Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park(Lion Tracking in Uganda)

Lion Tracking in Uganda takes you to Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most visited safari parks. Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in Western Uganda spanning four districts; Kasesese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. This National Park was established in 1952. Queen Elizabeth National Park encompasses vast savanna grasslands, woodlands, plains, crater lakes, gorges, and forests that offer an ideal habitat to about 95 mammals and over 600 species of birds. This National Park is one of the best places to visit on wildlife viewing safaris in Uganda – you are guaranteed opportunities to witness elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, and buffaloes among others. Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the unique activities that most travelers enjoy during safaris here, especially the big cat lovers.

Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 250 large cats in both the northern and southern sectors, making it one of the best places to encounter lions in Uganda. The National Park is home to the largest population of unique tree-climbing lions in the world. The tree climbing lions are found in the Ishasha sector, located in the southern part of the park. Most travelers visit this region to catch a sight of the unique tree climbing lions, especially during afternoon game drives. Although sighting the unique tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is a major highlight of safaris here, Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a rare opportunity to track these majestic cats in the park’s vast wilderness. Lion tracking takes you to the northern sector (Kasenyi plains) – one of the most concentrated regions in the park.

Lion tracking in Uganda/ Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park offers tourists an opportunity to get close to the lions in their natural habitat, unlike standard game drives. During lion tracking, you’ll follow lions closely to learn about their behavior, natural habitat, and feeding habits. Lion Tracking in Uganda is led by experienced and knowledgeable researchers from the Uganda Carnivore Program. Enjoy a unique and thrilling experience as you follow the majestic cats in their natural habitat – an experience for a lifetime.

How is Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park conducted?

Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park is a unique experience that involves following an individual or group of lions to learn more about their behavior, feeding habits, and social/group dynamics. Although viewing lions on normal game drives is thrilling, spending hours following these majestic cats in the wild is more thrilling. Lion tracking costs US$200 per person for international tourists, US$ 150 for foreign Residents, and UGX 200,000 for East African citizens. The fee doesn’t include the park entrance fees.

There are three sessions for lion tracking in a day; early morning, afternoon, and night sessions. Each session lasts for about 2 to 3 hours. The experience starts with a briefing from the chief tracker or researcher, you’ll be taken through all the necessary information about the activity.

In Queen Elizabeth National Park, a dominant lioness in a pride is fitted with a radio collar which enable trackers to locate these majestic cats in the park. The males are usually not chosen because they usually wander away from the pride to mark their territories. The Lionesses usually stay with the main group enabling researchers to monitor all the other lions including the cubs and alphas males.

The battery-powered collars send radio frequencies read by a GPS to pinpoint the exact location of the lions every time the frequency is dialed. The tracking device usually makes a beeping noise which intensifies when you get closer to the lions.

While on a lion tracking adventure, the Researchers will share with you information about their biology, habitats, and threats. You will learn their lifespan roles and reproduction. During lion tracking, you will locate the lions, the driver will switch off the engine to avoid chasing away the cats. You’ll enjoy viewing these majestic cats and if you are lucky, you might even witness the researcher collecting DNA, blood, urine, saliva, ticks, and other samples from the lions after the tranquilizer is applied.

In case you encounter the whole pride, you will have a rare opportunity to observe a lion family up close.

What is unique about Lion tracking in Uganda?

Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park/Tracking Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park is different from normal game viewing – this experience allows you to track the cats to view them up close. Unlike game drives that are done by many people, only a limited number of people are allowed to participate in lion tracking in Uganda. Since the experience is done by a few participants, you’ll enjoy viewing these cats up close without being interrupted by the large crowds that are usually seen on normal game drives.

You’ll have better opportunities to take better opportunities for taking nice photographs of these majestic cats in the wild. Unlike normal game drives where lions are viewed from a distance, lion tracking in Uganda allows you to get closer to these majestic cats. The tracking experience not only offers sightseeing opportunities but also an opportunity to learn about these carnivores.

What is the best time for Lion Tracking in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park – when to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for Safaris?

Just like all other safari parks in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park receives two dry seasons which offer the most ideal conditions for safaris in the park. Although this national park can be visited all year round, the best time for visiting Queen Elizabeth National Park is between the two dry seasons; June to October and December to February.

If you are fantasizing about going for Lion Tracking in Uganda, the best time to go is between June and October. This period is associated with fewer downpours and dry trails in the park. The vegetation is also less during this season allowing you to spot various wildlife during safaris here.