Queen Elizabeth National Park
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 …
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 Elizabeth National Park, the home of the tree-climbing lions.
Located in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s southern sector, Ishasha is one of only two places in Africa where you can see tree-climbing lions.
It is believed 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 is also advantageous when it comes to finding supper, as they can observe their prey from high above.
Besides the tree-climbing lions, there is plenty of other wildlife to be seen, including the Ugandan Kob, buffalo, elephant, hippo and zebra.
Tree climbing is a behavioural adaptation, rather than a product of evolution.
Visiting the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha can easily be included as part of your visit to Queens, and combined with safaris in nearby parks like Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibale, and Lake Mburo.
Game drives to observe the tree-climbing lions and other wildlife is the main activity in the Ishasha sector.
Ishasha is an excellent place for game drives as it is a lesser-known part of the park, so there will be fewer safari vehicles around, and you can spend longer 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).
Lioness resting in the branches at Queens.
For those interested in learning about the different cultures in Uganda, a cultural visit to the local Bakiga Community can be arranged, as part of their uplift programme.
While there, you will be given a tour of their community, including visiting their homesteads, learning local ways of preparing meals, and helping them harvest some vegetables from their garden.
By the end, you will have learned a lot about Bakiga culture and may even have tried some of their local brews.
Surrounded by the unspoiled bush, Ishasha Wilderness Camp provides guests with a true safari experience.
Nestled underneath the trees, 10 en-suite canvas tents, with large verandas and comfortable furnishings are the perfect retreat after a long game drive.
Meals are freshly prepared using local ingredients, and guests can choose between alfresco dining by the Ntungwe River or under the grass thatched roof of the central dining area and lounge.
In the evening, the campfire is the perfect place for swapping stories and enjoying sundowners.
Solar power provides light to the tents and power points in the main areas so that you can recharge your electronics, ready for the next day's adventures.
Bordering the Ishasha Sector of Queens, Enjojo Lodge is another great option just outside the park.
Guests can choose from 7 luxury en-suite cottages, and if travelling in a large group, there is a safari house that can accommodate up to 7 guests and includes a private campfire.
For those travelling on a budget Enjojo offers safari tents, bamboo huts and a DIY campsite.
From the grass-thatched restaurant and bar, you can enjoy home-made food from the organic garden while soaking up the views of the small, natural lake.
Herds of elephants, buffalo and antelopes are regular visitors to the lodge and the abundant birdlife make this lodge a haven for bird watchers.
Luxury cottage in Enjojo Lodge is the perfect retreat.
The best time to visit the Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is during the dry season from December to February and then again from late June to October.
This is considered the best time for game drives, as the roads will be clearer.
Visiting in the dry season can also increase your chances of seeing wildlife, as they will be in search of water and more likely to congregate around the fewer remaining watering holes.
The lions are also more likely to be in the trees to escape the heat.
The Ishasha sector is the hidden gem of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The Ishasha Sector is easily reached from Kampala and Entebbe by air and road. Daily scheduled flights from Kajjansi Airfield near Kampala or Entebbe International Airport fly to the airstrips in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kihihi is the closest airstrip to the Ishasha Sector.
Kampala is 410km north of Queens and is at least a 6-7 hour drive, although it is likely your journey will include stops at other attractions or national parks along the way.
From Bwindi Impenetrable Forest it is just a 2-3 hour drive, so Ishasha is a perfect stop either to or from gorilla trekking.
The camp serves as a great base for adventures in QENP.
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 …
Tall trees encased by jagged rocky walls, thick undergrowth, running streams of cool water and bushes ripe with fruits. A primate's paradise and a captivating adventure for those …
A gurgle of foamy bubbles causes your captain to gently swerve to the right. The Nile’s murky waters part to reveal the world’s third largest land mammal. Your camera clicks to…
Access to Queen Elizabeth National Park is relatively straightforward thanks to the development of road networks and flight connections within Uganda. The park is easily accessible…
Combine chimp trekking in Kibale Forest with mountain gorilla treks in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A well-paced highlights tour unlocking some of Uganda's most impressive experiences. Consider breaking up the journey from Kibale to Bwindi with a classic safari at…
If you had the chance to trek through lush forests; to stand metres away from a family of Mountain Gorillas - deep in the heart of Central Africa - would you take it? This 4-day adventure works great as a…
Game drives and boat safaris connect the dots between chimpanzee and gorilla trekking. An epic adventure across the wilderness of Uganda's southwestern safari circuit.…
Mt. Stanley's Margherita Peak, at 5,109 metres, is the highest point in Uganda and the third-highest point in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. This 10-day trip includes 8 days on the mountain, summiting Margherita Peak on day 6.…
Combine gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with beautiful lakeside retreats at Lake Mutanda. Tough treks and primate encounters paired with idyllic, calming lakes and oases make for an unforgettable experience in this remote pocket of Uganda.…
The forested slopes, clouded valleys, and snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains call out for exploration. Combine this perfect introductory trek with other destinations in the southwest to create a magical Ugandan…
Light adventuring and charming safaris in Lake Mburo National Park coupled with lakeside retreats and days of reflection and exploration around Lake Mutanda. Close out the trip with a few days canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking and more in Jinja, Uganda's…
Beautiful landscapes, diverse wildlife, and a undercurrent of the wild vastness of central Africa that lies just beyond the borders, the north of Uganda beckons adventurers who dream of exploring the frontiers. It's proper adventuring, but luxury lodges mean you…
Board a Cessna light aircraft and head into the southwestern pocket of Uganda. Trek through the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in search of the mountain gorillas. Retreat to luxury lodges for sundowners and delicious food. Hard days, soft…
Spend 4 hours in the company of a gorilla family by joining the habituation trek. Combined with a luxury safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park, this trip offers truly once-in-a-lifetime wildlife…
Discover the exceptional bio-diversity of Uganda by combining the beautiful savannah grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park with chimpanzee trekking in the forests of Kibale National Park. Connect the dots with epic road trips looping through northwestern Uganda.…
Combine safaris in Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park with a 4 day gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Top and tail with overnights in the bustling capital of Kampala.…
Trek the Rwenzori Mountains where forests morph into ice-clad mountain peaks, cut through jungle thickets to hang out with mountain gorillas, and finish your trip relaxing lakeside amongst the staggering beauty of Lake Mutanda. This is Uganda.…
The quintessence of Ugandan exploration. Start your adventure in the wild Kidepo Valley in the northern tip of Uganda before weaving down to meet the gorillas in southwestern jungles. Epic landscapes, incredible safaris, and luxury lodges; this is a proper…
Open top road trips looping through Uganda's epic southwestern pocket; this is the safari adventure of your imagination. Track chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, go in search of gorillas in Bwindi, cruise the savannah plains of Queens, and look out for…
The full western circuit complete with luxury lodges, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, and the best safaris Uganda has to offer. Close out your adventure with kayaking and canoeing on the rapids of the river Nile.…
Travel to the farthest corners of Uganda where towering volcanoes mark the border between the thick jungles of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the untamed vastness of central Africa. After trekking the gorillas in Mgahinga, head inland for a couple…
Two visits to the gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, moving through the forest along the most awesome trekking routes, and staying the night at the best lodges and exclusive camps in the park. This is Uganda gorilla trekking at…
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.
+1 315 636-4279This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Privacy policy