In the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, close to Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, lies Ishasha — a quieter part of the park known for one of East Africa’s most unusual wildlife behaviours.

Here, lions climb trees.

It is not simply an occasional sighting of a lion scrambling onto a low branch. Ishasha’s lions are well known for spending considerable periods resting in the branches of large fig trees, looking out across the surrounding savannah. The behaviour has become closely associated with the sector and is one of the reasons Ishasha holds such a distinctive place on Uganda’s safari map. Uganda Wildlife Authority itself identifies the tree-climbing lions as one of Queen Elizabeth National Park’s signature attractions.

For a safari traveller, seeing a lion at ground level is already special. Finding one stretched across a tree branch, sometimes several metres above the vehicle, is an entirely different encounter.

The landscape around Ishasha is a mixture of open grassland, woodland and riverine vegetation. Among the trees are mature figs with strong, low branches that can support the weight of an adult lion. UWA’s management plan specifically notes the relationship between these fig trees and the tree-climbing behaviour seen in Ishasha.

The reason lions climb trees is not completely settled. Several explanations have been suggested, including escaping ground-level insects, finding a cooler resting place, and gaining a better view across the plains. Rather than one confirmed explanation, the behaviour appears to be associated with the particular conditions of the Ishasha landscape and the lions that live there.

What makes the sighting especially interesting is the contrast. Lions are powerful terrestrial predators, yet from a distance they can look almost relaxed and domestic when draped over a broad branch — until you notice the size of the paws, the heavy head and the eyes following movement below.

There is also an important conservation story behind these animals. UWA and the Wildlife Conservation Society launched an Ishasha collaborative conservation programme in September 2026 following a significant decline in the local lion population. UWA reported that only three known adult lions remained in Ishasha at the time of the programme’s launch, highlighting the need for stronger protection, monitoring and community engagement.

That makes a visit to Ishasha about more than finding a remarkable photograph. It is also an opportunity to appreciate a population that is facing real conservation pressures.

Ishasha deserves time in its own right, even when the lions are not in the trees.

The sector has extensive grasslands and woodland along the Ishasha River, supporting a variety of wildlife and bird species. UWA’s management planning documents also identify Ishasha as an important area for topi, while elephants, buffalo, hippos and several antelope species can be encountered during game drives.

The quieter character of southern Queen Elizabeth can be part of its appeal. Rather than moving constantly between sightings, a good game drive here can involve slowing down, scanning the trees and reading the landscape for signs of movement.

And sometimes the most memorable sighting is not immediately obvious.

A lion may be hidden behind foliage. Another may be lying so still on a branch that it takes a guide’s trained eye to find it. You may spend time watching a herd of topi before suddenly noticing a lion looking down from a nearby fig.

That element of searching is part of the Ishasha experience.

There is no guarantee that lions will be in the trees on any particular drive. They are wild animals, and their behaviour changes with weather, temperature, movement of prey and the wider conditions of the ecosystem.

This is why time and patience matter.

Early and late game drives can offer good opportunities for wildlife activity, while the changing light can also bring out the colours of the savannah and the silhouettes of animals in the trees. For photographers, Ishasha rewards patience more than simply having a long lens.

A knowledgeable guide can make a considerable difference — not by promising a sighting, but by understanding the landscape, reading tracks and animal behaviour, and knowing where to spend time looking.

For wildlife photographers, the setting itself adds another dimension. A lion on a low fig branch can be photographed against open grassland, woodland or distant hills, creating images that look very different from conventional ground-level lion photographs.

Ishasha also fits naturally into a wider southwestern Uganda safari.

The sector lies on the route used by travellers continuing towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, making it possible to combine tree-climbing lion viewing with gorilla trekking. UWA notes Ishasha as one of the approaches to Bwindi and places the sector roughly 64 kilometres from Buhoma.

This combination creates a particularly diverse journey: open savannah and predators in Ishasha followed by the dense montane forest of Bwindi and the search for mountain gorillas.

For travellers with more time, Ishasha can also be incorporated into a broader Queen Elizabeth safari, with the Kazinga Channel, crater lakes and other wildlife areas further north.

Ishasha works particularly well for travellers who enjoy wildlife beyond the standard safari circuit — especially those interested in predators, photography, birding and quieter game-viewing experiences.

A 4WD safari vehicle is important for travelling through this part of southwestern Uganda, particularly when road conditions are affected by rain. The sector can also be combined with Bwindi without having to treat the two destinations as separate trips.

Most importantly, come with realistic expectations. The tree-climbing lions are famous precisely because the behaviour is unusual. You may find them resting high in the branches, or you may spend a morning searching the fig trees and find them elsewhere.

That uncertainty is part of being on safari.

At Wild Compass Africa, we combine Ishasha with the wider southwestern Uganda safari experience according to the time available and interests of each traveller.

Whether the focus is wildlife photography, a private safari, gorilla trekking or a longer journey through Uganda, we plan the route around the experience rather than simply moving from one lodge to another.

Ishasha is a place worth slowing down for — and when a lion is resting above you in the branches of a fig tree, you will understand why.