Uganda, dubbed the land of freedom according to the second stanza of its national anthem; is a land that is gifted by nature. In the shadows of Rwanda’s gorilla trekking fame, Uganda boasts of two separate mountain gorilla national parks; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
It is undeniable that gorilla trekking is the most popular outdoor activity among foreigners in Uganda. The majority of the Ugandans are not thrilled about gorilla trekking because given the countryside lifestyle, they are more thrilled about traveling to cities and beaches than visiting places similar to their villages.
However, as time goes on, majority of the Ugandans are shifting to the city centers which in the long run is creating a desire to visit natural untamed places like Bwindi impenetrable national park. Besides gorilla safaris, Uganda offers several other opportunities of the popular classic African game drive safaris which are also a growing market for both the Ugandan city dwellers and foreigners.
Leaving alone the primates; Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees, the most popular savannah animal is the African lion which can easily be found in Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Among these three national parks, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular lion destination. This is mostly because of the tree-climbing lions mostly found in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Understanding Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park can be accessed through three major Ugandan towns; Kasese (That is if you are coming from Fort Portal), Rubilizi (if you are connecting from Mbarara), and Kihihi (on the way from Bwindi impenetrable national park). The most common trail is connecting from Fort Portal.
Most people often visit Murchison Falls National Park and Kibale Forest National Park before proceeding to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Since lions are often the main reason that people visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, let’s dwell deeper on where to find them in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Where to Find Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is divided into majorly two major parts marked by the Kazinga channel. The southern part of the park has the Ishasha sector which is almost totally separate from the northern side which is made up of the Kasenyi plains, Mweya, and Katunguru town.
Ishasha sector
This is the most popular lion-tracking destination in Queen Elizabeth National Park however it is not very easy to see the lions in the Ishasha sector. It would require some technical knowledge about the whereabouts of the lions, and the best time of the day to visit the sector. National parks are not like a zoos where you will find the animals caged. Lions in Ishasha are free-ranging animals and they move for several reasons.
No data has so far been published about their movement in this sector but based on past experiences, you ought to visit this sector very early in the morning before sunrise or later in the evening during sunset.
However, given the lion traits of sometimes sleeping for almost a full day if they are satisfied, seeing them on a day when they are very satisfied is relatively hard. But it is also on such days that resting on trees is common. Visiting the Ishasha sector is a true wilderness experience that is not merely going to run according to your expectations. You ought to be patient and also give the game drive enough time.
Kasenyi Plains
Even though the Ishasha sector is the most popular lion-tracking sector, it is Kasenyi plains that is the most recommended destination for lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will not find tree-climbing lions in Kasenyi plains but you will have higher chances of seeing lions in Kasenyi plains than any other sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Similar to any other location in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you have a higher chances of seeing lions very early in the morning as well as later in the evening. It is not very common to see lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park hunting. Most of the people commonly find them after killing their prey. They mainly feed on buffaloes.
Mweya Sector
Mweya sector is one of those places in Queen Elizabeth National Park that are more popular because of the scenery than the wildlife. It is in the Mweya sector where you will find the Mweya Peninsular which also harbors the Mweya safari lodge.
The sector also once in a while has lions that cross from the Kasenyi plains. If you do not find lions in the Kasenyi plains, chances are very high they are in the Mweya sector. This sector edges Kasenyi plains because it offers boat trips at the Kazinga channel. Unlike Kasenyi plains, Mweya offers an opportunity for a boat experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Katunguru Town
Katunguru town is the main business area of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is in this town where you can go on a boat trip any time of the day. It is also in this town cars are fueled. It is the main restocking center for most of the basic things you will need. However, if you cannot find things in Katunguru town, you can easily drive to Rubirizi within 30 minutes to grab anything that you cannot find in Katunguru town.
Unlike other locations, Katunguru is not popular for lion tracking. Seeing lions in Katunguru is a once-in-a-blue-moon experience. If you wish to see lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, it would be wise to camp in the Kasenyi plains and the Mweya sector.
Ishasha’s sector is quite very isolated from the rest of the park. It might not be possible to visit the Ishasha sector along with other sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park on the same day. The road to the Ishasha sector is still unpaved making the journey unbearable for many people.