Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Ishasha sector is located in the Southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park and is one of the two places in Africa where tourists can find tree-climbing lions. Lions have been able to survive in this Southern part of the park alongside other plenty of wildlife including the Uganda kob, elephants, hippos, and buffalos among others. Lions have been able to escape the tsetse flies as well as the heat on the lower ground because they can climb on the fig trees and rest.

Lions in the Ishasha sector are mostly seen hanging on the tree branches of the fig trees and this is where they mostly target their prey which is mostly the antelopes that graze nearby.  Ishasha sector is also the most travelled destination in the Southern part of Queen Elizabeth as it also has a great concentration of other wildlife like herds of buffalos, elephants, and antelopes as they cross your path. Ishasha sector has also made Queen Elizabeth a popular tourist destination in Uganda because of the abundance of wildlife, flora, and fauna that tourists encounter on their trip to the park.

Birding in Ishasha Sector

Ishasha sector is notably a birding destination with lots of bird species for example on Lake Edward, birds like the stripped kingfisher, African white-backed vulture, grey woodpecker, African green pigeon, and Ross Turaco among others can be found there.

Ishasha sector is a great birding spot in Queen Elizabeth national park therefore bird lovers should come equipped with binoculars and good cameras together with a notebook for recording some important information. Tourists should note that the best time to visit the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park, especially for the birding adventure is from June to July as these are drier months whereby the park receives fewer spots of rain.

From May, April, and September to November the park receives the most rain. During this rainy season the roads are sometimes slippery and at the same time impassable. Tourists should therefore plan their trip accordingly to enjoy their birding adventure in the Pearl of Africa. From November to April, this is when Ishasha receives the most migratory birds.

Uganda Birding Safari

Guidelines for Birding in Ishasha Sector

• Tourists should keep the park clean by avoiding littering and throwing rubbish in the park. All rubbish should be kept in the car and disposed of accordingly say at a collection ground in a dustbin.
• Tourists should avoid making noise while in the park as this may scare away the birds as well as other animals in the park.
• Chasing after birds are prohibited so should be avoided.
• One should listen to the instructions from both the driver and ranger guide.

Accessibility to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Getting to the Ishasha sector by road and air transport: Ishasha is one of the prominent sectors of Queen Elizabeth national park well located in the southwestern part. Remember that Queen Elizabeth national park is the second most visited and biggest national park in Uganda after Murchison falls national park. The park is visited due to its unique tourist attractions with a variety of distinguished animals, birds, and vegetation species.

By Road

You can drive from Kampala via Mityana, Mubende, Fort Portal, and Kasese and then connect to Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth national park. Alternatively, you can drive through Masaka, and Mbarara and connect to the park as well.

By Air

Chartered or scheduled flights can be arranged from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to different points in and near the park. This can either be in Mweya or at Kasese airstrip.