On the road along the east bank of Lake Albert, one of the most beautiful scenery in Africa, it is normal to still try to digest the sublime horizons Kazinga Channel, or already dream of the last mountain gorillas Bwindi, the next destination. It's a long journey by road to Uganda Kisoro and there are few who, the horse between the ensoñaciones, decide to take a break in Ishasha, contours in southern Queen Elizabeth National Park. And that these plains bordering the Congo have a rare singularity: are home climbing lions, cats that climb to the branches of trees offering an unusual image of these predators. Hay only 40 copies in Ishasha, making a lottery search, especially if it is done outside of the rainy season. But we had to try.
These efforts require extra route, almost always, a madrugar, so that Thursday started early October, at six o'clock. From the Bush Camp the Queen Elizabeth National Park can be reached in less than two hours Ishasha Wilderness Camp, where is located the gateway. After the usual paperwork and payment of permits, we move into this savanna where soon you realize that it is a little crowded destination. Do you see a road as far as the eye. Neither lions trapeze, for the time being.
These plains bordering the Congo have a rare singularity: are home to lions climb trees branches
We decided to go the southern circuit, noted by all as the most suitable guides to see lions napping on the branches as if they were domesticated leopards. We stumbled across many antelope, topis, waterbucks y ñus, but just stop the vehicle. We look for big trees, one after another, with increasing frenzy. And when we got to the target, we surround, scrutinize the branches with joy believing child and we were startled guess a shadow that vanishes as soon as the driver begins again and looking for the next tree.
Be, our guide, tells us that the strange behavior of these animals may be a gregarious habit passed down from generation to generation or an escape of parasites in times of epidemics. Whatever the reason, often seek the shelter of the trees during the hottest hours of the day, again set foot on the ground at sunset, at the time claimed that hunting all his energies.
When we reached the goal, we surround, scrutinize the branches with joy believing child and we were startled guess a fading shadow
When the search is becoming obsessive, we stop in the Ishasha Camp for dismounting and approaching the river of the same name, Earthy flow just ten meters wide that separates the Congo to Uganda. Across jungle only, lush and haunting. And although these waters hippos proliferate, we do not see any this time. Nor do we care too, truth, because we are eager to turn to get on the road in search of feline acrobats.
What remains ahead half an hour to try. You have to take the rest and the driver understands this. Time after time, as the top of a tree rising above the forest gives swerve and, leaving the track, is directed towards it resolved. And all cherish, for a moment, the hope that, this time it, we reward. No murmur. They are magical second spur the imagination, ellipsis pursued in the air without worrying about a happy ending. We walked around the old acacia as if we were our respects. And nothing. In the following. But increasingly resigned, at the same time, unable to throw in the towel, but ahead there are still several hours away to Kisoro.
No murmur. They are magical second spur the imagination, ellipsis pursued in the air without worrying about a happy ending
But, inevitably, there comes a time when lions have to assume that the trapeze artists have decided that this may not, you're not going to be one of the lucky ones that Photoblog on a branch like a lazy cat. Do not look for that photo in this report. Not. Although, yet, wanted to write, precisely why, because they do not get it, and because my memory of those two hours that we frantically a lion among the trees is fabulous, as if we had achieved, even though we did Or if?
