Ishasha Sector

Instead of scanning your eyes across vast savannah grasslands, look up, and you might find something lurking in the sycamore-fig trees. This is the Ishasha Sector of Queen …
From the crystal waters of the Kazinga Channel to the rugged wilderness of the Ishasha sector, Queen Elizabeth National Park has stunning natural beauty. With wildlife ranging from tree-climbing lions to chimpanzees, Queens is a fundamental piece of any Ugandan adventure.
The Ishasha Sector is famous for its tree-climbing lions.
Over 2500 Elephants roam in Queens.
Big cats appear alongside big game on a single day of safari.
The Kazinga Channel contains around 2,000 hippos.
Kyambura Gorge is the only place where chimps can be seen in QENP.
Ugandan Kob and Bushbuck roam the savannah plains at QENP.
Thirsty elephants having an afternoon drink from the Kazinga Channel.
Located in the western Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular national park. Adventurers are drawn by Queen's unique combination of forests, grasslands, and water-scapes.
Queen Elizabeth National Park’s 1,978 km² surface area is home to a vast array of wildlife, and it is the most bio-diverse park in Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is often paired with gorilla trekking in Bwindi and/or chimp trekking in Kibale Forest.
The Kazinga Channel is a 32-kilometre-long freshwater channel that links Lake Edward to its smaller neighbour, Lake George. The lakes are named after Queen Victoria’s son, King Edward VII, and his own successor, King George V.
The wide channel is a key feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park and a popular area for wildlife tourism.
The channel is home to a wide range of animals and birds, including one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos (around 2,000) and countless Nile crocodiles.
You can also expect to see elephants, buffaloes, and over 100 species of water bird, including the African Skimmer.
The Kazinga Channel is home to a wide range of animals and birds, and boat cruises are a popular way to explore the park.
There are two boat ride operators, the Uganda Wildlife Authority and Mweya Safari Lodge. Both trips cost around $30 per person and take 2 hours.
Mweya Safari Lodge gives you a choice between its comfortable ten-seater boat, The Sunbird, and its stylish twelve-seater boat, the Kingfisher.
Both vessels have experienced guides and crew, but the Kingfisher allows you to travel in luxury, providing refreshments and canopies to protect you from the sun.
Hippos are powerful creatures, an average adult male weighs 1,500kg.
Situated in the far east of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kyambura Gorge is nicknamed ‘the valley of the apes’.
The product of centuries of erosion by the Kyambura River, the dense forest which covers the gorge's sides is a prime habitat for chimpanzees.
Towering 100 m high rock walls encompass dense jungle, boggy swamps, and large crater lakes, making you feel as though you have entered another world.
Chimpanzee trekking is a popular wildlife activity in Uganda which allows you to step into the world of the chimps. The treks last for around three hours and include a maximum of one hour with the chimps in their natural habitat. You can expect to see them from a safe distance of 8-10 metres.
Only 17 chimps inhabit the gorge and your chances of seeing them are about 60%. The sights and sounds of the forest generate suspense and make a sighting even more rewarding.
Tracking permits can be booked through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (if you book with us all of this is taken care of for you).
Lounging chimpanzee taking a rest on the forest floor.
Located in the Rwenzururu sub-region of Kasese District, Mweya Peninsula is the most visited attraction within Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Situated on the northern bank of the Kazinga Channel, the Mweya Peninsula provides access to the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward.
The popularity of Mweya Peninsula is due to the combination of its transport links via Mweya Airport, the availability of quality accommodation, and its rich biodiversity.
The game drive is the quintessential savannah safari experience, and the Mweya Peninsula contains several game trails.
Travelling in four-wheel drive vehicles adapted to provide great visibility through hatch roofs and sliding windows, you will patrol the grasslands with your guide for about 3 hours in the early morning or late afternoon when the animals are at their most active.
Game drives can be difficult due to the dense vegetation that covers the Mweya Peninsula, but booking with us will ensure that you have a knowledgeable guide who knows the best trails.
Mweya Peninsula is home to a wide range of mammals, including elephants, buffaloes, and warthogs. Nocturnal game drives are an exciting opportunity to see nocturnal animals like leopards and hyenas.
Located in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Ishasha sector is famous for its tree-climbing lions.
Alongside Southern Tanzania, the Ishasha sector is one of only two places in Africa where you can see tree-climbing lions.
Scientists hypothesise that the lions have adopted this unusual behaviour to escape the tsetse flies and the heat of the lower ground. Being perched on a tree branch also serves as a useful vantage point when the lions are hunting.
Ishasha is also home to many other majestic mammals, including Ugandan kobs, buffaloes, elephants, and zebras.
The Ishasha sector is an excellent place for game drives as it is a less popular section of the park. You can enjoy the sights and sounds of the wilderness without the distant drone of other safari engines. Your sweeping view of the plains will not be spoiled by the ant-crawl of vehicles. The absence of traffic means that you can spend more time with the lions.
However, the roads are less well maintained than the park's busier sections, so a good 4x4 vehicle and a knowledgeable guide is required (if booking with us, this will be arranged for you).
Instead of scanning your eyes across vast savannah grasslands, look up, and you might find something lurking in the sycamore-fig trees. This is the Ishasha Sector of Queen …
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The most bio-diverse park in Uganda. A beautiful combination of forests, grasslands and waterscapes. Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular safari destination in Uganda …
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
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