ISHASHA SECTOR IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK.
Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park in Uganda from Murchison falls national park. Ishasha sector is within the park neighboring kanungu district close to Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Ishasha sector is located in southwestern part of the park comprising the open savanna grasslands with acacia and fig trees with big branches which allow lions to hang up. In the whole of east Africa, lion climbing trees are spotted only in ishasha sector in Uganda and manyara in Tanzania.
Why lions club trees in ishasha sector?
- Most of the lions climb trees in ishasha sector because they are sometimes running away from the hot grounds of the park during the hot days.
- They also climb trees to relax and spy their preys like kobs on the ground.
What is the best time to visit ishasha sector?
Dry season is always the best season for clients to enjoy their travel with no interference of rain. Ishasha sector is the best destination in Uganda where lions are spotted in trees due to hot weather on the ground that’s why they climb trees to relax as they are spotting the prey. Most visitors prefer June to September which is a dry season even those spicing ishasha sector with chimp or gorilla trekking because in the rainy season the endangered unique creatures are easier spotted than in the wet season. However in the dry season, the roads aren’t slippery like those in the wet season. Although visiting queen Elizabeth national park and other attractions are annually
Where to stay?
While in Queen Elizabeth national park, there are many lodges where to stay for a night or more than. Some of these lodges are luxurious, mid-range and budget depending on your choice. Some of these lodges have wifi, swimming pools , workers who speak English fluently, serve delicious meals on time and many more. Such lodges or hotels include, Kyambura gorge hotel, mweya lodge, Elephant Plains lodge , samba lodge , kasenyi safari camp, ishasha wilderness camp, ihamba lodge and many more.
What to the pack?
- Binoculars are the best to help you spot the lions in the trees
- Cameras for taking photos or videos of the lion climbing trees,
- Open roof car is the best and safe to spot the lions in trees.
- You will be in need of a pen or a book to note down some information from the tour guides about animals in ishasha.
How to access the park?
Ishashsa sector in Queen Elizabeth national park either by road or by flight. However, by road, visitors will enjoy 7-8 hour drive from kampala to queen Elizabeth national park. However much the journey looks long but its worth it due to adventurous attractions spotted on the way. While from mweya peninsula, it takes 123km for about 3 hour drive to ishasha sector and 2 hour drive from kanungu district.
However visitors using flight from kajjasi or Entebbe International Airport fly from kampala for one and half hours to kihihi airstrip.
What are other activities in Queen Elizabeth national park?
Boat cruise
Queen Elizabetha national park is the best destination of boat cruise since its surrounded by water bodies that is Lake George and Lake Albert. While on the boat cruise, visitors will spot kazinga channel which separates Lake George and Lake Albert however they spot various aquatic animals like hippopotamus, crocodiles.
The boat cruise is mostly done in the afternoon hours and evening hours for those who want to spice it with sports fishing. Along lower mweya lodge , many animals like elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, hippo, crocodiles , and different bird species like kingfisher, egrets, spurful , egptian birds and many more are spotted on lake shores drinking water whereas others moderate the body temperatue in water.
Birding .
Despite the fact that queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest park from Murchison falls national park, the park inhabits over 500 bird species where some are woodlands, savannah and endemic birds. these birds include Pied kingfishers, African fish eagle, Water-thick knee, Spoon-billed stork, Hammerkop, African Jacana, Great egrets, Little egret, Egyptian geese, Pink and White backed pelicans, Malachite kingfisher, Bee-eater, Red-capped Lark, Red-chested sunbird, Swallows, Grey-headed kingfisher, Martins, Blue-napped mousebird, Swamp Nightjar, Diederik Cuckoo, Pygmy kingfisher, Grey-caped warbler, Slender-billed weaver, Pin-tailed Whydah, Squire-tailed Nightjar, Nubian woodpecker, Black headed Gonolek among others
Nature walk and hiking.
The park is surrounded by local communities that is kanungu district ,kasese district and many more. For visitors to have the best safari in queen Elizabeth national park, they shouldn’t miss nature walk and hiking on their intinary because they are interesting and amazing. During nature walk, visitors walk on foot to neighboring local communities that are guided by local people for example, the guide taking the visitors to visit traditional local markets, traditional doctors , taking them in local hotels to taste their food and involving themselves in traditional dances.
Game Drive.
Queen Elizabeth national park is the best destination for game drive. During the game drive, visitors spot many animals in the park like elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, Uganda kos, warthogs, mongooses, lions, leopards and many more.
However the best game drive in queen Elizabeth national park is done annually though better in dry season where animals, birds are spotted than in rainy season. During the game drive, visitors are advised not to get out of the car to be on a safe side from wild animals. They are expected to pack cameras, binoculars , water & snacks since it takes 2-3 hours around the park.
The game drive is always done in early morning hours to spot the early risers and grariers and evening hours for carnivores which hunt their prey at night hours like lions.
Chimpanzee trekking.
Kyambura gorge is among that few places in queen Elizabeth national park that inhabits chimpanzees and other species like birds. The kyambura is known as a valley of Apes in northern part of the park. Chimps in kyambura are habituated because they have been customised to human for quite some time. However the cost of habituated chimps is different from the tracked chimps thus costing $250 and $200 respectively.
However chimps can also be spotted in kalinzu forest, kibale national park and Budongo forest in murchison falls national park in Uganda.
To sum up the above, Queen Elizabeth national park is spiced with other attractions in Uganda like Murchison falls national park, kibale national park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Mt Rwenzori national park, Mgahinga national park, Kidepo valley national park, Mt Elgon national park, Lake Mburo national park, semuliki national park and many more. We are here for your service in case you need help.
