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Best places to see lions in Africa

The best places to see lions in Africa on your African lion safari (where are lions in Africa?)

Posted by Andrew Hofmeyr on January 22 2024 in African Wildlife Enquire Now!

The most iconic animal in Africa, the lion is synonymous with the African safari experience. So, where are lions in Africa? If you are planning an African lion safari or dreaming of seeing these African big cats in the wild one day, this post will tell you all you need to know about the best places to see lions in Africa.

Lions used to roam freely across most of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. As human populations developed and expanded, lions have gradually been confined to smaller and smaller habitats. Today, populations of wild African lions are limited to major African parks where there is enough food for these majestic predators, as well as sufficient land for them to roam. 

The best places to see lions in Africa (in the wild) are in southern and eastern Africa. In particular, the best African lion safari countries include Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. 

While all lions in Africa are the same species ( Pantera Leo) , not all lion safari destinations are equal. While you can see these apex predators in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, different destinations promise different kinds of African lion safari sightings. Remembering that African lions are wild animals and that sightings are never guaranteed, certain African lion safari destinations have developed reputations for particular kinds of lion sightings.

Where are lions in Africa? Kruger, South Africa

This guide answers the question, "Where are lions in Africa?" and looks at the best places to see lions in Africa. From tree-climbing and desert lions to the densest African lion populations, the fiercest lions, and the wildest lion safari destinations. Read on to find out everything you need to know about lion safari destinations in Africa.

African lion safari in Masai Mara, Kenya

See Lions in Africa  to get tips for your African lion safari and find out all about these African big cats.

1. Where are lions in Africa the most abundant? - Serengeti and Masai Mara

The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is famous for having the highest population density of lions in Africa, making it one of the very best places to see lions in Africa. Lion numbers are dependent on food and space. With the continuous migration of over 2 million wildebeest, zebra, and other antelope, lion numbers are not surprisingly high. In terms of sheer abundance, the setting of the Great Migration  cannot be beaten. Spanning Kenya and Tanzania, the open savannah landscape of the Serengeti-Mara plains is a fantastic spot for an African lion safari. 

“Nowhere else in Africa supports quite such a concentrated abundance of hoofed meat, amid such open landscape, and therefore the Serengeti is a glorious place for lions and an ideal site for lion researchers” 

– David Quammen, National Geographic Magazine

To see lions on safari in Tanzania you should visit the Serengeti National Park. The Seronera region of central Serengeti is famous for lion safari sightings. High season from July to October, has amazing lion sightings as well as some remarkable game viewing. If the drama of the Grumeti and Mara River crossing is on your hit list, you should visit from June to September. If you are not a fan of large crowds then the low season, November to March, will give you a more relaxed atmosphere in which to seek out the roaming lion prides that call the Serengeti home.

  • Serengeti Safari Packages

In Kenya, the top African lion safari destination is the Masai Mara National Park. The lions here were made famous by the BBC nature documentary series “The Big Cat Diary”. The Masai Mara high season starts around July when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest begin migrating across the Mara River into the Masai Mara National Reserve from the Serengeti. The wildebeest herds follow the fresh and succulent grasses that come after good rains. Remember that lions do not migrate. Pride lands are set up along the migration routes and the lions merely exploit the movement of these animals. In addition to the lions, the Masai Mara is also famous for cheetah populations that thrive on the wide-open grasslands.

  • Masai Mara Safaris

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Duba plains lion safari in Botswana

2. Where are the biggest lions in Africa? - Duba Plains

The biggest lions in Africa are found on the Duba Plains in Botswana. Permanent water and nutritious grasses make the Duba Plains in the northern reaches of the Okavango Delta the perfect habitat for buffalo. Lions love buffalo. Almost a ton of meat that kicks and stabs with horns is a worthy prey for the king of the jungle.

The Duba Plains lions have evolved into powerful and unique specimens which is why this is one of the best places to see lions in Africa. They are the only (known) group of lions that seem to enjoy the water. Furthermore, constantly running through shallow water and taking down buffalo is the kind of workout that has resulted in the Duba Plains lions being about 15% larger than other lions. Another unique quirk is that these lions have adapted to hunt during the day, which is perfect for some epic game encounters.

The Duba Plains have pleasant daytime temperatures from March to August, but August is the most popular amongst safari-goers to the Delta. Temperatures are mild and slipping through the canals on a mokoro amongst the throngs of animals is one of the highlights of any safari adventure in Africa.

  • Okavango Delta Safaris  

Savuti lions in Africa

3. Where are lions in Africa the most ferocious? - Savuti Marsh

In the arid Savuti region of Chobe National Park, a mega-pride of 30 lions faced an unprecedented challenge when the Savuti channel dried up. With a decline in water and lush vegetation, the ungulate population dwindled, posing a serious threat to the predators' food supply.

In a remarkable display of adaptability, the mega-pride formed and turned to an unconventional but abundant source: elephants. Forced by the necessity to target these massive creatures, the lions of Savuti became skilled elephant hunters, successfully taking down an estimated 74 elephants over three years. This extraordinary behaviour, which has been passed down through generations, defies traditional notions of lion prey preferences and draws wildlife enthusiasts and filmmakers to the Savuti region, eager to witness and document this unique survival strategy. Today this part of Chobe is still one of the most exciting destinations for an African lion safari.

  • Savuti Marsh Tours

Lion hunt, Serengeti safari in Africa

4. The best place to see lions in Africa hunting

The best places to see lions in Africa hunt are the banks of the Mara River in the Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya and at the southern end of the Serengeti, during the calving season. Both locations are saturated with wildebeest at different times of the Great Wildebeest Migration . The wide-open plains are gold for those looking to witness the power of African lions hunting and the drama of a lion kill.

At the Mara River, the most iconic point of the great wildebeest migration, animals queue on mass to cross the perilous, crocodile-infested waters. The lions are waiting in ambush and between July and August is a great time to witness this spectacle.

Wildebeest calving season happens in January and March. At the southern end of the Serengeti. The wildebeest gather, near Maswa and Ngorongoro, to have their young before the northward migration begins. Young animals must learn to run within minutes. Lions lie in wait for the comparatively easy pickings.

Difficult to stomach but fascinating to watch, lions in action – doing what lions do – is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not for the faint of heart.

  • Masai Mara Safaris  (Kenya)

Sabi Sands lion safari in Africa

5. The best places for an African lion safari in Kruger National Park

Southern Africa’s most famous and most iconic national park is a must-visit for an African lion safari. Located in South Africa, the Kruger National Park is not only SA’s premier safari destination but also home to the majority of South Africa’s wild lions. This reserve is roughly (at just under 20,000 km²) the size of Wales. So if it is a lion safari you are after, you need to pay special attention to geography and climate.

Hot and dry in the northern reaches of the park, the lion density is about 6 lions per 100 km². This is because prey is harder to come by. It means that your odds of seeing what you came for are lower. South and central, where there is higher rainfall and therefore more vegetation, supports a greater number of herbivores and the lion population is almost twice that of the north. That means you are twice as likely to meet these majestic beasts. However, south and central Kruger is still pretty broad.

The best place for an African lion safari in the wilds of Kruger National Park is Sabi Sands.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve, part of Greater Kruger National Park, is one of South Africa’s top game viewing destinations. This private reserve has unparalleled game viewing due to abundant water and restricted access. While day visitors are not allowed, and only guided safaris are offered, these guides and safari vehicles have unrestricted movement around the reserve. Sabi Sands is renowned for its Big Five safari experiences, especially sightings of the big cats, lion, and leopard. Of the best places to see lions in Africa, this is one of our top favourites.

  • Kruger National Park Safaris
  • Sabi Sands Safaris

White lion safari, Timbavati

6. Where are white lions in Africa? - Timbavati

The white lions of timbavati have captured the imaginations of the west since the publication of chris mcbride’s 1977 book,  the white lions of timbavati . sacred to the local tsonga people, “tsimba vati”, directly translated, means the place where the star lions fell to earth. these lions are sacred, mystical, and revered. the result of a genetic mutation called leucism, white lions are extremely rare..

“Timbavati Private Nature remains the only reserve in the world … where wild white lions occur regularly and naturally” William Sonnenberg

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, north of Sabi Sands and part of the Greater Kruger National Park , is singular in the naturally occurring white lions. Occurring in two forms; white with blue eyes and pink lips, noses, and pads and brown eyes with black lips, noses, and pads. Reserved for only a lucky few, an encounter with these lions is described by many as a spiritual encounter.

In the late ’70s, two of these cubs were moved to Johannesburg Zoo for a breeding program. The resulting offspring are the estimated 400 captive white lions found around the world. 

  • Timbavati Safaris

Kalahari lions in Africa

7. Where to see black-maned desert lions? - Kalahari Desert

The best place to see the black-maned lions of the Kalahari is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park spans northern South Africa and Botswana and shares a border with Namibia to the west. The best time to visit the park is between the dry winter months of April and October. With little water available, animals congregate near permanent water sources. Chances of seeing special animals like the black manes lions increase as the bush thins and foliage dies off.  

Black-maned desert lions are masters of the desert environment. More light-weight and slender with longer legs and larger feet, these desert-adapted lions are built for endurance. Their fur is pale gold and males sport a distinctive black mane. While large lion prides are the norm in game-rich wildlife reserves like Kruger and the Serengeti, in arid regions, prides can consist of a single mating pair, up to small prides of six members. The black-maned Kalahari Desert lions are rare and have become an icon of survival. Scientists believe that the black manes may indicate higher levels of testosterone and in turn, these black manes are more attractive to female lions.

Tsavo lion on safari in Kenya

8. Where are the man-eating lions in Africa? - Selous and Tsavo

Yes, that’s right—mane-less lions. Scientists are unsure exactly why these males do not have manes. It’s a bit of a mystery as sometimes mane-less lions are born in the same litter as maned lions in Africa. Mane-less lions are real, and if you are a lion connoisseur, then head to the Selous Game Reserve of Tanzania. Here, mane-less lions are fairly common and are often the dominant males in their area.

A man-eater is something else altogether. Did you know that the famous man-eaters of Tsavo were mane-less? Between March and December 1898 a pair of male lions reportedly killed around 130 construction workers. Eventually, the rouge lions were shot and after being used as a carpet for a few years were sold to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, USA, where they are on display today.

You can visit the site of these legendary killers and even stay at the Man-eaters Camp. The male lions at Tsavo in Kenya, generally do not have manes. The best time to visit Tsavo is between June and October and in January and February. At these times the game viewing is best and you might just get a glimpse of descendants of the legendary man-eaters of Tsavo.

  • Selous Safaris in Tanzania  
  • Tsavo Safaris in Kenya

Ngorongoro Crater - best places to see lions

9. Best African lion safari day trips (Big 5 Safaris): Ngorongoro Crater

Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area is part of the Serengeti Biosphere Reserve. Unique among African safari destinations, the Ngorongoro Crater is a large volcanic  caldera . Encircled by the surrounding highlands, Ngorongoro is a wildlife haven. It is an ideal place to get close to wild lions in Africa as it boasts 5 prides on the crater floor. Lion sightings are almost guaranteed on safaris here thus Ngorongoro Crater is consistently rated as one of the best places to see lions in Africa.

The setting for the nearly 30,000 game animals that inhabit the crater floor is really extraordinary. Top African lion safari tip: go early to avoid the crowds, with one way in and one way out, visiting Ngorongoro Crater can get pretty busy. You can visit the wildlife-rich crater on a day trip from Arusha. 

  • Ngorongoro Crater Safaris

Africa lions, Botswana safari in Duba

10. Best place to see lion and predator clashes: Chobe

Chobe National Park in Botswana is well known for its lion versus hyena predator clashes. Savuti, in the southern reaches of Chobe, is famous for its predator-rich safari sightings. With large prides of lions, hyenas, and leopards patrolling the woodlands these predators often clash over both territory and food. Savuti is hands down one of the best places to see lions and other predators clash.

  • Chobe Safari Tours

African lion safari in South Luangwa, Zambia

11. Best African lion safari on foot: Zambia walking safari

Historically speaking, South Luangwa National Park is where walking safaris were pioneered. Zambia’s Luangwa Valley is home to a large population of African lions and the perfect place to do a walking safari.

When you walk in the African bush – without the safety of a vehicle – you become another animal, a part of the environment. There is something primal about this experience that is utterly unique. Walking safaris are designed for full immersion. You will leave behind the well-traveled roads and head off the beaten track. In Luangwa, you can do anything from a morning stroll to a multi-day action-packed hike, walking in the tracks of lions. Undoubtedly one of the best places to see lions in Africa, South Luangwa is arguably the best place for an African lion safari on foot!

  • South Luangwa Safaris

Pilanesberg Big 5 safari lion

12. Best big cities for an African lion safari: Nairobi, Cape Town, Johannesburg

Despite being famous for Big 5 safaris, African countries are modernizing and Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Nairobi are modern and cosmopolitan destinations. Cape Town is a tourist mecca, considered by many to be the most beautiful city in the world. Isn’t it reassuring to know that despite their very concrete existence in the modern world, you can still see lions only a short distance away?

Nairobi Lion Safari

Nairobi National Park is just 7km (4 miles) away from the heart of Nairobi. Lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalos roam these Kenyan plains against the backdrop of the Nairobi city skyline. The proximity to a big city is unheard of.

  • Safaris departing from Nairobi

Cape Town Lion Safari

The last lion was shot in Cape Town in 1802. These days, visitors to Cape Town will have to travel a little further to see lions and the other Big 5 animals, although not as far as you might think.

Here are the best  Big 5 game reserves near Cape Town , including Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (3hour drive), Inverdoorn Game Reserve (2.5-hour drive), Aquila Private Game Reserve (2-hour drive) and the Garden Route Game Lodge (3.5-hour drive).

These private game reserves are all malaria-free, affordable, and, most importantly, home to a variety of wild animals including the Big 5 animals of Africa. 

  • Cape Town Safaris & Tours
  • Sanbona Safaris
  • Inverdoorn Safaris
  • Aquilla Safaris

Johannesburg Lion Safari

Johannesburg is not usually associated with lions and African lion safaris. However, if you have flown across the globe, a 4.5-hour drive to South Africa’s premier safari destination is not too bad. Kruger Park is world-renowned for good reason. The best place to see lions in Kruger National Park is south and central, with Sabi Sands being the top pick.

However, if this is a stretch too far, the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve is only 2.5 hours north-west of the big bad city. Pilanesberg is a fantastic Big 5 safari destination. The campsites are brilliant and the game viewing is excellent. Lions, elephants, and rhinos are common as well as a host of other herbivores. So close to both Pretoria and Johannesburg, that if you are pressed for time, it’s a no-brainer.

  • Pilanesberg Safaris
  • Kruger National Park Tours

Ruaha lion safari Tanzania

13. Wildest places for African lion safaris: Ruhua and Niassa

To see African lions off the beaten path in wild terrain, you can visit Niassa Game Reserve in Mozambique or Ruaha in Tanzania. There are a few places where man has not yet made his mark. For example, while the Okovango is wild, it is also one of the most sought-after safari destinations. East Africa's most popular bucket list reserves are the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. These destinations are popular for a reason but you are not going to get that alone-in-Africa, wild sort of feeling. Niassa and Ruaha are growing in popularity because of their unspoiled allure.

The Niassa Game Reserve in northern Mozambique is a fantastic lion safari destination. Difficult to access because of poor infrastructure, once there, the game viewing is indescribable. For years the reserve was lost to the public because of civil war. The war, though terrible, kept Niassa remote and wild. Today, the reserve is home to prolific game including thousands of elephants, healthy populations of African Painted Wolves as well as lions, hyenas, and large herds of herbivores. Niassa has three endemic species Niassa Wildebeest, Johnstons Impala, and Boehms Zebra. The exciting thing about Niassa Reserve is that it is part of a proposed Selous-Niassa Wildlife Protection Corridor. This vast corridor would link reserves in southern Tanzania with those in northern Mozambique, creating the largest protected wildlife park on earth!

In Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, when viewing lions, you are likely to have the sighting all to yourself. Hidden away in central Tanzania and part of the 45000km2 Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi  ecosystem , Ruaha has fewer than 6000 safari-goers per year. That translates to about 16 visitors a day! This makes Ruaha one of East Africa’s hidden treasures.

The park itself has some remarkable draw cards. Wildly beautiful scenery studded with baobabs, Ruaha is home to 10% of the world's remaining lion population. In the Mwagusi area, African lion safari sightings are particularly good but in general, the density of predators in the park is some of the best in the country. Lastly, because of its remote location, Ruaha is excellent value for money and a brilliant African Budget safari option.

  • Ruaha Safaris in Tanzania

Tree climbing lions in Africa

14. Where are lions in Africa climbing trees?

Tree-climbing lions are a thing, and there are a few places where the behaviour is more common. So where are lions in Africa known to do this? Tree-climbing lions are most commonly sighted in East Africa, especially Tanzania and Uganda, with rarer sightings further south in sub-Saharan Africa. The best places to spot tree-climbing lions in Africa are Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, and Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. The novelty of witnessing lions climbing trees makes these parks some of the best places to see lions in Africa, with a twist.

Find out where to see tree-climbing lions on safari:  Best place to see tree-climbing lions in Africa

  • Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Lake Manyara National Park

Kruger lion safari in South Africa

15. The most affordable African lion safari packages

There are many different kinds of African safari, and costs will depend on the destination, duration, season, number of people, and more. For more detailed information you can read our African Safari Cost  page, but for now, here is a list of our most affordable African lion safari destinations and packages.

  • Sanbona Wildlife Reserve near Cape Town
  • The Kruger National Park , including Sabi Sands and Timbavati
  • Etosha National Park in Namibia
  • Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe
  • Chobe National Park in Botswana

African lions safari in Serengeti, Tanzania

Plan an affordable African lion safari

There you have it, the best places to see lions in Africa, in a nutshell. If you'd like to see wild lions in Africa, African Budget Safaris has a huge selection of African safari tours to choose from.

Dive in and start planning with tips for your African lion safari and all about these African big cats . Or, get in touch with one of our passionate and knowledgeable travel experts to ask them any questions that you might have about lions, African lion safaris, or travelling to Africa in general. 

African Budget Safaris specializes in private and tailor-made African Safaris on a budget, so we can customize a private African lion safari that is just right for you. 

Contact African Budget Safaris today.

If you liked this post, these trips cover similar ground…

  • 2 Day Big 5 Cape Town Safari to Aquila Game Reserve - Budget Lodge Tour
  • 3 Day Cape Town Safari - Big 5 Budget Tour
  • Full Day Addo Elephant Park Big 5 Safari
  • Big 5 Cape Town Safari to Aquila Game Reserve - Budget Day Tour

About the Author

Andrew hofmeyr naturalist, artist & writer.

Andrew Hofmeyr

Places Mentioned in this Post

Map

1. Timbavati Game Reserve, Hoedspruit, 1380, South Africa

2. Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Portion 4, Shaws Gate, shaws gate, Kruger, 1350, South Africa

3. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, R62, Montagu, 6720, South Africa

4. Tanzania

5. Ngamiland West, Botswana

6. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, R360, Upington, 8800, South Africa

7. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

8. Serengeti, Tanzania

9. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Ngiro-are Road, Kenya

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African Lion Safaris

Encounters with the icon of africa.

The true icon of Africa’s Big Five, the African lion is the symbol of strength and power, the epitome of any safari to wild Africa. Today, catching sight of this apex predator is one of the most sought-after prizes for almost every safari-goer, with regal prides located from East to South.

Observing the social aspect of lions' lives is one of the most memorable elements of an encounter with the species. Out on the wild African plains, females stalk big game as they feed on tasty grasses, prides nap in the shade and cubs play under the watchful eye of their mothers as males fight for the crown. Exploring via game drives and even walking safaris, witness the wild behaviours of these magnificent mammals.

Where can you see the African Lion?

African Lions are found in sub-Saharan Africa, with 80% of the population in eastern or southern Africa and three of the five largest populations in Tanzania. African Lions used to be found across most of the continent, but in recent decades they have disappeared from 12 sub-Saharan countries.

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THE AFRICAN LION

  • Lions are notably the only sociable big cat, with prides formed of a few muscular males, crowned with a thick mane and measuring up to 3.5m long and up to 272kg.
  • Most of the hunting is done by the smaller more agile females, weighing between 110 kg and 168 kg, who will work together to hunt anything from small antelope up to buffalo and even giraffe; in Savuti in Botswana, they have learnt to hunt young elephant.
  • The males will often get involved to help tackle the dangerous animals. Males have a large mane of hair which can be beige or black depending on the individual and the area they live in.

Contact us for a bespoke quote

African Lion Safari Destinations

  • Masai Mara National Reserve: A great place to see lions year-round in the flat, wide and open plains of the Masai Mara. In July, 2 million wildebeest cross the Mara River under the eyes of the hungry lions.
  • Serengeti National Park: Three of the five largest lion populations are in Tanzania and the Serengeti is one of the best spots to see lions due to the availability of food and the million wildebeest.
  • In Southern Tanzania, Ruaha National Park is one of Africas hidden treasures with only 6000 visitors a year. Second to the Serengeti, Ruaha is home to 10% of the worlds lion population so there is great opportunities to see lions around less safari vehicles.
  • The Ngorongoro Crater offers the oppourtunity to see the Big 5 in a different setting, in the worlds largest inactive volcanic caldera.
  • Okavango Delta: The Okavango Delta is the best place to see water-adapted lions in Africa, these lions are 15% larger than others and have adapted to hunting during the day when the buffalo are grazing. The permanent water and nutritious grasses makes the Okavango Delta the perfect habitat for buffalo and you may witness lions fighting them here.
  • Kruger National Park: Most of South Africa’s lions can be found in Kruger National Park. Being the size of Wales, it can be hard to find them, but South Kruger has way more lions as it is wetter and greener. We recommend staying at Sabi Sands, which is one of the most reliable places to see lions in Africa. Timbavati is also the best place to see white lions in Africa.

Lions are highly adaptable, and in Namibia you will find ‘desert-adapted’ or ‘desert-lions’, that have adapted to survive in the harsh landscape of little vegetation and prey. The best places to see lions in Namibia is in Kaokoveld and Damaraland, but be aware these lions are nomadic and you are not guaranteed to see them.

Classic Kenya Safari

An exciting family safari, exploring the masai mara....

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Luxury South Africa Safari

Relax in the ultimate luxury of your lodge after encountering the African big cats whilst out on safari with your expert guide. Spend time on the coast of Cape Town exploring historic Robben Island and the rugged rocks of beautiful Cape Point. Visit Hermanus, a world-renowned whale watching destination, take the opportunity to see both black and white rhino in one place and even search for the rare white Lion in Timbavati Game Reserve.

TAN St Tanzania Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Shutterstock Todd Grimsley

Classic Tanzania Safari

This Tanzania highlights small group safari takes you to the heart of the action trying to catch sight of the migration, witness wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater and enjoy an option hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti.

NAM St Namibia Etosha Zebra Shutterstock Udo Kieslich

Small Group Namibia Safari

This expertly-guided small group trip consisting of a maximum of seven guests takes in the highlights of Namibia. Over the course of this ten day trip you will get to visit the iconic towering dunes at Sossusvlei, the coast and wildlife at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, the desert-adapted wildlife and unique rock formations of Damaraland, rewarding wildlife viewing in Etosha National Park and an educational tour of the AfriCat Foundation at Okonjima.

Aerial Botswana Kwedi Concession Vumbura Plains Dana Allen

Okavango Delta Botswana Safari

With around a week to spend in Botswana we suggest combining Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta, staying in both a 'wet' camp and 'dry' camp in the Delta to really get a feel for the iconic landscapes of Botswana. You'll get to explore this vast area that includes wide-open floodplains, waterways, marshes and lagoons. This may also include an example of what you may do on days, like two or three nights in Chobe National Park, two or three nights in the Okavango Delta, and two nights in another camp in the Okavango Delta.

African Lion Conservation

In just 25 years, Africa’s lion population dramatically dropped with only 50% of their numbers remaining across the iconic landscapes of the continent. The IUCN classified these majestic creatures as “vulnerable” as a result, a subject of habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal wildlife trade, poaching and human-lion conflict.

It was as a result of this revelation that the Lionscape Coalition was formed, in response to the growing threat of extinction and the predictable knock-on effect this would have on Africa’s biodiversity. Lions are classed as an “umbrella species”; with a wild lion population thriving, the entire surrounding eco-system functions effectively, ultimately also affecting the livelihoods of those relying on ecotourism for survival. The Lionscape Coalition sees four commercial competitors, who share the bold vision of the Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) to double wild lion numbers by 2050, collaborate on lion conservation programmes across Africa. Putting all commercial considerations aside, this alliance brings to this initiative over 100 years of positive conservation and community impact throughout Africa.

Lions are a resilient species so the future looks bright. These animals will rapidly reproduce if their habitats are protected if communities have incentives to co-exist and protect them. Creating healthy ‘lionscapes’ which can benefit these local communities is key to the success of population decline being reversed and many other species will recover in the process.

St South Africa Kruger National Park Lion Shutterstock Matthieu Gallet

When is the Best Time to See African Lions?

The best time to see lions is during the peak safari season from July to October. The cool, dry winter means less vegetation for wildlife to hide behind and the lack of rain means wildlife will congregate around the lakes and rivers and most wildlife wont stray too far from the little water left.

The lions of Africa: expert advice on how to see them on your next safari

Sep 8, 2022 • 7 min read

safari of lions

Observing the social aspect of lions' lives is one of the most memorable elements of an encounter with the species © Thomas Retterath / Getty Images

Few experiences in Africa live longer in memory than the first time you see a lion.

Lithe and ferocious, lions are without rival as Africa’s apex predator and carry on their body what one lion expert described as an “aura of impending violence”. The epitome of wild Africa, they are also the most sought-after prize on any safari to East Africa or Southern Africa for their combination of grace and grandeur, charisma and gravitas. Here we introduce you to the king of Africa’s cats, and tell you where's best to see them.

Three male lions running ferociously towards the camera, kicking up dust as they go; the entire scene is a scorched savannah.

Africa’s biggest cat

Second in size among felines only to the tiger, lions are easily Africa’s largest cat species. Males can be over 2.5m long, 3.5m if you include the tail. The heaviest wild male lion recorded weighed in at a rather hefty 272kg. Females generally weigh between 110kg and 168kg. Lions can eat up to 25% of their own body weight in a single session and, on such occasions, even male lions can appear pregnant, so swollen are their bellies.

Female lions can live up to 18 years in the wild; males have been known to live up to 16, but rarely make it past 12. Lions can live up to 27 years in captivity.

A little lion cub sits up with its head nestling into the neck of a huge lioness who has her eyes closed and is lying on the ground.

A social beast

There are 38 species of wild cats in the world, and the lion is the only social cat among them. Lions live in prides which can include more than 30 individuals, although many prides are much smaller, especially in areas where pressure from human populations is high, or in regions where prey is scarce.

A multi-generational sisterhood of lionesses forms the core of nearly every pride. Females born into the pride will, in many cases, remain with their sisters and mothers, aunties and grandmothers throughout their lifetimes. Together this formidable team of lionesses raises the pride’s cubs and inhabits a defined home range that can be as small as 35 sq km, or as large as 1000. They hunt as a team, defend their territory together against intruders, and raise cubs in a collective creche-like environment.

Safari animals: the story of rhinos (and the best places to see them)

Lion pregnancies last between three and four months and, when they are ready to give birth, lionesses retreat to a secluded place where the cubs are born. The average size of a litter of lions is between two and four, but as many as seven have been recorded. Cubs cannot open their eyes until around ten days after birth, and mothers keep their cubs hidden until they are around eight weeks old. Despite the protection afforded by the pride, lions are particularly vulnerable during their first two years of life.

When they reach adulthood, which for lions usually occurs between two and four years of age, the young males will leave their natal pride and search for a territory of their own – this is nature’s way of ensuring that sexually mature males do not mate with their own relatives. They will often join with brothers or cousins to form a coalition and, largely nomadic, these dispersing males will wander until they can successfully challenge a resident male (or males) for control of a pride. Once in control, they will patrol their territory, sometimes remaining on their own with the other coalition male(s), sometimes hanging out with the pride females and cubs.

Where to see rhinos on safari in Africa in 2022

A herd of zebra move in unison and panic, stirring up a huge cloud of dust; lurking in the dust, but visible, is a large lioness who is hunting.

What lions eat

Lions are great opportunists and will eat springhares, elephants and most animals in between. Their favorite prey varies from one region to the next, but their diet often includes zebra, warthog, buffalo, wildebeest, impala, gemsbok, and warthog. One pride of lions even learned to hunt seals along Namibia’s northern coast. Lions also hunt giraffes – this is a particular specialty in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve . Lions commonly hunt elephants in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, especially late in the dry season (September and October); the weight imbalance between lions and elephants, which can weigh 3.5 tons, is the greatest disparity between predator and prey in the animal kingdom. Even one-tonne buffaloes can weigh more than seven times that of the adult lioness bringing it down.

A day on safari in Africa: what you can expect in camp and in the wild

Although lions are skilled hunters and can reach a top speed of 93km/h, they rely on short bursts of speed rather than stamina – a typical lion hunt requires that lions stalk their prey to within around 15m before launching their attack. And despite such skills, their recorded success rate as hunters can be as low as 15% and never higher than 38.5% – in other words, significantly more than half of all lion hunts end in failure. And contrary to popular belief, lions routinely scavenge a significant proportion of their meals.

Lions will also eat domestic livestock, especially cows, and donkeys. With human beings and lions living in ever-closer proximity, such killings are a major cause of human-lion conflict, with many lions killed in retaliation.

Protecting rhinos from poachers in Africa - what it's like working on the frontline

All that is visible is the head of a huge male lion that is asleep; climbing on the lion's nose is a lizard.

King of the jungle? 

Contrary to popular lore, the lion has never been king of the jungle: they are most at home out on savannah plains or in open woodlands. Lions can adapt to many different habitats, from dense woodlands in Ethiopia and Uganda to semi-arid environments such as Botswana’s Kalahari and the Skeleton Coast of northern Namibia. Although lions, like most cats, aren’t particularly fond of water, they have learned to become strong swimmers in Botswana’s watery Okavango Delta .

Are you ready for a self-drive safari?

The largest lion populations are in East and Southern Africa; some estimates suggest that half of Africa’s lions live in Tanzania . There are small lion populations elsewhere, including the Gir Forest, in the Indian state of Gujarat , and West Africa (where the lion is listed as Critically Endangered). The largest lion populations are in Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park (Tanzania), the Serengeti -Masai Mara (Tanzania and Kenya ), Kruger National Park (South Africa) and the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (which spans Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

A lone lioness leaps through the waters of the Okavango Delta; her hind legs are beneath the surface while her front paws are pulled up close to her chest, up in the air.

The best places to see lions on safari

Northern Botswana has excellent lion-watching territory, including Moremi Game Reserve and elsewhere in the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park  (especially the Savuti region) and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. 

Kenya is home to around 2000 lions, with sightings possible in Masai Mara Game Reserve and the surrounding community conservancies, Amboseli , Tsavo East and Tsavo West  and Lake Nakuru national parks, as well as Samburu National Reserve and the conservancies of the Laikipia Plateau .

Wild times: a guide to the best national parks in Kenya

There aren’t many places in Namibia where you can see lions, but Etosha National Park in the country’s north is a brilliant exception. Khaudum National Park and the emerging parks of the Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip) are quieter alternatives.

Beyond safaris, these are Namibia’s most awe-inspiring experiences

South Africa

Lions have been reintroduced onto many private reserves in South Africa. Otherwise, Kruger National Park is one of the world’s best places to see lions. Madikwe Game Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park are less busy but also filled with lions.

The top 19 beaches in South Africa for sand, surf and scenery

This is prime lion-viewing land, and includes the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park in the north, and Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park in the south.

Tanzania: an epic safari following the Serengeti's Great Migration

A much-underrated lion-watching destination, Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is excellent, with North Luangwa and Kafue national parks offering wilder experiences.

Unforgettable adventure activities in Zimbabwe and Zambia

Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s best national parks and lion sightings are common. Mana Pools is another park with a healthy lion population that you can watch while on a walking safari.

8 vital things to know about South African safaris

The silhouettes of two young lions standing on a sloping tree trunk, with a golden sky and setting sun in the background.

Lions in peril?

There are more rhinos, more elephants and more gorillas than there are lions in Africa. No one really knows how many lions there were in Africa a century ago, but most estimates suggest that it was more than a million. A study in 2019 estimated that there were just 22,509 left on the continent and that lions have disappeared from 95% of their former range.

Many lions live in isolated populations that may not be viable in the long term, and just 40% of Africa’s lions live within the boundaries of protected areas. Just eight countries are believed to have at least 500 adult lions: Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The lion is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Where to go for your first safari in Africa

This article was first published October 2019 and updated September 2022

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What are Africa’s Big Five? Meet the continent’s most iconic wildlife

Once mostly targeted by hunters, these large species are “awe-inspiring” sights for safari-goers.

If you’ve gone on an African safari , chances are you’ve heard of the Big Five, the must-see list of iconic megafauna.

Lions , leopards, elephants , African buffalo , and rhinoceroses are “what people think of when they think of Africa and wildlife,” says Natalia Borrego , a research associate at the University of Minnesota Lion Center.

The term, coined in the late 1800s during Africa’s colonial period , refers to what trophy hunters considered the most challenging and dangerous animals to hunt on foot.

These animals are still hunted today , but a shift toward tourism has also made seeing the Big Five an “awe-inspiring” goal for any safari-goer, Borrego says.

That’s especially true because all of these species are decreasing in population—lions in particular are struggling, having lost 94 percent of their original habitat . Only about 20,000 of the big cats remain in the wild.

Here’s are some fascinating facts about the Big Five.

This is the most elusive, and also the smallest, of the five. “I call them ninja cats because they’re just sneaky and they’re harder to spot,” Borrego says.

Speaking of spots, most leopards are light-colored, with distinctive dark spots that are called rosettes. Black leopards, which appear to be almost solid in color because their spots are hard to distinguish, are commonly called black panthers .

The solitary big cats haul large kills, such as zebra or antelope, into a tree to eat alone, in peace.

There’s another reason for leopards to stay aloft: They don’t exactly get along with their fellow Big Fiver, the African lion. If a lion has a chance to kill a leopard, it will. (Related: “ A lioness killing a leopard floored these filmmakers .”)

African lion

Lions are the only social big cat, but don’t expect to see the king. There isn’t one.

These big cats are “not born into a rank,” Borrego says. “They are egalitarian, which means they don’t have a permanent social hierarchy.”

One male may be dominant over the others, but that can change at any time.

Lion society is also matrilineal, “so the females hold the territories,” and stay with the pride into which they’re born. (Related story: “ In real life, Simba’s mom would be running the pride .”)

African buffalo

These hefty, cow-like animals often congregate by the thousands in the Serengeti; forming large groups is one defense against predators.

Male and female buffalo both have horns, but the males’ curve upward and fuse together in the center, forming a solid bony plate called a boss. It’s a helpful defense—as is being more than three times heavier than their lion adversaries.

That’s why a lion that attacks a buffalo is taking a huge risk of dying. Buffalo can be aggressive, and frequently come into conflict with humans outside of protected areas.

African elephant

The biggest of the Big Five is the African savanna elephant, which can weigh up to seven tons. The African forest elephant, which is about three feet shorter and lives in the forests of the Congo Basin, was declared a separate species after genetic testing in 2010 showed big differences between the forest and savanna dwellers.

Savanna elephants are large enough to change the landscape , pulling up trees to make grasslands, dispersing seeds, and overall increasing biodiversity.

Long sought after by poachers, elephants have a fragmented range throughout central and southern Africa .

Rhinoceroses

There are two species—the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros—and five subspecies between them left in Africa. Those include the northern white rhino, the southern white rhino, the eastern black rhino, the southern central black rhino, and the southwestern black rhino.

All are huge, with a top weight of 5,000 pounds and horns that can grow up to five feet long.

Due largely to poaching for their horns , the western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011 . The last male northern white rhino died in 2018 , with only two females remaining—making that subspecies functionally extinct. ( Learn about the different types of extinction .)

About 20,000 southern white rhinos remain, mostly in southern Africa. Conservation efforts have helped increase the population of the smaller, critically endangered black rhino , found mainly in East and southern Africa.

Other Fives

Africa is incredibly rich in wildlife, which is why several other “fives” have popped up over the years, such as the Little Five —including the leopard tortoise and the elephant shrew—the Shy Five , and the Ugly Five , which, to say the least, is a bit subjective. ( Read why people find “ugly” animals cute .)

With over 2,000 bird species in Africa , can we also get a High Five?

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  • AFRICAN LIONS
  • WATER BUFFALO
  • WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

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Lion brothers nuzzle one another on the grasslands of Masai Mara, Kenya

  • CLASS: Mammalia (Mammals)
  • ORDER: Carnivora
  • FAMILY: Felidae
  • GENUS: Panthera
  • SPECIES: leo

A lioness stands in foreground in profile, a male lion behind her.

Lions have captured our imagination for centuries. Stars of movies and characters in books, lions are at the top of the food chain. The Swahili word for lion, simba, also means "king," "strong," and "aggressive." The word lion has similar meaning in our vocabulary. If you call someone lionhearted, you’re describing a courageous and brave person. If you lionize someone, you treat that person with great interest or importance. 

Prime habitat for lions is open woodlands, thick grassland, and brush habitat, where there is enough cover for hunting and denning. These areas of grassland habitat also provide food for the herbivores that lions prey upon.

Lions differ from the other members of the large cat genus,  Panthera —tigers, leopards, and jaguars. Adult male lions are much larger than females and usually have an impressive mane of hair around the neck. The color, size, and abundance of the mane all vary among individuals and with age. The mane’s function is to make the male look more impressive to females and more intimidating to rival males. The lion’s thick mane also protects his neck against raking claws during fights with other males over territory disputes or breeding rights.

Lions are also the only cats that live in large, social groups called “prides.” A pride can have 3 to 30 lions and is made up of lionesses (mothers, sisters, and cousins), and their cubs, along with a few unrelated adult males. The pride has a close bond and is not likely to accept a stranger. The unrelated males stay a few months or a few years, but the older lionesses stay together for life. In dry areas with less food, prides are smaller, with two lionesses in charge. In habitats with more food and water, prides can have four to six adult lionesses. Both males and females scent mark to define their territory.

Living in a pride makes life easier. Hunting as a group means there is a better chance that the lions have food when they need it, and it is less likely that they will get injured while hunting. Lion researchers have noticed that some activities are “contagious” within a pride. If one lion yawns, grooms itself, or roars, it sets off a wave of yawning, grooming, or roaring!

Lions and lionesses play different roles in the life of the pride. The lionesses work together to hunt and help rear the cubs. This allows them to get the most from their hard work, keeping them healthier and safer. Being smaller and lighter than males, lionesses are more agile and faster. During hunting, smaller females chase the prey toward the center of the hunting group. The larger and heavier lionesses ambush or capture the prey. Lionesses are versatile and can switch hunting jobs depending on which females are hunting that day and what kind of prey it is.

While it may look like the lionesses do all the work in the pride, the males play an important role. While they do eat more than the lionesses and bring in far less food (they hunt less than 10 percent of the time), males patrol, mark, and guard the pride’s territory. Males also guard the cubs while the lionesses are hunting, and they make sure the cubs get enough food. When a new male tries to join a pride, he has to fight the males already there. The new male is either driven off or succeeds in pushing out the existing males.

A lion’s life is filled with sleeping, napping, and resting. Over the course of 24 hours, lions have short bursts of intense activity, followed by long bouts of lying around that total up to 21 hours! Lions are good climbers and often rest in trees, perhaps to catch a cool breeze or to get away from flies. Lions sometimes lie around in crazy poses, such as on their backs with their feet in the air, or legs spread wide apart!

Lions are famous for their sonorous roar. Males are able to roar when they are about one year old, and females can roar a few months later. Lions use their roar as one form of communication. It identifies individuals, strengthens the pride’s bond, and lets other lions know of the pride’s domain. Other sounds lions produce include growls, snarls, hisses, meows, grunts, and puffs, which sound like a stifled sneeze and is used in friendly situations.

Lions have other forms of communication as well, mostly used to mark territory. They spread their scent by rubbing their muzzle on tufts of grass or shrubs, and they rake the earth with their hind paws, as the paws have scent glands, too. Adult males also spray urine—stand back!

HABITAT AND DIET

Prime habitat for lions is open woodlands, thick grassland, and brush habitat where there is enough cover for hunting and denning. These areas of grassland habitat also provide food for the herbivores lions prey upon.

Lions usually hunt at night, particularly at dusk and dawn, with lionesses doing most of the work. A lion chasing down prey can run the length of a football field in six seconds. Their eyes have a horizontal streak of nerve cells, which improves their vision following prey across a plain. Lions have been spotted taking down prey as large as buffalo and giraffes! They may even drag this heavy prey into thickets of brush to keep other wildlife from getting to it.

Lions hunt antelope and other ungulates, baby elephants or rhinos, rodents, reptiles, insects, and even crocodiles. They also scavenge or steal prey from leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, or African hunting dogs (also called painted dogs), even eating food that has spoiled. Lions digest their food quickly, which allows them to return soon for a second helping after gorging themselves the first time.

At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the lions get lean ground meat made for zoo carnivores as well as an occasional large bone, thawed rabbit, or sheep carcass.

FAMILY LIFE

A lioness gives birth to her cubs in a secluded location away from the pride. At birth, each cub’s coat is yellowish brown and marked with distinct dark, rosette-shaped spots or, sometimes, stripes. Cubs remain hidden for four to six weeks as they gain strength, learn to walk, and play with one another and their mother. When they return to the pride, they can nurse from any adult lioness in the pride, not just their own mother. In fact, the females in a pride often give birth around the same time, which makes for lots of playmates! 

Cubs born in a pride are twice as likely to survive as those born to a lioness that is on her own. However, if a new adult male takes over the pride, he may kill cubs under one year old so that he can father new ones. Under favorable conditions, a lioness can produce cubs roughly every other year.

From the time they are born, cubs have a lot to learn! At three months old, cubs are able to follow their mother wherever she goes, and they are weaned by the age of six months. At about one year old, males start to get fuzz around their neck that grows into the long mane adult male lions are famous for. 

How long a lion cub stays with Mom depends on the sex of the cub. Mothers generally raise males until they are just about two. Once they hit that stage in life, the mother usually runs them out of the group, and they are on their own. Sometimes the sub-adult males form bachelor groups and run together until they are big enough to start challenging older males in an attempt to take over a pride. If the cubs are female, Mom cares for them until about two years of age and they usually stay with the pride they were born into. A mother and daughter may live together for life.

Lions that do not live in prides are called nomads, and they range far and wide while following migrating herds of large game. Nomads are generally young males, roaming in pairs or small groups and often related to one another. Females are occasionally nomadic, too. For reason not clearly understood, young females are sometimes driven from their pride just as are young males. As they gain in age and experience, nomadic males may challenge established pride males for dominance of a given territory and its pride of lionesses, or they may join nomadic females and form a new pride.

We began with a roar! Lions have been an important part of the San Diego Zoo’s history. There was no San Diego Zoo in 1915, when a handsome male lion named Rex and two females, Rena and Cleopatra, arrived in town as part of the Panama-California International Exposition. It was soon after the Exposition ended that Harry Wegeforth, M.D., decided to create a zoo in San Diego after hearing Rex roar! Rex, Rena, and Cleopatra became some of the new Zoo’s earliest residents.

In 1923, an open-air lion grotto opened along what is now the Zoo’s Center Street. Although there is no record of what happened to Rex and Rena, Cleopatra moved into the then state-of-the-art habitat along with another female named Queen and a new male named Prince. The trio enjoyed the sun and fresh breezes blowing through the canyon. Lots of lion cubs were born in those early years—Cleopatra had 33 babies over an 8-year period! In our more than 100-year history, 119 lions have been born at the Zoo.

Lions have been living at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park since it opened in 1972. In 2004, the Safari Park’s Lion Camp opened with six adorable six-month-old Transvaal lion cubs newly arrived from a facility in Africa. Lion Camp looks like a bit of African habitat, so guests get to see lots of natural lion behaviors, watching the cats as they romp in the grass, explore the logs and rocks, or sit and watch the antelope, giraffes, and rhinos in the nearby African Plains savanna habitat. Guests can come right up to the large glass panels for some eye-to-eye moments with the lions.

A 27-foot-tall bronze sculpture of Rex, the lion whose roar inspired the creation of the San Diego Zoo in 1916, stands at the Zoo entrance. It honors the iconic status of lions in San Diego Zoo history and makes for a memorable photo opportunity for guests. To San Diegans, lions are symbolic of “their” zoo. Long may they reign!

CONSERVATION

Are lions in trouble? Due to many issues such as disease, hunting by humans, and loss of habitat, the population of lions in Africa is becoming very concerning to conservationists. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies lions as Vulnerable, but they note that the vast majority of the population is inferred to have declined at a rate that meets the criteria for Endangered.

Natural habitat for lions is now found only in protected reserves, and lion movement between prides is becoming more limited. While lion hunting is banned in many African countries, trophy hunting is still allowed in some places. In other areas, there are so many lions for so little space that rangers often put the females on birth control to reduce the number of cubs born. Ranchers sometimes poison lions that prey on livestock.

It is estimated that there are between 6,000 and 10,000 African lions in Africa. The Asian lion used to be found from the Middle East across to India. There are now only about 400 to 460 of this lion subspecies left, with more than half living in a reserve that used to be royal hunting grounds in an area of dry teak forest called the Gir Forest, now under national protection by the Indian government. The remainder of this particular subspecies lives in zoos. 

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports lion conservation in Kenya, recognizing that the conservation of lions has to be reconciled with the needs of humans. Some conflict may be unavoidable in areas where agriculture or livestock farming compete with cat habitats, but together, people are working on finding ways to minimize that conflict. By supporting San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, you are our ally in saving and protecting wildlife worldwide.

Save Wildlife. Help us keep this and other species from disappearing forever.

In the care of humans, median life expectancy for female lions is about 17 years. For male lions, median life expectancy is 11 to 13 years.

Gestation: Almost 4 months

Weight at birth: about 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms)

Age of maturity: 3 to 4 years

Length: Females are 4.6 to 5.7 feet (1.4 to 1.7 meters); males are 5.6 to 8.3 feet (1.7 to 2.5 meters)

Weight: Females weigh 270 to 400 pounds (122 to 180 kilograms); males weigh 330 to 570 pounds (150 to 260 kilograms)

Tail length: 27 to 41 inches (70 to 105 centimeters)

A male lion can eat about a quarter of his body weight (as much as about 140 pounds or 63 kilograms) in a single meal.

A lion’s roar can be heard up to 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away.

A lioness can sprint at up to 33 miles (53 kilometers) per hour.

A lioness often suffocates her prey by clamping her jaws overs its nose and mouth.

Scientists know more about lions than any other cat.

Some male lions do not have noticeable manes, seen most often in East Africa.

Lions can often survive in extreme drought conditions, eating tsama melons for moisture in the Kalahari Desert.

DISCOVER WILDLIFE

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safari of lions

Epic Mara: Big Cats in Focus

This safari is designed with serious photographers and/or wildlife aficionados in mind. We combine all the essential elements for remarkable wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. The location is the renowned Masai Mara, unsurpassed for prolific wildlife viewing. The guiding is on the legendary level, utilizing one of our 3 Kenyan guide team who are recognized among the most accomplished in Africa.

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Intrepid Zimbabwe Explorer: Victoria Falls, Hwange and Canoeing Mana Pools (Origins Collection)

Step back in time to the era of exploration with our Intrepid Zimbabwe Explorers itinerary, customized for remote adventure in some of the most pristine wilderness on Earth.

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Big Five of Southern Africa

Southern Africa is an incredibly diverse region with varying weather, landscapes, cultures, and wildlife. This itinerary covers three major highlights of Southern Africa: The Greater Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.

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Essential Diversity: River and Desert

This safari is designed for the safari connoisseur seeking rarity, exclusivity and luxury along with the full diversity of wildlife. The itinerary includes private guiding and vehicle at both safari camps, offering the ultimate in flexibility and maximizing the opportunities to see wildlife you want to see, while maintaining supreme comfort and luxury.

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Malawi Expedition: Trekking Mt. Mulanje and Liwonde Safari with optional Lake Malawi Finale (Origins Collection)

Our Malawi Expedition combines an incredible hut-to-hut alpine trekking experience, outstanding scenery, wildlife viewing in a premiere national park, and the optional finale of swimming, snorkeling and kayaking off your private island camp in Lake Malawi.

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Wonders of the Crater and Trek to Lake Natron with optional Serengeti Biologist Finale (Origins Collection)

Our Tanzania Trekking and Wonders of the Ngorongoro adventure is the very epitome of getting off the beaten track. This adventure takes you on foot through the volcanic landscapes of northern Tanzania, traveling through areas that are impossible to reach by road.

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Botswana Elephant Safari

This elephant-focused safari takes you to some of the best locations in all of Africa for seeing and interacting with elephants.

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Ultimate Uganda

This safari has been custom designed to provide an in-depth adventure in Uganda featuring some of the most intimate and immersive experiences on the continent – primate trekking.

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Big Cats & The Great Migration (Calving Season) – Group Trip 2024 (FULL)

The ultimate small group Serengeti adventure with elite biologist guide team, Fadhil Magoye and David Maira. Explore three distinct areas of the Serengeti ecosystem including Ndutu for the Great Migration Calving Season and the world's best cheetah viewing, the Central Serengeti's remote eastern plains and the Northern Serengeti which is incredibly exclusive at this time of year (perhaps the best kept safari secret)! Your guides have an unrivaled passion for the wilds of Tanzania, and the skills and knowledge to match. The knowledge of big cats and overall wildlife behavior between these guides is astounding and they are ready to share it all with their guests on this safari. The group size is guaranteed to be small, with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of just 8 guests.

safari of lions

South African Splendor: Cape Town and Sabi Sands Safari

Southern Africa is an incredibly diverse region with varying weather, landscapes, cultures, and wildlife.

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Deserts of Namibia

Experience magnificent and vast landscapes and desert-adapted wildlife of Namibia in a personal way.

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Classic Zimbabwe: Hwange and Mana Pools with Victoria Falls

This adventure-level safari features classic bush camps, thrilling walking safaris, and an excellent value.

safari of lions

Zambia Walking and Waterways Safari

Zambian safaris are distinguished by the vintage expedition-style adventure delivered under the care of exceptional guides in remote wilderness areas teeming with wildlife.

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Tanzania Frontier

This safari is the ultimate trip for those who truly want to get away from it all, exploring some of Tanzania's less-visited gems.

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Quintessential Tanzania: River Crossing Season

With the Great Migration of nearly 2 million animals in the area, the Northern Serengeti is the stage for one of nature's most famed events - the dramatic migration crossings of the Mara River.

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Botswana Desert and Delta Safari: Outstanding Value, Top Wildlife and Diverse Landscapes

This safari is customized to take advantage of the best opportunities for the green season in Botswana to observe diverse wildlife.

Lion Videos

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Best Places to see Lions on Safari

Lion cub relaxing on a branch

Other Areas of Note

Something extra, learn about other wildlife.

  • African Wild Dog
  • Cape Buffalo
  • Hippopotamus
  • Meerkats (Suricates)

safari of lions

Top 5 Safari Destinations to see Lions

safari of lions

By Rod Tether

Predator on the planet, to see a lion up close in the wild is simply breath-taking. here’s our pick of safari destinations to find this charismatic cat:

1. THE MAASAI MARA, KENYA

safari of lions

The stage for David Attenborough’s “Dynasties” and the BBC’s “Big Cat Diary” for 22 years and counting, the Maasai Mara  offers fabulous year-round game-viewing. Probably the greatest slice of wildlife real estate on the planet, the likelihood of encountering the full suite of big cats: lion, leopard and cheetah is higher here than anywhere else. Further, the Mara is famous for particularly large lion prides, regularly numbering thirty-plus individuals and encountering such a large assemblage of apex predators is an awesome sight indeed.

2. RUAHA & KATAVI, TANZANIA

safari of lions

Only seven countries contain over a thousand lions and none has more than Tanzania. Lions are widespread here, from the northern border of the  Serengeti  – from where they can follow the wildebeest in to the Maasai Mara –  Katavi  in the west,  Ruaha  in the centre and Selous in the south east.

For the best chance of seeing them, head to where the buffalo roam; Katavi and Ruaha are Tanzania’s wildest parks and play host to several super-herds through the dry season. These buffalo must make a daily pilgrimage to the last remaining water sources – find the buffalo (relatively easy) and there’s every chance that the lions are not far behind. From Katavi it’s a short hop across to the home of another iconic dynasty – the chimpanzees of Mahale.

3. LUANGWA VALLEY, ZAMBIA

safari of lions

The place where  walking safaris  were pioneered is still amongst the top spots to undertake a proper foot safari. Finding lion on foot is a particularly special thrill – looking in to their eyes and wondering who will bolt first connects to something deep in all our psyches. Lions typically spend up to 21 hours a day resting yet almost always react to the presence of man, typically by moving away, sometimes threatening with a growl or a snarl – and very occasionally by charging.

4. OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA

safari of lions

Through a combination of their size, strength and being co-operative hunters, lions are capable of pulling down much larger prey than any other carnivore. Several prides in the  Okavango  have become expert in hunting hippo, buffalo, giraffe and even the occasional elephant. More unusually they do this in daylight and the chance to witness these battles first-hand is both thrilling and gory, truly nature red in tooth and claw.

5. QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK, UGANDA

“The Queen” as Ugandan’s endearingly call this park can’t boast the most nor the biggest lions, but in the wild Ishasha sector they habitually do something pretty special and incredibly photogenic; clambering up in to giant fig trees to spend the day sprawled out over the lateral trunks. Stunningly beautiful, with an astonishing 550 species of birds recorded and only few hour’s drive from Mountain Gorilla country a couple of days in Ishasha is always time well spent.

This is as far from formulaic as you can get and feels like a real journey, of which your family group are the only participants as you bounce through an array of unique, eclectic and sometimes eccentric camps. Each destination offers a different landscape to explore – plains, woodland, river and lake – and it’s this variety which makes this park a unique proposition. We challenge even the most insouciant teen to not become intermittently animated here.

Rod Tether

Expert guide, born and raised in wild Africa.

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Month by Month Guide to Visiting Madagascar

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Top 5 Wildlife Safaris

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Top 5 Safari Destinations to see Wild Dog

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Top 5 Wilderness Safaris

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African Safari Secrets: The Best Places to Spot Lions in Africa

By Susan Hack

Image may contain Animal Wildlife Mammal Lion Dog Pet and Canine

Lions are one of Africa's iconic species, and yet they are under threat from habitat loss, conflict with humans, and many local factors. Seeing these social cats in the wild is becoming an endangered privilege, so on the first World Lion Day we've come up with a list of the best destinations and specialist guides for observing the King of Beasts.

What to Know

Everyone going on an African safari expects to see lions, but there are fewer than you might think. According to a recent Duke University study, the continent's population has dropped more than two thirds in the past 30 years to perhaps less than 32,000 lions, and the species has lost 75 percent of its former range and gone extinct in 26 countries. Most of the continent's lions survive in just six countries, in the national parks and reserves of Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. According to wildlife crime fighter and Condé Nast Traveler Environmental Award winner Ofir Drori , who has helped capture and convict lion-skin traders in West Africa, the are perhaps only 13 wild lions left in all of Cameroon.

The camps and guides below specialize in lion observation while also offering great general game viewing. Be aware that you may have very different types of lion sightings depending on the terrain and your safari type (walking, game drives, canoeing, etc). Pride behavior shifts from territory to territory depending on the group's size, seasonal game movement, rivalries between male lions, and pressure from other predators such as hyenas. As a general rule for safari planning, check the blog of safari lodges you are considering for reports of lion pride activity. Also see if off-road driving and night drives are possible to increase your chances of following lions hunting. (During daylight hours you are more likely to see the big cats sleeping as they digest prey killed the previous evening.) And always ask your travel specialist to request that a senior guide escort your game drives and walks, since an experienced lodge staffer will know the environs and the ranging animal populations far better than a new arrival.

Where to go

Image may contain Animal Wildlife Mammal and Lion

In Tanzania, at Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, lions are often sighted climbing acacia trees (a behavior also seen in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park ). Lions normally rest on the ground, but it's believed prides living in areas with lots of biting tsetse flies have learned to seek refuge in trees.

Tanzania has the continent's largest lion population. According to Mark Nolting , one of Condé Nast Traveler's recommended safari specialists, a private vehicle and top guide are key, "and the overriding variable is that the guide must have unlimited mileage and no restrictions from the safari company he is working with as to how far he can drive in a day. This allows him to follow his nose and reports from fellow guides to maximize lion sightings." Nolting's Africa Adventure Company pays private school fees for the kids of guides who consistently deliver great experiences as an extra incentive to put maximum energy and creativity into finding the species that clients hope to see. Recently, a group of Nolting's clients chalked up more than 150 lion sightings, including a huge male that stalked and brought down a hyena.

Within the Serengeti Ecosystem, a mobile tented safari timed to the cycles of the annual wildebeest migration increases the possibility of witnessing lions hunting, especially during the July through October period when lions ambush wildebeest along the banks of the Mara River, or during the January through March wildebeest calving season at the southern end of the Serengeti.

Image may contain Animal Cattle Cow Mammal Dog Canine Pet Wildlife Lion and Outdoors

As a greater food supply is available in the Ngorongoro Crater than elsewhere, male lions here grow to a size that intimidates outsiders from joining local prides. This has lead to serious problems of inbreeding within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

In Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve, all four members of the Governors Camp Collection conduct game drives on the east bank of the Mara River in the vicinity of Musiara Marsh, Rhino Ridge and Paradise Plain—the territories of the Marsh Pride and five other lion families depicted in the long-running BBC TV series Big Cat Diaries. According to host and professional photography guide Jonathan Scott , lions regularly stalk the tree-lined water courses east of the marsh. Scott and his wife, who have been observing the prides for years from their base in the Governors concession, are sometimes available to lead private safaris by arrangement. Also working in the area, often from Rekero Camp , standout guide Jackson Looseyia , one of Jonathan Scott's presenters for the Big Cat DiariesTV series, is regarded as one of the best the Mara and his bush sense has resulted in extraordinary lion sightings for clients, including the makers of Disney's 2011 "African Cats" documentary.

More talented guides work for Great Plains Conservation, a company founded by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, Emmy Award-winning filmmakers who have made many documentaries about lions for National Geographic. GPC is a consortium of four small and superb safari properties in Kenya, with five more in Botswana, and the Joubert's personal passion for and involvement in protecting lions (and elephants and rhinos) helps ensure that guides at all GPC camps and lodges have in depth lion knowledge. In Kenya, Joubert particularly recommends Mara Plains Lodge guides Johnson Ping'ua O Nkukuu (aka "Ping") and Kevin Parmalal Saiyalel. (For more on Mara Plains and other GPC properties check out the upcoming World on Sale event , for which safari specialist Cherri Briggs is organizing a trip.)

Image may contain Grassland Outdoors Field Savanna Nature Animal Mammal Pet Canine Dog Tree and Plant

Don't expect to see all the action depicted in wildlife documentaries. Lions spend most of their time sleeping. A good guide will explain the nuances of lion society and behavior and know how to maximize your chances of witnessing a stalk or hunt.

Within Botswana's Okavango Delta, GPC's Duba Plains has exclusive access to a unique lion habitat: a permanent island where a large buffalo herd, trapped by surrounding water, engages in an epic battle with resident lions who have become buffalo hunting specialists; following the buffalo herd during a three-day stay allows many guests to observe a full hunting cycle. "A guide at Duba Plains will know more about lions in a year than any guide in the world. It's lion boot camp," says Dereck Joubert. Guests particularly praise guide James Pisetu for his awareness of Duba's ecosystem. Lion prides living in proximity often behave very differently because of subtle changes from territory to territory, so it's worth dividing your Okavango safari between several locations. At Selinda Explorer's Camp, Kane Motswana is a San Bushman who applies his traditional tracking skills to a smart, unique almost spiritual style to guiding around a permanent channel linking the Okavango Delta with the Linyanti and Kwando water systems, where lions are sometimes seen preying on hippos.

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Four female African lions hunting in Botwana's Okavango Delta. At Duba Plains Camp, guides take guests to an island where lions regularly hunt Cape Buffalo.

If you're brave enough for an "up close and personal" lion trek, Nick Murray, owner of Vundu Camp in Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park has been conducting walking safaris for the past 23 years, enabling "guests to approach wild lions more closely on foot than anywhere I know in Africa," says Mark Nolting. The park lion population stands at about 120, divided between four prides that hang out near the Zambezi river, and four more in the remote Chitake Springs sector. Depending on the situation (lions may be more aggressive while they are feeding or tending young cubs), guests approach on foot to about 50 yards then crouch down and approach in tight formation to about 20 yards. "We'll sit down and quietly observe, sometimes getting even closer by scooting forward together on our backsides," says Murray. "Before setting out we go over safety procedures, such as staying in a group behind me, and never turning your back or running from a lion." The walking safaris operate from May until the start of the November rainy season. Prime time is August through September, before dry season temperatures become too hot, and to catch both lions and the wild dog denning season. Murray says the local lions are generalists as hunters but have become especially adept at taking down impala which live in the thousands around Mana Pools.

Image may contain Animal Wildlife Mammal Lion Ground Dog Canine and Pet

This male lion mock charged _Condé Nast Traveler _photographer Hakan Ludwigson while he was on a walking safari with Guide Nick Murray in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. Murray has led walking and canoeing safaris in Zimbabwe for 23 years, and at Mana Pools National Park for the past16 years. Murray's expertise and protocols for ensuring guest safety while observing predators enabled Ludwigson to get within paces of wild lions mating.

In Namibia, lions have adapted to desert conditions . Nine prides have overlapping territories in the Skeleton Coast National Park and the bordering Kunene region, and community lands between the Hoanub and Kunene Rivers. Occasionally lions wander east to scavenge sea lions and beached whales on Namibia's wild Atlantic coast; more commonly they hunt gemsbok (oryx) and smaller desert antelope. Every safari is a crap shoot, and there are no guarantees of seeing such behavior, but the family-run Skeleton Coast Safaris has operated in the park since 1977 using small planes and 4x4s to cover the territory.

Image may contain Art Human Person and Modern Art

St. Samuel riding an Abyssinian lion depicted in old St. Mary of Zion Church in Aksum, Ethiopia. Some of the only known living members of this genetically distinct sub species—whose males have unusually long, dark manes—can be seen at the Addis Ababa Zoo.

Open from June to October, the remote Lion Camp within Zambia's South Luangwa National Park is so named for frequent lion sightings, which managers tweet at @lioncamp . Nine thatch and canvas tents are linked by raised wooden platforms; and general game viewing is excellent, according to travel specialist Cherri Briggs , founder of Explore Africa and who has a home in Zambia. The new U.S. Honorary Consul to Zambia, Briggs is also the sibling of Dr. Michael Briggs, a zoologist and cofounder of the African Predator Conservation Research Organization . As a result, Explore Africa clients have inside access to several lion research projects in southern Africa.

Descended from animals that belonged to Emperor Haile Selassie, the 20 Abyssinian lions in the Addis Ababa Zoo belong to a genetically distinct subspecies that may still survive in the wild in Ethiopia's Babille Elephant Sanctuary. The males have exceptionally long dark manes that grow around the neck, shoulders and underbelly and look similar to the Barbary lion that formerly ranged across North Africa and the extinct Cape lion of South Africa.

South Africa

If you're traveling to South Africa, be wary of patronizing lion cub petting zoos . Such operations may claim to breed lions for education and "conservation," but the reality is that when cubs grow too large to be handled safely, they are often sold to companies that raise domestically bred African game for the canned hunting industry. In canned hunting, hand-reared animals with little fear of humans are released into a fenced area for hunters to track down and shoot in a short period of time. A law against the canned hunting of predators was repealed in 2010, and more than 160 ranches hold a captive population of about 3,500 lions—larger than South Africa's wild lion population. Hunters pay up to $38,000 for a captive-bred male lion trophy, and farmers are also supplying growing demand from Asia for lion bones for traditional medicine.

Image may contain Animal Wildlife Mammal and Lion

A three-and-a-half-month-old lion cub at a lion breeding and petting zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. The country permits hunting of captive bred lions, and when cubs get too large for safe handling by tourists they may be sold to the "canned hunting" industry to be raised as future trophies.

More on safaris:

Where Have All the Lions Gone

Where to Go on Safari and When

What to Pack for a Safari

Top 25 Resorts and Safari Camps in Africa

Photographs, from top: Susan Hack; Paul Souders/Corbis; Susan Hack; Roy Toft/National Geographic Society/Corbis; Remi Benali/Corbis; Hakan Ludwigson; Christophe Boisvieux/Corbis; Blaine Harrington III/Corbis

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Top 10 Best Places To See Lions in Africa

Top 10 Best Places To See Lions in Africa

Anthony is a photographer and writer for travel magazines and Lonely Planet, including the guides to Kenya and Botswana & Namibia.

Lions are very often the biggest prize of an African safari. No animals stalk the plains, or roar in the night, with quite the same power and gravitas of a lion. Although lions are facing challenges across the continent, you can still see them, often quite easily, in many parks and reserves of southern and East Africa. Keep reading for our pick of the 10 best places to see lions in Africa.

1. Masai Mara (Kenya)

The Masai Mara is filled with lions. From Masai Mara National Reserve to the more exclusive Maasai-run conservancies that lie adjacent to the reserve to the north and east, large prides of lions roam the Mara. This is classic safari terrain. The savannah grasslands and light woodlands make for an ideal lion habitat while also offering perfect visibility for seeing lions. The conservancies are especially good if you want to escape the crowds.

  • Best time to see lions in the Masai Mara: Lions are best seen during the Dry season (June to October). They’re very much a part of the great migration experience, which begins in the Mara in July or August, and is at its best in September and October.

Masai Mara Tours

2. Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)

The vast plains of the Serengeti are perfect for seeing lions. Whether the great wildebeest migration is passing through or not, there are always lots of lions around. They’re most commonly seen in the Seronera region of the Central Serengeti but going on a game drive anywhere in this fantastic park puts you in a good position to see lions. Watching a family of cubs playing atop one of the kopjes (rocky outcrops) that are so typical here is a very Serengeti experience.

  • Best time to see lions in the Serengeti: July to February or March is generally dry, with good conditions for seeing lions. The great migration begins in the park’s south in January and February, and moves north through the park until it crosses into Kenya’s Masai Mara sometime between July and September.

Serengeti Tours

3. Kruger National Park (South Africa)

When it comes to where to see lions in Africa, there is nowhere better than Kruger National Park . With hundreds of kilometers of easily accessible safari trails and excellent places to stay, this is a brilliant spot to see not just lions, but big cats in general. Visibility is also excellent with lots of open country and plenty of prey species to draw the lions out into view.

  • Best time to see lions in Kruger: There’s no bad time to see lions in Kruger, but the mildest and driest conditions are usually from May to September

Kruger Tours

4. Sabi Sands & Timbavati (South Africa)

Part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, the privately run Sabi Sand Game Reserve  and Timbavati Nature Reserve  are just as good as the national park itself (there are no fences between them), but without the crowds. These two reserves are known for their big-cat sightings and for being among the best places to see lions in Africa. Timbavati is also one of few places in Africa to have a handful of white lions.

  • Best time to see lions in Sabi Sands and Timbavati: As with Kruger National Park, you can visit Sabi Sands and Timbavati year-round, but May to September are usually the driest months

Sabi Sands Tours

Timbavati Tours

5. Okavango Delta (Botswana)

There’s a reason so many wildlife documentaries starring lions are filmed in the Okavango Delta . Lions stalk the islands and channels of this amazing place, and while sightings are never guaranteed, the Delta does have one of the highest lion densities anywhere in southern Africa. This applies in the Moremi Game Reserve as much as it does in the exclusive private concessions into which much of the Okavango is divided.

  • Best time to see lions in the Okavango Delta: Looking for lions is best from July to October. This is during the Dry season when most of the lodges are open and water levels are high, meaning that the animals are unable to disperse into the surrounding area.

Okavango Delta Tours

6. Etosha National Park (Namibia)

Namibia’s premier safari park is also the best place in the country to see lions. More than 700 are thought to roam across this fascinating ecosystem, and lions are often sighted hunting, feeding or just relaxing by the many waterholes throughout the park. Much of the park has very little vegetation, meaning you can see lions from a long way off, which only adds to the excitement of it all.

  • Best time to see lions in Etosha: To see Etosha at its best and increase your chances of seeing lions, come during the dry winter months from July to October

Etosha Tours

7. Central Kalahari Game Reserve (Botswana)

Spread across a vast area of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is known for its golden grasslands, as a homeland for the San people, and as a place to see what may be some of Africa’s biggest lions. Male Kalahari lions, for example, are known for their dark, luxuriant manes. They played a starring role in the 1984 classic book ‘Cry of the Kalahari’.

  • Best time to see lions in the Central Kalahari: You can visit the Central Kalahari any time of the year, but it can be bitterly cold at night and in the early morning from May to September. The best months are generally from December to March.

Central Kalahari Tours

8. Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda)

Easily one of Uganda’s best national parks for seeing lions, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of few places in Africa where you can consistently see lions up in the trees. The park’s Ishasha sector is where this happens most often. There’s nothing quite like staring up into the branches of an African sycamore fig tree or an umbrella acacia and finding an entire pride of lions looking back at you.

  • Best time to see lions in Queen Elizabeth NP: The best months for visiting Queen Elizabeth NP are during the Dry seasons, which run from January to February and June to July

Queen Elizabeth Tours

9. Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

Hwange National Park will be forever remembered as the former home of Cecil, a magnificent male lion that was shot by a hunter just outside Hwange back in 2015, sparking an international outcry. Cecil’s offspring, and lots of other lions, still roam this fantastic park, and it’s one of few places in Africa where lions are known to hunt elephants. If you’re lucky enough to see this happen, it’s an epic clash.

  • Best time to see lions in Hwange: The prime time for wildlife viewing in Hwange is from July to October, at the middle and end of the Dry season. Battles between lions and elephants usually happen around October, when water is scarce.

Hwange Tours

10. South Luangwa National Park (Zambia)

Zambia sees far fewer safari visitors than it deserves, and South Luangwa National Park is a very underrated park. It’s known for its lions and leopards, among many other species. While it’s one of the more popular parks in the country, South Luangwa’s safari trails are much quieter than many others in Africa, and you usually won’t have to share each lion sighting with too many other vehicles.

  • Best time to see lions in South Luangwa: The months from July to October, during the middle and end of the Dry season, are the ideal time to go looking for lions in South Luangwa

South Luangwa Tours

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8-Day Mid-Range Serengeti Wildbeest Migration Tour

$2,530 pp (USD)

Tanzania: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Tented Bush Camp

You Visit: Arusha (Start) , Tarangire NP, Central Serengeti, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Kilimanjaro Airport (End)

Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris

5.0 /5  –  300 Reviews

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4-Day Gorilla and Kibale Chimps Trekking Safari

$1,969 pp (USD)

Uganda: Private tour Budget Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Entebbe (Start) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Lake Bunyonyi, Kibale NP (Chimps) , Entebbe (End)

East African Jungle Safaris

5.0 /5  –  135 Reviews

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3-Day Gorilla Tracking Adventure - Mid Range

$1,458 pp (USD)

Uganda: Private tour Mid-range Lodge

You Visit: Entebbe (Start) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Kampala (City) , Entebbe (End)

Grassrootz Adventures

5.0 /5  –  189 Reviews

Lion Hero

  • Behaviors & Diet

What is the African lion?

It is the second-largest living big cat after the tiger. Males are unique among the cat species for their thick mane of brown or black hair encircling their head and neck. The mane darkens with age, and the thicker and darker a mane is the healthier the cat. Both males and females roar — a sound heard as far as 8 kilometers away.

Panthera Leo

125 to 272 kilograms (277 to 600 pounds)

1.2 meters at the shoulder (48 inches) and about 2 to 3.3 meters in length (7 to 11 feet)

10 to 18 years in the wild. Up to 30 years in captivity.

Grassy plains and open woodlands

Carnivorous

Average about 109 days

Lion laying down in the shade

Humans are pushing big cats out of their habitats.

This cat’s population is steadily decreasing in the wild. In just two decades, populations decreased by 43 percent, and it’s estimated that as few as 23,000 remain today. One of the main causes is the alarming rate at which they are losing their habitats due to expanding human populations and the resulting growth of agriculture, settlements, and roads.

Human-wildlife conflict is also a major threat.

As lion habitats shrink, the big cats are being forced into closer quarters with humans. This, coupled with a decrease in their natural prey, causes them to attack livestock. In turn, farmers oftentimes retaliate and kill these big majestic cats.

They are hunted by humans.

These big cats are being killed in rituals of bravery, prized as hunting trophies, and, increasingly, for their body parts' perceived medicinal and magical powers.

Here's how we're protecting Africa's largest cat from extinction:

Retaliation is the primary reason people kill this big cat. We work with communities to help them realize the big cat’s value and to help them protect their families and livestock from carnivore predation. In Ruaha National Park, where 10 percent of the world’s remaining lion population can be found, AWF’s Ruaha Carnivore Project is fostering a much-needed shift in the local opinion of carnivores.

Since 2012, AWF has been working with Ruaha’s communities to build livestock enclosures to protect livestock from predation, and, in turn, protect big cats and other carnivores from conflict with humans. In addition, Ruaha Carnivore Project provides community benefits to villages that demonstrate success in living peacefully with carnivores.

African Wildlife Foundation’s researchers are working to gain an understanding of carnivores’ populations, behaviors, movements, and interactions with people in order to develop appropriate conservation actions. Since 2002, our Large Carnivore Research Project has undertaken research aimed at ensuring the continued survival of large predators living around Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

There are few regions as important to the viability of lion populations as the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem. Halting the decline of lion populations in this region is imperative to the long-term success of the species. The African Wildlife Foundation partners with the Tarangire Lion Research Initiative to compile data from the local lion population. This data helps us better understand the demographic composition of lions in the landscape and pinpoint areas of potential threat to the species. To mitigate human-lion conflict, AWF has designed and constructed predator-proof enclosures for herdsmen to protect their cattle from lion attacks and hosts ongoing education and awareness programs to inform the community about safeguarding their livestock. As a result of AWF and community efforts, there has not been a single retaliatory killing in the landscape since March 2018.

With the continental population decreasing and threats continuing to mount, it’s become more important than ever to closely track this species. In Tanzania’s Manyara Ranch, AWF tagged the lions with high-tech collars equipped with radio transmitters to track the animals’ natural movements. This allows scientists and conservationists to monitor for potential disease outbreaks, home range, productivity, behavior, habitat use, survival, predator-prey interactions, and ultimately population estimates.

Lion in grass

They are the most social cats.

While most cat species are solitary, this big cat is an exception. It has developed a social system based on teamwork, division of labor, and an extended family unit. The average pride consists of about 15 individuals, with five to 10 females, their young, and two or three territorial males. These are usually brothers or pride mates who have formed a coalition to protect their females.

They are affectionate.

When resting, which may be up to 20 hours a day, these cats seem to enjoy good fellowship with lots of touching, head rubbing, licking, and purring.

Their parenting styles are wildly different.

Usually, two or more females in a pride give birth around the same time, and the cubs are raised together. Some mothers carefully nurture their young and will even permit other lion cubs other to suckle, sometimes enabling a neglected infant to survive. However, at times, a female may also neglect or abandon her cubs, especially if food is scarce.

African lions are both hunters and scavengers.

Antelope, zebra, and wildebeests are common prey for this big cat. However, scavenged food provides more than 50 percent of their diets—these big cats will often take over kills made by other carnivores—and cooperative hunting enables them to take down prey as large as buffaloes, rhinos, hippos, and giraffes. The female does 85 to 90 percent of the hunting, usually by setting up an ambush for its prey. The kill is not shared equally within a pride, and at times of prey scarcity, cubs might experience higher mortality rates as hungry females may not even share with their offspring.

Where are lion habitats found?

Africa's largest cat can be found in savanna, plains, grassland, dense bush, and woodland habitats.

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SafarisAfricana

wildlife guide to the African lion

Lions are the second-largest living cats after tigers.

It’s often difficult to tell males from females in bigger cats, but this isn’t the case with the lion. Male and female lions are quite distinct, thanks to the bushy mane encircling the male lion’s head.

Like human hair, this thick mane thins with age and failing health. The thicker and darker the mane, the healthier a cat is likely to be.

There are two subspecies of lions today:

  • Panthera leo leo consisting of Asiatic, Central African, and Barbary lions.
  • Panthera leo melanochaita consisting of South African lions (including Cape and East lions).

male lion lying in sun

Latin name: Panthera Leo

Group name: Pride

Size: 1.4 m to 2.5 m

Weight: 125 kg to 270 kg

Skip to: Characteristics , Range & habitat , Diet , Behaviour , Fun facts , Video

Lion characteristics

The so-called ‘king of the jungle’ is a muscular cat that is bigger than the cheetah and the leopard.

The male’s head looks significantly bigger than it actually is, thanks to its mane. The mane also helps males to intimidate other animals and impress females.

An adult male averages 1.8 to 2.1 meters long and weighs up to 230 kgs while the female measure 1.2 meters and can weigh as much as 180 kgs.

Lions have short coats, ranging from orange-brown, buff-yellow to dark brown. They also have about a meter long tail with a tuft at the tip that’s darker than the rest of the coat.

Their tan color is a form of adaptation that helps them blend in with savannahs, desserts, and woodlands. Interestingly, a lion’s skin sits loosely on its body to protect its underside from the kicks of the hoofed animals it preys on.

pride of lions in rain

Range & habitat

In decades past, lions ranged in most of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Today they are mainly found in Africa, South of the Sahara. Gir Forest National Park, a protected area in Western India, also has a small population of what are known as Asiatic lions.

The West African lion originates in Senegal and is a critically endangered African species . There are less than 900 of them and can be spotted in Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The Central African Lion originates from the Belgian Congo and can be found in DRC and Uganda. It’s entirely extinct in Rwanda, as is the Cape lion.

The East African region boasts the East African Lion, although it’s now extinct in Djibouti and Eritrea.

South African lions are the largest in Africa and are found in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia Zambia, and Botswana.

Lions are nocturnal animals and live in a variety of habitats. However, they prefer the savannah, open woodland, dense scrub, and grasslands.

Unfortunately, the lion population has decreased by 43% in the last 21 years, to the current estimated population of only about 23,000 mammals today.

The lion is an obligate carnivore, meaning it relies on flesh from animal tissues for its nutritional needs. A lion’s body is unable to produce the amino acids it requires for survival. It must, therefore, eat meat.

Lions may consume the odd plant material, oftentimes accidentally, but their systems lack the enzymes to digest or break down plant matter.

Luckily, the lion is an apex predator, meaning it can hunt most animals in its habitat. It also cannot be hunted by animals within its habitat.  This is what makes it the king of the jungle.

In the wild, lions prey on buffalo, rhino, hippo, younger elephants, zebra, crocodiles, antelopes, wild hogs, and younger giraffes.

They also feed on smaller game such as hares, birds, lizards, and mice.

Besides hunting down their prey, they also meet their dietary requirements from scavenging. Older lions who can no longer hunt tend to depend solely on scavenging.

After a successful hunt, vibrant, adult males of the pride eat first. They are followed by lionesses and cubs, with older lions eating last.

Lions need 5kg to 7kg daily of meat daily and are known to feed every 3 to 4 days. They can, however, go without a meal for a week, after which they can eat about 50kg of meat in one seating.

Lions can drink water daily when available but can go 4-5 days without it. During this time, they obtain moisture from recently eaten food.

These mammals have strong, sharp teeth to tear meat and rough tongues to aid in peeling the skin off their prey to get to the fleshy bits.

standing lion

Behaviour & lifestyle

Lions dedicate a few hours for hunting in a typical day and sleep the rest of the time.

Quite the social animals, lions, live in groups, with a pride of lions consisting of about six related females, their offspring, and two to three resident males.

The males join a pride from different locations, characteristic of fission-fusion societies, with daughters being adopted into their mother’s pride.

Lions have multiple ways of communicating. They can meow, growl, snarl, and purr. They also use facial expressions, licking, head rubbing as well as visual and chemical marking to communicate amongst themselves.

They hunt collaboratively. Usually, a pride of lions will circle a herd of prey, driving a victim into an ambush. The hiding lions, usually the females, then attack the target from the front or the side.

Fun lion facts

  • A lions roar can be heard 8kms away
  • Lions are the only big cats that live in groups. Lionesses even help other mothers take care of their young
  • Lion cubs weigh 1.5kgs at birth and have blue eyes
  • The heaviest lion on record grew to 375kgs
  • A lion can happily sleep for 20 hours a day
  • Male lions can kill cubs to encourage their mother to mate
  • A lion’s heels never touch the ground as it walks
  • Despite its weight, a lion can run short bursts of 80kmph and can leap 20 feet

King of the Savannah vs. King of the Jungle             

The lion was likely christened as king of the jingle due to its sheer size, might, and its position in the food chain.

Befitting as it is, the lion’s habitat is more of savannah than the jungle.

King of the savannah is unlikely to catch on, but one thing is for sure: the lion is the mighty king of the wild.

Meet the lion

Have you ever met this unique creature face-to-face? Tell us about your lion experience in the comment section below. Because those who care share!

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-different-types-of-lions-living-today.html

https://www.britannica.com/animal/lion

https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/lion

http://www.krugerpark.co.za/Kruger_National_Park_Wildlife-travel/kruger-park-wildlife-lions.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982206011924

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Lion Country Safari

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Top ways to experience Lion Country Safari and nearby attractions

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Lion Country Safari - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Lion Country Safari Information

WPTV - West Palm Beach, Florida

Lion Country Safari welcomes first baby ape in nearly 28 years

safari of lions

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The Lion Country Safari welcomed the new addition of a rare, endangered ape, park officials announced Thursday.

The new white-handed gibbon was born on Feb. 17. It is the ape to be born at the park in nearly 28 years. According to park officials, the ape will cling to its mother until it matures and begins to explore on its own.

The baby's parents, 23-year-old Tamatha and 36-year-old Larry, are visible on their habitat islands in the last section of the drive-through safari, park officials said.

White-handed gibbons are a lesser ape species native to the rainforests of Asia. They are generally monogamous and produce one offspring after a gestation period of approximately seven months. The average life expectancy for a white-handed gibbon is 25 to 30 years in the wild and approximately 44 years under human care, Lion Country officials said.

The apes are on the endangered list and populations are decreasing in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal wildlife trafficking, officials said.

To visit Lion Country Safari or for more information about the park, call (561) 793-1084 or visit Lion Country Safari online at www.lioncountrysafari.com

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Giraffes at the Safari Park

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 14, 2022

CONTACT:         San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Public Relations 619-685-3291

WEBSITE: sdzwa.org

NEWS RELEASE

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Welcomes Three Female Lions

SAN DIEGO (July 14, 2022) — The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has welcomed three new residents: 8 -year-old female African lions Malika, Zuri and Amira from the Caldwell Zoo in Texas. The three lions, who are sisters, curiously explored their new home at Lion Camp earlier today—shyly at first, but soon showing great confidence as they became comfortable with their new surroundings.

  “We are excited to welcome these lionesses to their new home,” said Lisa Peterson, executive director, San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “ The lionesses carry on a great legacy of lions at the Safari Park. They are the great-grandcubs of the Safari Park’s beloved male lion Izu and lioness Mina, who lived here for 18 years.” Peterson added, “Our wildlife care team has worked very hard to get them comfortable in their new home, and we are so pleased they are settling in so well. We invite our guests to visit these majestic lions during their Safari Park visit, and hope everyone who visits will be inspired to learn about and gain an appreciation for this magnificent species.”

The lionesses’ safe arrival at the Safari Park was a result of much planning and collaboration between the dedicated wildlife care teams at the Caldwell Zoo, who have cared for the lions since their birth, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “It is such a privilege to care for these lionesses,” said Miranda Cays, wildlife care specialist, San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “They are incredible animals, and we are so pleased to be able to share them with our guests.”

The lionesses were moved from Texas to California following a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is designed to help maintain a healthy, genetically diverse assurance population of this species and to cooperatively manage populations within managed-care facilities.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species lists the African lion as a Vulnerable species. The African lion population is likely less than 40,000. IUCN estimates the lion population at 23,000 to 39,000 mature individuals. African lion populations are declining largely due to habitat loss, issues that threaten human-wildlife coexistence, poaching and wildlife trafficking (illegal wildlife trade).

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports lion conservation in Kenya by supporting and collaborating with community organizations, Ewaso Lions and Northern Rangelands Trust, recognizing that the conservation of lions has to be reconciled with the needs of humans. Some challenges may be unavoidable in areas where agriculture or livestock compete with lion habitats, but together, people are working on finding ways to minimize these issues. Working with lions living at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo helps San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conservation scientists learn more about the needs of lions in their native habitats and help lions in Africa. 

The lionesses’ well-being is the top priority of their Safari Park wildlife care team. While the lions continue to acclimate to their new surroundings, they will have access to the outdoor habitat as well as an indoor, off-view area. The lionesses may not be visible to guests at the times they choose to be indoors.

Guests are invited to visit Zuri, Malika and Amira at Lion Camp, and join in the Safari Park’s 50th anniversary celebration — 50 years of connecting people to wildlife, all while creating life-changing moments. All summer long, visitors to the Safari Park can experience up-close wildlife encounters, exciting safari experiences, entertainment, culinary delights and special merchandise offerings. Every visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park helps San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance take another step toward achieving its mission of saving animals and plants worldwide, and creating a world where all life thrives. For more information visit sdzsafaripark.org. #SDZSafariPark50.

About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and working toward a world where all life thrives. The Alliance empowers people from around the globe to support their mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports cutting-edge conservation and brings the stories of their work back to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The work of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance extends from San Diego to eco-regional conservation “hubs” across the globe, where their expertise and assets—including the renowned Wildlife Biodiversity Bank—are able to effectively align with hundreds of regional partners to improve outcomes for wildlife in more coordinated efforts. By leveraging these skills in wildlife care and conservation science, and through collaboration with hundreds of partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has reintroduced more than 44 endangered species to native habitats. Each year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s work reaches over 1 billion people in 150 countries via news media, social media, their websites, educational resources and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming, which is in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Success is made possible by the support of members, donors and guests to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, who are Wildlife Allies committed to ensuring all life thrives. 

Link includes:

  • Video of three lionesses as they explore their new home at Lion Camp at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
  • Sound bite from Lisa Peterson, executive director, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
  • Sound bite from Miranda Cays, wildlife care specialist, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
  • Photos of the three lionesses at Lion Camp at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Photo credit: Ken Bohn , July 14, 2022, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
  • San Diego Zoo Tickets
  • Safari Park Tickets

WPEC West Palm Beach

GALLERY: Rare ape born at Lion Country Safari, first in decades

For the first time in nearly 28 years, a rare white-handed gibbon was born at Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach Saturday. 

The newborn ape can be seen hugging onto to its mother as she swings from the the canopy of their habitat. It will continue to cling close to mom until it matures and gains the courage to venture out on its own, according to the Safari. 

The baby was born to 23-year-old Tamatha and 36-year-old Larry, who live in their island habitat in the last section of the drive-through safari.

See also: Florida man accused of attempting to steal plane, crashes into light pole

White-handed gibbons tend to live in close-knit, monogamous families, and give birth to one offspring after carrying for about seven months. The species is native to the rainforests of Asia, and can live up to 30 years in the wild and about 44 years in captivity. 

Because the white-handed gibbons are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Lion Country Safari participates in a breeding and conservation program for threatened and endangered species called AZA’s Species Survival Plan.

Some of the biggest threats to the species are habitat loss due to human development and illegal wildlife trafficking, according to the Safari. 

GALLERY: Rare ape born at Lion Country Safari, first in decades

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I was charged by a pissed-off elephant during a photo safari

We’d been sat in our Toyota Hilux, still as statues, for five full minutes. Those 300 seconds felt like an eternity, as the elephant paced towards us like a beered-up thug barreling down a cramped corridor in a nightclub.

We had driven down a track and come face to face with the bull, blocking our path. He was in musth, his penis dripping, his mouth dribbling, with six times as much testosterone as normal coursing through his body. He was aggressive and we were in his way, so now he was agitated. Charles Ndhlovu, our guide, had immediately cut the engine and instructed no noise or movement.

Elephants don’t always break branches and kick up dust before they charge; even when hot-tempered, they are animals with reputable intelligence. He was being territorial, asserting his dominance, and our stillness and silence showed our subservience, calming his temper. As he snorted and stomped his way past the front of the 4x4 and around to its side, though, that reputable intelligence suddenly terrified me.

ABOVE: Watch my vlog on my photo safari experience!

Does he understand that there are no bull bars at the side of this vehicle, as there are at the front? Does he know that if he charges side-on –  my side-on – there is no protection and he will certainly kill me?

The path in front now clear, Charles saw his opportunity and started the engine. The noise angered the elephant and, despite Charles’ efforts not to rev too much, he felt that we were now challenging him. Enraged, he trumpeted as we pulled away – and, as I mourned the poor acceleration of the Hilux, he charged us.

Without exaggeration, it was a beat-for-beat recreation of the T-rex chase scene in Jurassic Park . Charles drove the vehicle as fast as it would go down the dirt track, but our speed never seemed enough as the elephant gained more and more momentum, trumpeting in rage and intent on driving its massive tusks through the backside of the Hilux – again, my side, and again with no protective bull bars.

Clearly, we survived to tell the tale. The bull gave up chase (though not before pretending to slow down, giving us a false sense of security, then resuming full charge), and for the rest of the trip we regarded every elephant – despite being mostly placid females and playful infants – with heightened trepidation.

Into the wild

We had traveled to Davison’s Camp in Zimbabwe, a private concession in Hwange National Park run by Wilderness Safaris . Founded in 1983, the group offers authentic African safaris with integrity, operating community and conservation initiatives that protect wildlife areas and ensure that the financial benefits flow back to the region and its people.

The purpose of the trip wasn’t just to get charged by elephants and photograph animals, but also to visit local villages, meet the people of Hwange, work with anti-poaching units and see some of the projects tasked with invigorating one of Africa’s most economically challenged regions.

Wilderness was working in partnership with Olympus (now OM System) with each camp offering loan kit to visitors, and the guides being skilled at finding and advising on the best shooting opportunities. Whether your dream is to photograph lions drinking at a watering hole during the dawn golden hour, or backlit elephants dusting as the sun sets, people like Charles can do their best to make those moments happen.

Because we were traveling to the camp by light aircraft (a six-seat Cessna 210) with a strict 10kg limit for kit, I had to pack very selectively. I knew that Olympus’ pro tag team, the OM-D E-M1X and E-M1 Mark II , would be light enough to travel yet powerful enough to do the job – particularly with their weather sealing, as dust would be a big issue.

The lightness and slightness of Micro Four Thirds lenses meant that I could take the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro (a 24-80mm full-frame equivalent), 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro (80-300mm), 300mm f/4 Pro (600mm), along with the 9mm f/8 body cap lens (18mm) on my old E-M5 Mark II as a vlogging camera. On top of that, I had both the MC-14 1.4x teleconverter and the new Olympus MC-20 2x teleconverter at my disposal, giving me a total of 3 bodies and a focal range of 18mm to 1200mm – all in a 10kg bag, with weight to spare.

After 30 hours of travel we landed around 18:30 at Linkwasha, the Wilderness airstrip where there were already elephants congregating. Wasting no time, we jumped straight from the Cessna into the Hilux and embarked on a sunset game drive en route to camp, where my very first frames in Africa were of elephants backlit by the sunset and frolicking at a water hole.

Tradition meets innovation

While our first full day in Hwange was scheduled to take in a number of the initiatives run by Wilderness, every destination was at least 45 minutes away (“depending on traffic,” as Charles put it, as you never know when your path will be interrupted by something like an elephant in musth). This meant that there were constant intermissions to shoot all manner of wildlife, from preening secretary birds to clownish baboons to elusive leopards.

We visited a village where the community is overcoming 21st Century problems by combining traditional techniques with modern materials. Plastic litter and glass bottles are a big problem in the area, as there is no way to dispose of or recycle them. So groups of female basket weavers, 25-30 strong, have begun incorporating waste plastics into their weaving, producing unique and innovative baskets, mats and ornaments that can be taken to markets and sold to tourists.

Masonry in the region is benefitting from similar ingenuity. Empty glass bottles are being hand-crushed by groups of 10-12 workers, who then use the crushed glass as a compound for brick mortar. The shards glisten like jewels in the painstakingly produced brickwork, which is used to provide modern materials to build sturdier structures in the area.

In the same village we visited Ngano Primary School, where the results of Wilderness Safaris’ initiatives are being directly felt by the next generation. The school has benefitted from a well-stocked library and children’s laptops, as well as banks of solar panels that enable the devices to be powered by the country’s greatest natural resource.

In addition, a Solar Literacy project means that students can receive individual book-sized solar panels – enabling them to power lights and continue to read, even when the sun goes down.

One of the highlights of the entire trip was visiting the Scorpion anti-poaching unit, which had apprehended a pair of poachers the day of our arrival: a man in his thirties and a teenage boy, who had been caught setting snare traps.

The Scorpions explained that the men were not poaching for the black market, but rather for the animals’ meat that they would either eat or sell. It was enlightening to see the reality that not all poachers are evil; some are just trying to feed their families, in a country where there is 95% unemployment and 10 million people are going hungry.

The lion sleeps tonight

Our accommodation at Davison’s Camp was plush. While described as tents, and though certainly sheathed in canvas, that does the quarters quite a disservice. With full porcelain bathroom suite, super king size bed and multiple power points to charge batteries, it was a blissful place to rest your head at the end of the day – though we were warned that animals roam the camp after dark, so we had to be escorted to and from our rooms by armed guides, which made bumps in the night a little less easy to ignore.

Each morning heard a 5am “Wakey wakey!” friendly wakeup call from a guide, after which we breakfasted and set off by 05:45 for a sunrise game drive. We struck gold on our very first morning, not just because of the pristine golden hour dawn but because a pride of lions were feasting on an elephant carcass at a nearby watering hole. This was a fantastic opportunity to photograph the matriarchs eating, as well as youngsters pawing and playing around between bites.

Having recently decided to start a YouTube channel , I took advantage of the opportunity to shoot some footage for my vlog. Pairing the 300mm lens and MC-20 teleconverter, exploiting the 5-stop Sync-IS of the E-M1 bodies, it was possible to shoot 4K video at an equivalent 1200mm focal length handheld . I knew that Olympus’ stabilization was fantastic for stills, but this video performance truly blew me away.

The lions didn’t stay playful and sleepy for long, however. A buffalo had, brazenly or foolishly, wandered down to the other side of the watering hole for a drink. Despite already having full bellies, plus the rest of a carcass to eat, the pride couldn’t help itself and began maneuvering round to stalk its fresh prey.

Charles likewise repositioned our vehicle, joining a couple of other Wilderness 4x4s up on an embankment for a better vantage point. As a guest in another Hilux wrestled a pair of tank-like DSLRs out of his bags and struggled to stabilize his bazooka-sized lenses on an awkwardly raised knee, I was grateful to be using Micro Four Thirds kit.

Hot-swapping between the two bodies and their 40-150mm and 300mm lenses, I was able to get shoot the lions as they flanked, surrounded and attacked the buffalo – though the full bellies were their downfall, as the buffalo was able to fend off their half-hearted offense.

Some of the E-M1 pair’s other tricks came in handy elsewhere on the trip, namely Pro Capture – a feature that starts buffering frames as soon as you half-press the shutter. By recording the last 15 frames before you fire the shutter and the 20 frames afterwards, you never miss that decisive moment – which was perfect for capturing birds in flight, cubs play fighting, or getting the perfect cloud of dust on a sandbathing elephant.

While Wilderness doesn’t pitch itself as a photographic safari tour operator, the images I came home with were at least 50% down to the experience and expertise of our guide. Without Charles asking what we wanted to shoot and where we wanted the light to be, and then putting us in the right place at the right time, all the Pro Capturing in the world wouldn’t have got me the shots.

At the same time, when a full-frame 600mm f/4 lens is 3.9kg and 13 grand (as opposed to 1.2kg and 2,300 bucks for the Olympus), I simply couldn’t have brought my equivalent full-frame kit within that 10kg limit. While the gear is never more important than the idea, when weight and travelability are crucial, sometimes it makes all the difference.

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There are photographs of Hwange that I’ll cherish forever. A baby elephant with a feather in its mouth like Dumbo. A mother cheetah crying out for her cub. A hippo snapping its jaws. However, I’ll never again be able to hear the Jurassic Park theme without thinking of a five-ton elephant charging right at me.

For more information, visit www.wilderness-safaris.com . A vlog of the trip can be seen at www.youtube.com/c/Artaius . 

You might be interested in the best cameras for wildlife photography and the best lenses for bird and wildlife photography .

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Lions prioritize draft over splashy moves in free agency

safari of lions

DETROIT -- For the Detroit Lions , the 2023 season was certainly one to remember.

The organization won its first division championship in three decades, tied the franchise record for most wins in a season (12) and reached the NFC Championship Game under the guidance of third-year coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.

So the question now is: What's next?

History suggests Holmes and Campbell won't be making any bold moves through free agency when the window opens on March 13, but they'll do their due diligence.

The Lions are expected to have upward of $55 million in cap space and they have the No. 29 pick in the first round of the NFL draft.

Although this year's salary cap will be $30.6 million more per team than last year's $224.8 million, Holmes has said he will remain selective and strategic in identifying top free agents.

Ideally, the Lions want to acquire the best players through the draft, develop them and re-sign them once they're eligible for an extension, such as wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown , Pro Bowl offensive lineman Penei Sewell and defensive tackle Alim McNeill , who are all eligible for extensions this offseason.

"That's why we always talk about how selective and strategic we do have to be in free agency, because you don't really know these players," Holmes said during Tuesday's availability at the NFL combine. "You see what you see on film, but like I've told all of you that's the easy, coherent part. Can a guy come off the football? OK. That's easy. But you don't really know them, and so that's why you have to be real careful, but when you draft and you know your own guys, you feel a lot more comfortable."

The biggest needs for the Lions in free agency and the draft include outside cornerback, defensive end, offensive guard, defensive tackle and wide receiver. Some of their notable free agents include safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and wide receiver Josh Reynolds , but perhaps their biggest priority will be whether to extend veteran quarterback Jared Goff .

Coming off one of the best years of his career, Goff will be entering the final year of his contract next season. Although the Lions haven't reached a decision on Goff's future, it'll be interesting to see if they lock him down as their guy for the short term or long term based on his recent play, which included becoming the third quarterback in franchise history to record multiple playoff wins. They were the Lions' first playoff wins in more than three decades.

Defensively, there was inconsistency, particularly in the pass rush and the secondary.

The Lions could benefit from adding depth at cornerback and pairing another edge rusher with Aidan Hutchinson .

With offensive guards Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow also set to enter free agency, the Lions could consider adding depth on the interior offensive line.

"If you want to be a good team, you have to draft well and then you re-sign those guys. That's your core, and then you find the right pieces of free agents to fill in with. We both believe that," Campbell said "So, I think you've got to be careful. You want to go spend top dollar on a free agent that's not your own, you want to know everything about that player before you bring him into your locker room.

"I mean, you can see the tape on all these ... whereas your own guys, you pay top dollar for your own guys that are worthy from production because you know everything about them. It's something we believe in, it's something we're gonna continue to do."

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