Lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park: The purpose of lion tracking is to allow visitors to spend more time with the approximately 250 lions that may be seen in Queen Elizabeth National Park. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, visitors can track down lions and spend time with them by participating in the lion tracking experience.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the only national park in Uganda where the lion tracking activity is conducted. One of the Ugandan areas where you will undoubtedly spot lions while on safari is Queen Elizabeth National Park. The majority of the park’s sections are home to these typical lions, whereas the Ishasha section of the park is home to lions that climb trees.
The districts of Kasese, Rukungiri, and Rubirizi in western Uganda are home to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Ugandan government gazetted it in 1952 to safeguard a variety of wildlife species and other attractions, including 600 bird species, 10 primates, and 95 mammals. Four of the five major mammals—lions, buffaloes, elephants, and leopards—can be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The only location in Uganda where lion tracking is done is Queen Elizabeth National Park, which has the greatest concentration of lions. It is carried out inside the park on the Kasenyi plains, where many of these cats actually reside. Although there is no lion tracking in the Ishasha sector, visitors who wish to witness lions climbing trees can go on game drives in the area.
The lion tracking experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Lion tracking is a necessary pastime for those who like to get up close and personal with the lions. In Queen Elizabeth National Park’s northern sector, lion tracking is conducted in the morning and evening. Armed ranger guides oversee the action; their job is to keep visitors safe from these hazardous creatures and to teach them appropriate behavior.
Researchers are also involved in the tracking of lions, and their job is to gather the lions’ DNA, urine, saliva, blood, and ticks. These researchers, who are part of the Uganda Carnival program, collaborate with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to safeguard and preserve predators in all national park operations.
A pride of lions, always led by a lioness with a radio collar on her neck, is found by the armed ranger guides using tracking equipment. When a pride of lions is discovered, tourists are given the opportunity to spend time with the lions and observe their daily activities, such as eating, playing, coupling, grooming young, hunting, and much more. This makes the search for lions quick because tracking devices are used.
Drivers are permitted to veer off course during the activity at Queen Elizabeth National Park since lions are occasionally spotted far from the intended routes. Unlike regular game driving activities, where you are not allowed to leave the game tracks, this is perfectly acceptable, and there is no punishment.
In addition to lions, visitors can encounter buffaloes, elephants, spotted hyenas, leopards, warthogs, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, huge forest hogs, topis, and oribis during the lion tracking activity at Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birdwatchers will also enjoy birds including African cuckoo hawks, European honey buzzards, yellow-throated longclaws, red-throated spurfowls, and grey-crowned cranes.
How much is lion tracking?
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, this is an activity that costs money. To participate, visitors need a permit, which they may purchase from the park’s headquarters or the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The cost of each lion tracking permit is $200 for foreign non-residents, $150 for foreign residents, and UGX 200,000 for inhabitants of East Africa.
Best time to do lion tracking?
While it is possible to track lions during a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park at any time of year, some seasons are better than others. The best time to do lion tracking to monitor lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. The vegetation is short and dispersed during this time, making it easy to spot lions, and the game vehicles are dry and passable.
During the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November, tourists can still track lions. This is advantageous for those on a tight budget because the lodges are much reduced. Travelers planning to track lions during the rainy season should be aware that the vegetation is dense and tall, making it difficult to see the lions, and the game trucks are muddy and slick from heavy rains.
In addition to tracking lions, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a plethora of other activities, such as game drives where visitors can see the majority of park animals, boat cruises on Kazinga Channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, bird watching, nature walks, and community tours. On a safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may combine all of these activities with lion tracking.
Accommodation on a lion tracking safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
There are numerous lodging options within Queen Elizabeth National Park, making it impossible for visitors who come to track lions and other park activities to miss their accommodations. Because lodges range from economy to mid-range to luxury alternatives, where you stay in the park depends on your trip budget.
Mweya Safari Lodge, Marafiki Safari Lodge, Enjojo Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Elephant Hub Lodge, River Ishasha Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Tembo Safari Lodge, and Kyambura Gorge Lodge are just a few of the lodges found in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Getting to the park
Travelers can use plane or road transportation to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park in a single day for lion tracking and other activities. The quickest way to reach Queen Elizabeth National Park is by air, which takes one hour and fifteen minutes. Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda operate flights from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airport to the park’s Mweya and Kasese airports.
Although taking a road trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park takes a little longer, visitors can enjoy fantastic views of the stops along the way. There are two roads that lead from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, and Rubirizi. The alternative path leads to the park from Kampala via Mubende, Kyenjonjo, Fort Portal, and Kasese.