Tree Climbing Lions in Africa

Tree Climbing Lions in Uganda and Tanzania in Lake Manyara national park offers the best safari experience on any wildlife safari adventure in Africa. Book your great and memorable adventure Africa wildlife adventure today.

Ever wondered how a lion looks when it is upon a tree, then wonder no more because Queen Elizabeth National park is the answer to your question and wonder. Tree climbing lions in Uganda can be only be found in Queen Elizabeth national park in the Ishasha sector.

As we all know it is very rare for lions to climb trees, the ones found in Queen Elizabeth Park are a rare case as it is hard to find climbing lions anywhere else as evident as it is here. You will be able to see the cubs playing and hanging in the tree branches as well as the older lions.

This is one experience that you are likely never to forget and you will be able to take videos and photos of the lions lazing around in the tree.

The lions normally climb the acacia and sycamore-fig trees and they climb the trees because the trees provide enough shelter during both the sunny and rainy season.

These lions climb the trees when the sun has risen and not before and you should also know that the male lions in Queen Elizabeth national park have unique black manes.

The tree climbing lions are uniquely built and as they laze around the trees and you will be able to enjoy watching these big cats as you drive through the Park.

The lions can be seen sitting in the trees while digesting their food and also spotting the little animals that move around the park while plotting for their next hunt.

Why Do the Lions Climb Trees?

The lions can be seen sleeping in the trees and there are reasons that people have given as to why these lions climb trees and these have been listed below:

The lions climb the trees because the view is good for spotting the various prey that can be seen loitering around the Park. These big cats can easily pounce on their food especially the antelopes without easily being noticed.

They climb trees to escape the heat from the ground and get shelter from the rain. The temperature can actually go up to 28 degrees which are not conducive to the cats hence the climbing of the trees.

The trees provide a good resting place for the cats after a long day of hunting due to the wide branches they have that can accommodate them.

The trees also protect the lions from insect bites especially tsetse flies that attack the animals, especially during the wet season.

Tree Climbing Lions in Africa

Why Queen Elizabeth is the best or ideal place for the climbing lions

There are various lions in the different parks that are found in Uganda but not all of them can climb trees. The lions that climb trees are found in Queen Elizabeth National Park and I have written down why Queen Elizabeth National Park is the best or ideal place for climbing lions.

The park has vast land which allows the animals to move around the park easily giving them freedom. It also has other animals which act as food to the lions like the Kobs, cranes, the cows from the neighboring village, the availability of the Acacia and sycamore trees also makes the park the best place for them to stay. All these conditions make it a conducive place for the lions to live.

The dangers that the tree-climbing lions face in Ishasha

These lions are threatened by the constant and fast-growing human population around the park for example in 2018 around the month of April, some lions were found dead and their cactus had insecticide poison in them which is believed to have come from the human population.

They are also faced with the problem of natural death which reduces their number drastically. The fight between the dominant males over the leader of the pride also leads to the loss of some lions in the park.

Lake Manyara national park tree climbing lions

Lake Manyara national park tree climbing lions: Lake Manyara national park is located in the Great Rift Valley in the northern part of Tanzania. The national park is part of the northern tourist circuit and although it is smaller in size it offers amazing wildlife viewing.

Close to the entrance of Lake Manyara national park is a forest where wildlife species such as baboons, bushbucks, blue monkeys among others can be spotted. The national park also consists of acacia woodland, floodplain, and savannah.

Tree climbing lions are among the wildlife species that Lake Manyara national park is famous for. These tree-climbing lions are unique and can be seen in a few other destinations like the Queen Elizabeth national park in the southwestern part of Uganda.

Sometimes even lion pride can be seen in the trees in Lake Manyara national park and this behavior among the cubs is copied from the older lions. Another reason which has been stated for the tree climbing behavior of the lions is that lions climb trees to observe their prey, to escape the heat, and also to avoid insect bites.

The tree climbing nature of lions is usually seen among the leopards that are excellent climbers and are often spotted among the trees. Lions are carnivores by nature and hunt for their prey to survive in the wild.

The types of trees which are climbed by these lions include acacia trees and sycamore trees as well as candelabras. These trees provide shelter to the lions during different seasons such as the dry season and the wet season.

These lions are not only seen among the trees in Lake Manyara national park but also around the savannah plains in the national park. The female lions can be spotted as they hunt in their groups or pride.

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