Does lion tracking have rules?

Does lion tracking have rules? Lion tracking, does have rules and they are communicated to the trackers before they take on the tracking experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park. These rules include but are not limited to: –

• First things first; you need to purchase or obtain a lion tracking permit, before you even consider the possibility of lion tracking. So, find out the details of how to obtain one and then get it. The park management and your tour operator will be in position to guide on this.
• Follow the guide’s leading as you go and are on this tracking experience. These experiences are guided experiences and for the sake of the animals and your safety, follow the guides leading at all times.
• Maintain a level of silence while you are in the presence of the lions, tough noise causes them to move away and disappear, worst case scenario they can attack you. Also maintaining a level of silence helps you to see the animals in their natural form, without them detecting you or you watching and filming them.
• Even when you feel, you cannot see the lions properly, do not leave your car for any reason. Stay in the car always and if you must use binoculars to scan for lions in the trees.
• The jungle is very unpredictable, anything can happen so always be conscious of your surrounding for any other wildlife that may sneak out behind you to harm you. And always have an escape plan; usually the guides communicate these.
• Stick to the time you have been allocated for your tracking experience.
• As much as this would be a great experience for children, if it depends on you, kindly leave the children out of tracking experience. The experience may be more strenuous than you imagine and can leave the younger children affected.
• To have a smooth tracking day without the lions noticing you or coming at you, dress in natural colors and don’t wear strong perfume or cologne; in fact, you can do without perfume or cologne on that day.
• You will be in the car for most of the tracking, so you may not make movements, however if you need to move or shift don’t make unplanned sudden sharp movements, they will take the lions in defense mood and they may attack you.

  

• Now even when you feel you are so fascinated by the lions and want to come close to them. Please don’t. These lions don’t know human beings. They will attack you and kill you and have you for dinner. Keep a 100-meter distance between you and the lions and even if they come close to your vehicle resist the urge to touch them or feed them or whatever.
• Lastly when the lions come close to your car, stay calm and don’t make any unnecessary noises or movements, the lions will move away shortly.

These are some of the rules for lion tracking and they should be followed to the T. Also remember all lion tracking experiences are done under the guidance of a skilled and experienced guide in marked areas, for the animals’ conservation and your protection. Never go lion tracking alone. More guidelines will be communicated to you by the park management or your tour operator before your much desired lion tracking experience.

Lion tracking is done in the Ishasha part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, for tourists desiring to get an up-close and person look at the tree climbing lions. This is because these lions are only concreted in that sector. Plus, because tree climbing lions are more elusive than the non- climbing lions, they are tracked to be seen. This activity takes about 3 to 4 hours in the wild and is done ideally during the day, but even in the early morning or late evening, you will find people tracking the lions. This experience attracts a different fee from the game drive fees and you should get the figure from your tour operator or the park management. Lion tracking is done all year round at Queen Elizabeth National Park.