In the far south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lions do something that lions rarely do: they climb trees. The Ishasha Sector is one of only two places in Africa where this behaviour is regularly seen, and it is the reason many travellers make the long drive south. Lions sprawl along the branches of huge fig trees, tails hanging, watching over the plains. It is one of the most photographed sights in Uganda.
The sector at a glance
- Location: the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, near the park’s southern gate and the DR Congo border. Lake Edward and its marshes lie to the north and the Ntungwe River to the east.
- Landscape: open, undulating plains and savannah woodland, with big fig and acacia trees, riverside forest and wetlands.
- Feel: quiet and remote. It is far from the busy Mweya peninsula in the north of the park, and it sees far fewer visitors.
The tree-climbing lions
Ishasha has several prides that regularly rest in the branches of the sector’s large trees, often in the heat of midday. Nobody knows for certain why they do it. Theories include escaping the heat and biting tsetse flies on the ground, and getting a better view of prey across the plains. Tree-climbing is a learned behaviour rather than an evolutionary adaptation, and it can be passed between generations of a pride.
Seeing lions in trees is never guaranteed. They may be on the ground, resting in shade or away in the grass. Rangers and guides know the favourite trees and check them in turn, and a night in the sector gives you a better chance of finding them. Please keep a respectful distance, stay in the vehicle and never try to attract the animals.
Other wildlife
- Topi: the antelope is found in Queen Elizabeth only in Ishasha.
- Uganda kob, buffalo, elephant, hippo and zebra on the plains and along the river.
- Leopards and hyenas, more often at night.
- Birds: compact weaver, black coucal, herons and storks near the Lake Edward marshes.
Getting there and staying
- Route: Ishasha lies on the road between the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth (Mweya and the Kazinga Channel) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, so it fits naturally into the drive to the gorillas. It is roughly 90 kilometres from Mweya by road.
- Stay: a small number of camps and lodges inside and beside the sector.
- Time needed: a game drive on the way to Bwindi, or better, one night to allow both an evening and a morning drive.
- Fees: a park entry fee applies, valid for 24 hours; fees change and we confirm them at booking.
- Best time: year-round. The drier months, roughly June to September and December to February, make roads easier and wildlife easier to find.
Combining Ishasha with other places
Ishasha pairs with Lake George and the Kazinga Channel in the north of the park, Kyambura Gorge for chimpanzees, and Bwindi for gorillas. See our pages on Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake George. Health advice, including malaria and tsetse flies, is on our Health & Safety page.
Ishasha with Offmap Safaris
We include Ishasha on Queen Elizabeth safaris as an overnight or a long drive between the park and Bwindi. Plan your safari, message us on WhatsApp +256 701 243 304 or email [email protected]. Please read our Responsible Travel page too.