Explore the Ishasha Sector Queen Elizabeth National Park – Uganda Safaris : The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is a remote savannah area in the southern part of the park very shunning but less visited by the visitors on safari than the north, what many refers to as the Mweya section or the Kasenyi plains. Travelers who venture into the Ishasha sector may be rewarded with sightings of Ishasha’s most famous residents ‘’the tree climbing lions’’. During your visit to Ishasha sector, you will be able to view these lions hanging in the branches while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kobs.
This Ishasha sector is also home to other wildlife species such as many herds of buffaloes and giant African elephants and unique shoebill stork. Fact, Ishasha sector is also a convenient region to pass through on your way to or from Bwindi National Park for a Gorilla Trekking Safari in Bwindi. More so, Ishasha ranks with the most alluring game viewing areas in the country, as much as for its expression mood as it’s varied wildlife.
Wildlife at Ishasha Sector Queen Elizabeth National Park
The most celebrated residents of the Ishasha sector are the rare tree climbing lions, one of the few destinations in Africa that habitually climb trees. In East Africa, the tree climbing lions can have adventured in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park.
In the Ishasha sector is the Ishasha river, which can be explored on foot from your camp along the banks. This Ishasha river is home to healthy hippo population, more rewardable from Ishasha Wildness Camp. The fringing riparian forest hosts a good number of bushbucks, black and white colobus monkeys. The forest is an interesting home to variety of bird species including localized Cassin’ grey flycatcher, black bee –eater, broad- billed roller, shoebill, grey kestrel, African wattled plover, African green pigeon, Cisticola, Martial eagle, African crowned eagle many more.
The river is surrounded by light acacia woodland and savannah support large herds of Uganda kobs, topi, buffaloes and white elephants among others.
Ishasha Sector Game Circuits
There are two main game circuits run out of the Ishasha sector, the northern and southern loops both of which are roughly 20kilometers in length. The northern circuit that passes through the kob breeding grounds on the shores of Lake Edwards. These two circuits are more productive for spotting lions.
In Kasenyi plains, the lions stick to the kobs on which they prey, so their presence is always revealed by alarm calls from these vulnerable antelopes. A 10 kilometers road extending north from this road loop leads to the marshy shores of Lake Edward – a great site to watch water birds including the herons, storks and plovers as well as shoe bills.
What is the cost of Lion tracking in Uganda?
The lion trekking experience costs USD150 per person for international visitors and UGX100,000 for East African Member. Payment can be made directly at the Mweya information Centre or a reliable tour operator.
Where to stay while on safari in Ishasha plain;
Ishasha plains being part to the most visited safari destination in Uganda ‘Queen Elizabeth National Park ‘boosts with various classic safari accommodation ranging from budget, Mid-range and Luxury including; Ishasha Wildness Camp, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Enjojo Lodge, Savannah Resort Hotel, Ishasha Ntungwe River Lodge, @The River Ishasha among other.
Accessibility
Ishasha sector can be accessed both by road and by air;
From Kampala to Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park covers 5 to 6 hours’ drive to the main destination.
You can decide to fly by domestic flight ‘’Aero link Uganda’’ from Entebbe International Airport to Mweya Airstrip or Kasese Airstrip ‘’40 minutes’’.
