The Ishasha lions
Lying along the branches.
Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0
Queen Elizabeth National Park is a large reserve in western Uganda, spanning the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi and Rukungiri. It adjoins other reserves and DR Congo's Virunga National Park, and together they surround Lake Edward. It is among the country's most varied parks, with savanna, forest, lakes and mountain views. The story begins in 1921, when a cattle epidemic and sleeping sickness drove people out of wide areas, and animals moved back in. It became a national park in the 1950s and was named for the Queen after her visit. In the 1970s and 1980s it was known as Rwenzori National Park, before its first name returned. Its best-known sight is lions climbing fig and euphorbia trees in the Ishasha sector, lying along the branches at midday. On the Kazinga Channel a boat trip brings you close to elephants, buffalo and hippos at the water, with small birds riding on the buffalo. Kob stand in the grass, with the distant Rwenzori behind them. It is about 53 km from Kasese in a straight line, about 92 km from Kibale and about 94 km from Bwindi, so it sits on the route between them. Lions in trees are not guaranteed, so ask a ranger about recent sightings. Take a game drive early in the morning and the boat in the afternoon, and bring binoculars.
Lying along the branches.
Elephants and buffalo.
Before distant mountains.
Western Uganda, between Lakes Edward and George
No, it is not guaranteed, and Ishasha is far from the park's centre, so ask about recent sightings.
Two days suit a drive and the boat, with a third for Ishasha.