Where Can I See Lions in Uganda?

Where Can I See Lions in Uganda? 

Lions are one of the most sought wildlife by travelers during their Uganda safaris. 80% of travelers on the Uganda safaris usually request their guides to see the lions. Uganda is located in the East African region in the Great Lakes region. The country is home to several wildlife in the different national parks and game reserves. Not only is Uganda a home to mountain gorillas but also land to see kings of the jungle. Lion tracking is one of the best safari activities done in Uganda.

Lions are one of the big cats that travelers on their Uganda safari prefer to encounter. They are also considered to be one of the big five animals since they are difficult to hunt. They contribute a lot to the ecosystem like controlling the population of the other wildlife through hunting them down for food. In Uganda, lions live for about 14 years in the wild and the jungle for about 20 years. They majorly depend much on hunting other wildlife. Female lions are the ones that carry out the major hunting. Male lions feed up to 7 kilograms of meat per day and the females feed up to 5 kilograms per day.

Facts about lions in Uganda

• Female lions weigh about 120 to 182 kilograms and male lions weigh about 150 to 250 kilograms.
• Lions roar to attract others for mating and display dominance over others
• Male lions usually develop manes at about 1 and a half years.
• Female lions are primary hunters in the jungle.

The best places to see lions in Uganda on a safari

In Uganda, lions are usually seen in most of the savannah parks and they include;

Lions in Kidepo Valley National Park

This park is found in northeastern Uganda and it is one of the isolated parks in Uganda. This is one of the less visited destinations in Uganda by travelers. Travelers on their Uganda safaris in search of lions usually engage in game drives in the search for the lions. These game drives are carried out in the Narus Valley and the Kidepo Valley. This area has fewer numbers of elephants compared to other regions. The lion population in Kidepo Valley National Park is always growing each year. Thanks to Uganda’s conservation efforts to keep these kings of the jungle. This implies that in the future the population of lions will be high.

Lions in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National is located in northwestern Uganda and it is one of the largest and most popular national parks in Uganda. The park is another great destination where travelers can see lions during a Uganda safari. During a game drive in this park, travelers engage in the different tracks to see the lions. During the search for lions, other wildlife can be seen. Lions in this park can only be spotted during the sunrise and the sunset and during this time they are more active.

Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most popular park in Uganda and is located in western Uganda crossed by the equator. More so, the park is the second-largest park in Uganda and among the most visited. The park is a great destination for travelers to track lions since it has the highest number of lions. While in this park, travelers engage in the experiential game drive to track lions and several lion species are usually found. In this park, there is a conservation program which is aiming at the conservation of the lions. Lion tracking game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park are done in the Kasenyi plains and the Ishasha sector. The Ishasha sector has lions with special characteristics of climbing trees. These lions are only found in this park in Uganda.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (Entebbe zoo)

Located in the central region near the Entebbe International Airport on the shores of Lake Victoria. The Entebbe Zoo hosts lions in captivity which travelers on their Uganda safaris can visit. The lions in this area look healthier than the ones in the wild. The feeding of these lions is always timetabled.

CTC Conservation Centre

This a private zoo located in Mpigi a few kilometers from Kampala. Here, travelers can also see lions while on a Uganda tour. The area is also in central Uganda. While in this zoo, travelers engage in the tamed lions where they have one-on-one interaction with man. During the safari in the search of the lions to this area, travelers will have the opportunity to feed the lions.

What is the best time to see the lions in Uganda?

Seeing lions in Uganda can be done throughout the year. However, during the dry season (June to September and December to February), seeing lions becomes more easy. During this time, the parks are clear and have less vegetation hence allowing more chances of seeing lions. More so, prey gathers at water sources during the dry seasons. If you are a lucky traveler, you may meet a pride of lions hunting down a buffalo at a water source. In places like Ishasha Sector, lions are seen climbing trees in broad daylight during the dry seasons. Lastly, driving through park tracks in search of lions becomes more easy. This makes life easier for lion trackers during the dry seasons.

Conclusively, the best places to see lions in Africa are found in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. What makes Uganda unique is the fact that one can combine a lion-tracking tour with many other safari activities. These include among others but are not limited to; chimpanzee tracking, mountain gorilla trekking, birding tours, wildlife safari game drives, and cultural tours. Taking part in any of these safari activities is a dream come true for many travelers. Now that you have an insight into the best places to see lions in Uganda, why don’t you book a Uganda safari now and create everlasting memories? Our team of travel experts is ready and willing to help you plan a memorable Uganda Safari.