Uganda is best known for its gorillas and chimpanzees, but it’s also a rewarding place to see lions. They live in some of the country’s most beautiful savanna, from the Nile delta in Murchison to the fig trees of Ishasha. They’re also in trouble, and seeing them now, with the right operators, helps pay for their protection.
How many lions are left?
The Uganda Wildlife Authority’s State of Wildlife Resources in Uganda 2026 report gives the clearest picture. The national survey estimated 291 lions in 2022/2023, down from about 373 in 2020. Lions now live in only three parks: Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley. They’re listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN’s global Red List, but as Critically Endangered on Uganda’s national Red List.
- Murchison Falls: the stronghold. A 2024 scientific study estimated around 240 lions in the area surveyed, and UWA describes the population as relatively stable.
- Queen Elizabeth: the survey showed a steep decline. More detailed monitoring using individual recognition identified 93 lions in 22 prides in 2025, higher than earlier estimates, which UWA says reflects better counting rather than a sudden recovery.
- Kidepo Valley: the most worrying. About 132 lions were estimated in 2009, but only around 12 in a 2022 survey.
Why lions are declining
- Poisoning: when lions kill cattle, some herders retaliate by lacing carcasses with poison. Eleven lions died this way in Queen Elizabeth in 2018, and four more were poisoned there in December 2025.
- Snares: wire snares set for bushmeat maim and kill lions.
- Trade in body parts: in 2021 six lions were found dead in the Ishasha sector with parts removed.
- Habitat pressure: encroachment, invasive plants and development at park edges.
Uganda has a Strategic Action Plan for Large Carnivore Conservation (2024–2034), and UWA works with researchers and conservation groups on collaring, monitoring and community projects to reduce conflict.
Much of that work happens outside the parks. Many families living on park edges keep cattle, and a single lion attack can wipe out a household’s savings. Stronger livestock enclosures, quick compensation and a share of tourism revenue all help make lions worth more alive than dead. That’s one reason we always encourage guests to visit community projects near the parks and to buy crafts directly from local groups.
Where to see lions in Uganda
- Murchison Falls National Park: your best odds. The Buligi circuits and Delta area on the northern bank are prime lion country, with Uganda kob, buffalo and giraffe as prey.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park: the Kasenyi plains in the north for lions hunting Uganda kob, and Ishasha in the south for the famous tree-climbing lions. You can also join researchers on a lion tracking experience.
- Kidepo Valley National Park: lions are few, but a sighting on the rocky outcrops of the Narus Valley is unforgettable.
Lake Mburo, the closest savanna park to Kampala, no longer has resident lions.
Lions elsewhere in East Africa
If lions are your top priority, Uganda combines beautifully with Kenya or Tanzania. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, and the Maasai Mara in Kenya, have large, well-known prides and some of the most reliable lion viewing in Africa. Further south, Tanzania’s Ruaha and Nyerere national parks hold big lion populations in wild, uncrowded country. Many of our guests track gorillas in Uganda and then fly on for a few days of classic big-cat safari, which makes a superb two-country trip.
Where to stay
- Murchison: Red Chilli Rest Camp (budget), Pakuba Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (mid-range), and Baker’s Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge (luxury).
- Queen Elizabeth: Mweya Safari Lodge above the Kazinga Channel, Katara Lodge, or Ishasha Wilderness Camp for the south.
Good to know
- Start early. Lions are most active at dawn; by mid-morning they’re usually asleep in the shade.
- Choose responsible guides. No crowding, no revving engines, and no driving off-road where it’s not allowed.
- Your fees matter. Park and activity fees fund rangers, monitoring and community projects around the parks.
- Report what you see. Guides often share sightings with researchers, and good photos of individual lions can help with identification.
Plan it with us
We’ll build your lion safari around Murchison and Queen Elizabeth, and easily add gorillas, chimps or rhino tracking at Ziwa. Get in touch and we’ll suggest the right route and season for you.
