The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the sectors of Queen Elizabeth national park located in the remote Ishasha plains. These plains are remarkably different from other sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park consisting of mainly savannah grasslands and riverine forests. It is a testament to the variety of attractions in Queen Elizabeth National Park that few visitors actually go to see the tree climbing lions of Ishasha. Most visitors to the Park visit the Mweya and Kasenyi plains were they can easily go for game drives, boat cruises along the Kazinga channel, chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge or taking a nature walk in the Maramagambo forest. They are usually satisfied after spotting the common lion prides in the Kasenyi sector. One reason for the fewer visitors could be the lack of information about the existence of these unique cats. Many of the parks visitors only get to know about them when they are already on a planned safari. Squeezing time within a planned safari to go and see the tree climbing lions can be difficult.
There are about 4 prides of lions living within the Ishasha plains. About 50 individuals are estimated to be living within the four main prides. The lions love climbing the common acacia and large sycamore fig trees in the plains especially during the dry seasons. Because entire prides spend their day on top of trees, the chances of seeing the lions in Ishasha are very high. The park authorities monitor their movements and can easily track them on request. Visiting the tree climbing lions of Ishasha can be arranged alongside an overall safari of Queen Elizabeth national park.
The best time to visit Ishasha
Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Ishasha sector are open to visitors on a Uganda safari throughout the year. The dry season (April, June and July) is considered the peak season for tourists in Uganda. This season is perfect for a safari because the park is less muddy and the lions are easier to locate. The months of April, May, October and November are the rainy seasons and are more ideal for bird watching.
How to reach Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park
One can reach the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth by road or air. There is an airstrip in Ishasha offering the opportunity to take a chartered flight from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi in Kampala directly to the park. Those who wish to marvel at the Ugandan countryside and tour the small towns leading to the park can take a car from Kampala or Entebbe to the park through Mbarara in a journey that takes about six hours. Ishasha can also be accessed from Bwindi Impenetrable forest after gorilla trekking. The journey for gorilla trekking between Ishasha sector and Bwindi forest is about 3-4 hours.
Visitors using the Kampala Mbarara highway often use the Katunguru Mweya route in the northern part of the park to get to Ishasha. This route is shorter but very unreliable during the wet season. The route is also used by heavy trucks that leave the road muddy and with potholes. When using this route, it is important to be in touch with the park offices to see if the route is passable.
It is possible to travel with a private vehicle but international visitors may need to hire a car or use the reliable services of a tour operator /company. The vehicle must be a 4X4 because the roads in this remote section of the park are not very good and can be dusty or muddy depending on the season of the year. The park authorities do their best to maintain the marram roads but heavy rains damage several sections of the road.
Visitors arranging their own safari need to hire a guide or move with a park ranger to help with choosing the right routes and locating the lions. Once you spot a group of individuals, prepare to see them resting on the trees lazily as they look out at herds of grazing antelopes. Their stomachs are usually full (the previous nights meal) with some struggling to position themselves in the tree branches. The lions are not as agile as leopards and you will probably spot some individuals struggling to balance as they climb or descend down the trees. On a good day it is possible to see up to 16 lions hanging on the same tree branches.
The future of tree climbing lions in Ishasha
The tree climbing lions of Ishasha are in danger of extinction. The greatest threat to the lions comes from humans living near the park. Only recently about 11 lions were found dead as a result of poisoning. It is suspected that the lions were poisoned by pastoralists who had lost their domestic animals to the lions. The communities living near the park sometimes lead their animals into the park during the dry season in search of water and grass. Lions and other park animals also frequently wander outside park boundaries eventually coming into contact with human communities. The big cats find domestic animals very attractive and easier to catch especially during the dry season and when thrown out of the pride. When they lose an animal to the lions, some individuals within the communities have resorted to setting up traps/snares and poison for the big cats.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has tried hard to ensure that there is a harmonious relationship between the communities living near the park and the park animals. UWA strives to ensure that the communities benefit economically from tourism through direct employment and giving back 20 percent of the money earned from tourism to the community. The park also compensates the locals whenever they lose their livestock to the lions and arranges for community sensitization meeting about the importance of the lions to the people and posterity. The Uganda Carnivore Project introduced lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth national park to help raise funds for lion conservation.
Where to stay while visiting the tree climbing lions
Although there are several good accommodation facilities available for visitors within Queen Elizabeth National Park, the ones in Ishasha are few. Booking in advance with your tour operator in Uganda is highly recommended especially during the peak seasons like June. Let’s look at two of the more popular lodges in Ishasha.
Ishasha Wilderness Camp
This facility is suitable for travellers who desire to be close to nature and experience what it is like to live in the wild bushes of Africa. The camp is built on the banks of River Ntungwe – an area that is quiet remote and relatively unspoiled. The camp offers 10 luxury tents with beautiful interiors, warm shower, clean toilets and new mosquito nets. The tents face the river enabling one to see some of the park animals (elephants, hippos, antelopes and small primates) come to bath and drink by the river banks. Vervet and Colobus monkeys are frequent visitors to the camp and can be seen swinging on nearby trees close to the compound. Meals can be served either in the rooms or in a beautifully set up dining area on the river banks. The camp prepares food that can be packed for those leaving the rooms for activities within the Ishasha plains. Residents have an opportunity to meet by the camp fire in the evening as they share stories about their adventures in Uganda while on Uganda Safaris.
Enjojo Lodge
Enjojo Lodge offers both mid-range and luxury facilities. The lodge was built with local material in order to give that feeling of being in the African wilderness. All decorations are crafted by local artists – many of whom come from nearby communities. The cottages offer enough comfort to allow you relax as you look forward to the next day’s activities within the sector. While at the lodge residents can spot animals roaming freely inside the 40-acre property. Among the activities available for residents in Enjojo lodge are fishing (tilapia, catfish and lungfish) at the lake Akanyanza.
