chimp trek in kyambura gorge, boat safari at kazinga channel or nature walk in maramagambo forest. They are usually satisfied after spotting the common Lions of kasanyi plains. One reasons for a few visitors could be the lack of information about the existence of these unique cats. Many of the Park visitors only get to Know about them when they are already on a planned Safari. Squeezing time within a planned Safari to go & see the climbing Lions can be difficult.



There are four prides of Lions living with in the Isasha sector. About 50 individuals are estimated to be living with in four main prides. The Lions love climbing the acacia & large fig trees in the plains especially during the dry season. Because entire prides spend their day on top of trees, chances of seeing the Lions are high. The park authorites monitor their movements & easily track them on Request, thanks so much to Uganda wildlife Authority. Visiting the tree climbing Lions of Isasha sector can be arranged alongside an over all Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park & other nearby Parks like Bwindi impentrable national Park and lake mburo national Park, read more about our safari itineraries to see these destination.

How to reach Isasha sector Queen Elizabeth National Park.

One can reach by road or air. There's an airstrip in Isasha offering the opportunity to a chartered flight from entebbe international airport or kajjansi in Kampala directly to the park . Those wishing to marvel at the ugandas beautiful landscape & towns can opt to travel by road. From Kampala or entebbe to Isasha takes about 6 hours drive by the help of guide Driver. Visitors planning to arrange their own SAFARI need the help of a park ranger to help in choosing the route & location of Lions.



Best time to visit Isasha sector Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth National Park & Isasha sector are open to visitors throughout the year planning on SAFARI. The dry season ( April, June and July) is considered the peak season for tourists here. This season is perfect for Safari because the park is less muddy and Lions are easier to locate. Don't forget to browse through our website to check you best suitable wildlife SAFARI in Queen Elizabeth National Park.