However, the good news is that there are a number of properties and organisations in Africa that have made a great difference to the lion population in their regions, through a wide range of conservation practices.
Where are the best places in Africa to see lions and help their conservation?
The countries in Africa with the highest populations of lion are Tanzania (8000), followed by South Africa (2070), Kenya (1825) and Zimbabwe (1709). A very good reason to travel to Africa to see this magnificent creature, whilst it is still there!
Yet many responsible travellers these days are looking for something deeper from a safari than simply ticking a list or taking a photograph. Their thirst for knowledge about these magnificent beasts, their existence, their behaviour and their future for survival holds far more interest.
To this end, I can thoroughly recommend including the below organisations or properties in your safari, in order to help their conservation efforts and learn more at the same time:
Campi Ya Kanzi in the Chyulu Hills in Kenya and Shu’Mata in Tanzania: through great effort and donations have made a difference to the lion populations in their regions through education and monitoring. The lion populations have stabilised and then begun to increase.
Zakouma National Park in Chad is one of the most beautiful, pristine parks you will ever visit and they have an excellent lion population. On my last safari there I could hear lions calling to each other at night, then two lionesses paused to rest right in front of my tent, while I held my breath and marvelled at my luck at being able to witness their presence.
Safari with a lion conservation researcher: This is a non-touristy experience with a lion scientist which could take place, for example, in the Laikipia region in Kenya. For a donation, you can have an exhilarating experience, obtaining information that you would never normally have access to on a safari.
With sufficient notice, it may even be possible to include a collaring exercise, should there be a lion requiring it for conservation purposes. The lions are collared so that the researchers can follow their tracks and determine their movements, collating information and giving prior warning when they are nearing villages, all of which is vital to their survival.
As you may already know, the lion is often dubbed as the ‘King of the Jungle’. Funnily enough, though, you won’t actually find these magnificent creatures in any of the world’s jungles! However, they can be found across the great continent of Africa.
Mostly residing in the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, unlike many other big cats, lions are extremely social creatures. They are usually found in a pride of about 30 and often do everything from hunting to resting as a group.
But where exactly in Africa would you likely to encounter this special member of the Big Five?
Here are the top destinations you ought to visit if you’d like to get up close & personal with the majestic African lion:
Note: BookAllSafaris offers a flexible cancellation policy. Should you not be able to travel as scheduled, we’d be happy to help you alter your booking with the same organizer or a different organizer.
1. Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
Want to check out a region with one of the highest concentration of lions in the world? Tanzania should be your first stop. Tarangire National Park is just outside the city of Arusha and has about 1,000 square miles (2500 square kilometers) of land, ranging from swampy areas and rivers, to dry ground for the animals to roam in their natural habitat.
The park is home to thousands of animals and over 550 species of birds. What is truly unique about the lions you’ll find in Tarangire is that unlike the majority of lions, they tend to climb into the trees rather than lie in the shade below the trees.
Why do they do this – you asked? Well, most believe that because there are so many flies in the ground in this part of Africa that the lions often seek refuge from these pesky critters by ‘hiding out’ in the trees.
2. Maasai Mara Reserve, Kenya
This famous reserve is located on Kenya’s border with Tanzania, just across Serengeti National Park. Maasai Mara is home to about 580 square miles (1500 square kilometers) of open grassland and is named after the Maasai people of Kenya, who inhabited the area between Kenya and Tanzania.
The reserve is particularly famous for the large populations of lions that can be found there. You’d also be interested to know that these lions are outright ‘celebrities’!
They’re the stars of various popular lion documentaries, including Big Cat Diaries on BBC. Watch the kings of the jungle as they seek shade and rest under the few Acacia trees. For more lions, follow the Mara-Serengeti area into the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. This park houses the oldest lion research project in Africa.
3. Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Northern Botswana is another area known for large populations of lions. Near the city of Maun, Moremi Game Reserve is located, with nearly 2,000 square miles (5000 square kilometers) plot in the Okavango Delta. Tours through the reserve are offered in 4x4 vehicles or in a dug-out canoe known as a mokoro.
Moremi Game Reserve’s lion prides vary: Some are very accustomed to humans as regular guests, while other prides are much less accustomed to human activity, and tend to be much ‘wilder’.
Both the Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta are home to some of the world’s largest populations of lions, giving you plenty of opportunities to see these majestic animals.
4. Etosha National Park, Namibia
Lions in Namibia are quite unique. Contrary to living in grassland climates, lions in this area are accustomed to living in desert climates. Etosha National Park in Northern Namibia has the easiest accessible place to view lions, however, it isn’t in the desert region. Etosha’s lions are also extremely important to conservation.
If you’d like to ‘meet’ these lions, your best bet is to check out the remote Kaokoland or Damaraland regions of the country. The lions here live near the dry Skeleton Coast and are accustomed to the barren vegetation and dry sand dunes, not to mention the general lack of water. The best time to visit the lions of Namibia is during the winter months of June through October.
5. Kruger National Park, South Africa
In the Northwest corner of South Africa, Kruger National Park is set against the border between South Africa and Mozambique. This world-renowned park is roughly the size of New Jersey and is home to large populations of wild lions. For the best sightings, head to the central area of the park, home to large, open plains where lions are more likely to be on the prowl or just lounging around.
Note: In any of the countries we mentioned above, be wary of lion petting zoos. Many of these places are said to breed lions in a safe environment for conservation when in reality, many of them sell the lions when they become too big. Conservation safaris make a great option to ensure that your experience with these great creatures will not cause any harm.
Looking to snap unforgettable pictures of these breathtaking cats in their natural habitat? Check out our awesome selection of photography safaris!
Vulnerable (Around 23000 remain) Panthero leo
Affected by: Habitat loss and fragmentation , Illegal wildlife trade , Human wildlife conflict , Extractives
Powerful and majestic, the king of the beasts has no natural predators. But unthinkably, African lion numbers have plummeted by over 40% in the last three generations, due to loss of living space and conflict with people.
Lions are mammals and the most sociable of all big cats. They live in groups called prides, which usually consist of related females and their cubs. Dominant males, with their flowing manes (a sign of virility), fight to maintain breeding rights.
Lions are not currently endangered in Africa. However, three-quarters of their populations are in decline. The main threats to African lions are human-wildlife conflict and natural prey decline, as well as habitat loss, climate change and wildlife trade. With around 23,000 African lions left in the wild, they’re now officially classified as ‘vulnerable’.