Lion Tracking Safaris

Lion Tracking Safari :  Generally, lion tracking involves one taking a close look at lions and learning their behavior. Lions with radio callers are tracked by a researcher assigned by the Uganda carnivore project-under the research department of Uganda Wildlife authority. While here, they use the radiation trackers to monitor the movement of the lions with the radio callers. Basically, lion tracking involves learning much more about the habits of the king of the jungle. However, this is more experienced in natural plains of Kasenyi with in the national park.  Additionally, lion tracking is one of the most interesting experimental tourism activities in Uganda.

Charges for this experimental activity of lion tracking in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Initially, the coast of a lion permit authorized by Uganda Wildlife Authority is $50 for international tourists and UGX 100,000 for the East African Community. $10, is paid to the Uganda carnivores’ project that is responsible for the conservation of the lions in the park.  Furthermore, this charge is inclusive of the park entrance fee to Queen Elizabeth National Park.  However, limited numbers of participants are allowed to a natural habitat. This means if you are to join the team, you have to book in advance in order to spare a place. Above all, this activity lasts 2-3 days and only twice a day; morning around 8am and late afternoon.

Why is a limited number of participants needed in the lion tracking experience?

Lion tracking is not like any other game viewing activity but more of a research. So for research purposes like collecting accurate information, a limited number of participants are permitted to engage in the lion tracking. On top of that, it is to avoid stressing the animals. Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park are not familiar to humans, so a lot of people can actually stress them. Whereby this is truly dangerous for the sustainability of the eco system. Also a limited number helps to heighten your experience during the lion tracking activity. If you are few for the activity, you can all get a chance to capture clear pictures.  Therefore, every participant  gets a chance to see the lion before it gets scared away by a lot of noise from the many excited tourists

How is lion tracking activity carried out?

Being time conscious is an awesome start on the lion tracking activity. Lion tracking technically should actually start in the morning at around 8am. The tracking of lions is done by researchers using radio callers and radiation locators to find where the lions are hiding. Likewise lions move in the groups of 3-25 individuals and these groups are called Prides.

However, the number of lions increases during the tracking activity. Therefore, it’s ideal to keep or note down the number seen first to avoid confusion. It is good to take note of the different signs that help locate the lions. For example, the nocturnal vocalizations as well as the hyenas as they laugh and any other unusual distressing call for prey. You should also take note of the bent grass in the plains. It might help you know the direction where the lion has moved. In conclusion, there is 95% chance you can see lions in savannah plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Do lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park behave different from any other lions in the World?

Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park are tree climbing lions. Therefore the lions in Ishasha are spotted lazily hanging up in the candelabra tree branches of acacia trees and sycamore trees. These lions are territorial, meaning, they make territories and they have to respect this rule. This might be the reason why they are called the king of the jungle since two kings cannot rule one kingdom.