The lion trekking experience is a popular activity in Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Uganda.
It is usually conducted in the Kasenyi vicinity, a common habitat for lions. This activity involves moving around the park with the assistance and protection of a knowledgeable tour guide and security personnel, allowing tourists to learn about lion behavior, such as living in the same territory for generations, forming prides, and female lions hunting for the pride.
Tour guides provide detailed information about the lions, allowing tourists to observe them up close.
Best Time for Lion Trekking
This compelling activity is typically carried out in the early morning, when lions are actively searching for prey, or in the evenings, when they hunt animals that are less alert in the dark.
Tourists tend to visit during the dry seasons, particularly in areas near waterholes, since the national park has shorter vegetation during these periods due to the intense heat drying it out.
During these seasons, lions move in groups known as prides and coalitions, giving tourists the opportunity to spot numerous lions in one outing.
Lion Trekking Permits
A lion trekking permit at Queen Elizabeth National Park costs $200 per person for non-residents and 140,000 UGX per person for East African citizens.
Other Activities at Queen Elizabeth National Park
Bird watching can be enjoyed in sectors such as the Ishasha sector, Kazinga Channel, Mweya Peninsula, and Maramagambo Forest. The park is a bird watcher’s paradise, with over 600 recorded bird species.
Chimpanzee trekking takes place in the tropical rainforest, where tourists can observe chimpanzees pant-grunting and swinging from tree to tree. This activity is usually done in the early morning.
Nature walks and game drives allow tourists to explore the park while observing different animal species, including carnivores, herbivores, reptiles, and primates.
A boat trip at Kazinga Channel, a water body connecting Lake Edward and Lake George, gives visitors the chance to view crocodiles and hippos in the water, with trips typically conducted in the morning and afternoon.
Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is situated in western Uganda, and travel time to reach the park is 7 to 8 hours, depending on the chosen means of transport and route.
Making the Most of Your Visit
Combining lion trekking with the park’s other signature activities, such as a Kazinga Channel boat cruise or a morning of chimpanzee trekking in Maramagambo Forest, gives visitors a fuller picture of what Queen Elizabeth National Park has to offer beyond its famous tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector.
