Lions that can climb trees can be seen in the southern Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Rarely do lions climb trees as a habit.

Lions that climb trees can only be found in Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda. When individuals claim to have seen lions climbing trees in South Africa and Kenya, it doesn’t look as clear-cut as it does in Queen Elizabeth Park since the lions they usually see are young cubs playing in the tree branches.

However, you can sometimes see lions lounging around in the tree branches, and some of them even doze off from up there. According to study, the following are some of the details of why lions in these Ishasha savannah plains ascend high in the tree branches:

Running away from the bug bites. The grounds become overrun with tsetse fly larvae during the rainy season, which bite the local wildlife, including lions. The numerous insects on the grounds cause the lions to flee to the tree branches for safety.

Escaping the ground’s heat. The savannah frequently experiences temperatures over 28 degrees Celsius, or 80 degrees Fahrenheit, as the seasons change. For the cats, the ground is very hot due to this heat. Thankfully, they discover somewhere to cool off while hunting in the tree branches.

Stunning glimpse of the magnificent meal that these large cats eat. When looking down from a high point, it is evident that the view is expansive. When eating in the pastures, lions will scale tree branches to get a better look at their antelope prey.

The lions in the Ishasha area of the Queen Elizabeth National Park are “tree climbing” lions for the aforementioned reasons.

Wide-branched (candelabrum) trees are a favorite of the climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Sycamore, fig, and acacia trees are some of these trees. This sort of tree is preferred by lions during the rainy season because it is wide enough to provide a quiet, pleasant area to rest.

The Queen Elizabeth National Park is abundant with wildlife, including chimpanzees at Kyambura George and other primates, as well as candlestick thorns, humid rain forests, and savannah vegetation. These animals can be seen roaming the Ishasha sector, Kasenyi plains, Kazinga Channel, lakes, and other areas of the park.

The common trees the tree climbing lions climb are the sycamore fig trees and the acacia trees. The male lions of Queen Elizabeth have black manes, and they do not climb trees at dawn, only when the sun is rising.

If you snap enough pictures of the Queen Elizabeth’s unique and special lions as they grab prey or lounge about in the tree branches at home, you won’t forget your once-in-a-lifetime encounter with them.

The sycamore fig tree is beneficial to the tree climbing lions because it offers them appropriate protection from the sun and wet seasons.

Why Queen Elizabeth National Park is the Ideal Place for the Tree Climbing Lions?

Lions that can climb trees are the reason for the southern Queen Elizabeth National Park  (Ishasha fame )’s in the international tourism sector. Thousands of visitors come to the national park to see the tree-climbing lions. They are a must-see attraction and an unforgettable experience for visitors to east Africa.

Due to their rarity, the tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara, Tanzania, may leave visitors with the unfavorable impression that “maybe it’s only a hoax that there are tree climbing lions in Africa.” In contrast, a visit to Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park is a necessity for a traveler who comes to the area in order to see quite a few of them.

Visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park are left speechless and in awe by the mysteriously behaving cats (tree climbing lions) that soar to the top of the trees and cuddle there with such ease. An estimated 50 lions napping in the treetops can be seen by tourists.

You will unequivocally prove the distinct quality of the big cats of the ishasha found in queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda when you see the tree climbing leopards on one of your game drives.

After a day of hunting, they casually hung up in the tree branches to rest and let their food to properly digest. Additionally, they are seen enthusiastically approaching the small animals grazing on the ground. Thus, the trees offer the lions a comfortable lounge as well as a vantage point from which to observe their next hunt.

Is it ideal to term these cats or lions as “king “of the African jungles?

Ishasha’s  tree-climbing lions are under a lot of threat from the expanding human population in the area. For instance, on April 10, 2018, 11 dead lions were discovered in Ishasha. They allegedly had pesticide poison in their caucus when they were discovered.

Other causes, like as natural deaths and attacks by the dominant male on taxis, are contributing to the population decline of these exceptional, talented trees climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Although these lions are in risk of extinction, they continue to be a popular attraction for visitors to this African forest. Additionally, they still hold the title of “lord of the jungle,” which is a historical pride that cannot be altered.

Along with the unusual tree-climbing lions, Queen Elizabeth is home to other African big cats including leopards, as well as buffalo, hyenas, antelopes, elephants, and many other creatures.

The rest Queen Elizabeth also provides breathtaking scenic views of a true wilderness, including the moon-like Ruwenzori Mountains, magnificent crater lakes surrounding the park, and freshwater bodies like Lake Edward and George connected by the lively Kazinga Channel, where countless hippos, crocodiles, and elephants can be seen playing in the water at noon, as well as the breathtaking Kyambura George, where chimpanzees can be trekked and distant fishing opportunities.