Tree-Climbing Lions in Uganda Safari: Discover the Legendary Ishasha Lions

Discover the rare beauty of the Tree-Climbing Lions in Uganda on an unforgettable safari adventure to the famous Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Unlike most lions that spend most of their time on the ground, these unique lions are known for resting high in fig and acacia trees, offering visitors a truly remarkable wildlife experience. Tree-climbing lions safari in Uganda gives travellers the chance to witness this incredible behaviour while exploring one of Africa’s most scenic wilderness areas, home to the Big Five Game like; elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and diverse wildlife.

In the enormous wild Queen Elizabeth National Park, formerly “Kazinga National Park”, the glamorous tree-climbing lions safari is carried out in the Ishasha Sector, one of the richest wildlife locations for Uganda Wildlife Safari.

This area has gradually become the talk of the day for those gearing up for the most epic Big Five safari adventures in search of the lionesses in the short acacia trees. Ishasha tree-climbing lions are seen at specific times of the day especially in the early morning hours (6:30 am to 8:00 am) and the late afternoon (beyond 4:00 pm).

During this adventurous search for the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha Queen Elizabeth, expectations for the African carnivore lovers are of 20 to 40 lions seen in huge prides in the acacia trees. Most of the time, the lions move up the trees to spot distant prey.

Beyond the tree climbing lions in Uganda national parks, people can explore other wildlife like chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge and Kalinzu Forest, elephants, buffalo, Nile crocodile, one of the highest populations of hippopotamuses, hundreds of birds (23 species of Albertine Rifts), leopards, flamingoes, baboons among others.

Where to find tree-climbing in Uganda: Queen Elizabeth Tree-climbing Lions

  • Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is the only place in Ugandan conservancies where people can get the rare opportunity of photographing Lions in acacia trees. Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth is a pristine section located in the southwest of the Kazinga National Park, about 100 kilometers from the iconic Mweya Peninsula, renowned for boat cruise safari. This place (Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth) is adjacent to the massive Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo which touches the land of Tree-climbing lions in Africa.

While travelling to this site for a Tree-climbing lion experience, foreign residents pay $40 to spend 24 hours within Queen Elizabeth National Park searching for the prestigious cats of East Africa. This wildlife drama makes several people fall in love of the beautiful countryside; crater lakes, Mountain Rwenzori and wild animals spotted in the quiet environments. The experience comes with observations of mammals such as elephants, lions, leopards, baboons, chimpanzees, monkeys, impalas, antelopes and much more.

Other places to see Tree-climbing Lions in Africa

  • Lake Manyara National Park; Manyara Tree-Climbing Lions Tanzania Safari

Nestled below the cliffs of the Manyara Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park is the best home for Tree-climbing Lions, Tanzania Wildlife Safari and Big Fives (leopards, elephants, buffalo). Lake Manyara National Park is an enormous wilderness spanning 330 km 2 in the Arusha and Manyara Regions of Northern Tanzania. It is named after the life-supporting waters of “Lake Manyara” which occupies a fraction of the large Lake Manyara National Park
and the main source of water for hundreds of wildlife species.

Since becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, Lake Manyara National Park has been the dream destination for lion lovers who admire witnessing one of nature’s marvels of the creatures in trees. People travelling to one of the best national parks in Tanzania can simply take a domestic flight from Arusha International Airport to Lake Manyara Airport which is very close to the wildlife sanctuary. This eliminates any possible delays of reaching this pristine capital for the carnivores late and missing seeing the large cats.

The Best time to visit Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions during a Uganda Safari

Are you interested in visiting the famous Ishasha Tree-climbing Lions during a Uganda Safari? The best time for going to Queen Elizabeth National Park is mainly in the two dry seasons from June to September and December to January when the tracks in the conservancy are drier and less muddy, and cars can easily pass through them. These periods have low rainfall, leading to shorter grasses that are good for spotting distant animals.

However, there is all year-round visitation of Queen Elizabeth Tree climbing Lions making it possible to consider other months from March to May and October to November for travel during Uganda holidays.

Why visit Queen Elizabeth National Park Tree-climbing Lions?

Get the rare opportunity of watching the 40 lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park gazing from above at the savannahs in search for the next kill either early morning or in the afternoon and see how they have outcompeted their fellow cats like leopards in climbing.
Visit the Queen Elizabeth sectors like Ishasha, where cat admirers have found the true meaning of being on an African Big Five safari. This creates unmatched happiness and joy when people see huge prides of lions and lionesses plus playful cubs in the wild.

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