Everything you need to know about seeing lions on safari

Out on the wild African plains, female lions stalk and take down speedy ungulates 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, you can witness the wild behaviours of these magnificent mammals, and the drama of the African plains unfold in front of your very eyes. The African safari experience is world-renowned for its wildlife, activities and luxurious accommodation; lions can often be a big part of this.

These big cats are fascinating to watch, people often want to sit and watch their days unfold for hours on end on the plains of Africa, and we put you in the right place at the right time to do that.

NEXT STEPS

• Browse our Kenya holidays
• Download our free Kenya guide
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Highlights

Lion Cubs

Lions are sociable and hang round in prides, it's not uncommon to see cubs with them.

Hunting Lionesses

The female lions are the ones who hunt, and seeing it in the wild is an awe-inspiring experience.

Lion vs Buffalo

Duba Plains is world famous for it's lion vs buffalo action.

African wildlife safari by Russ MacLaughlin

The African Lion

Lions vary in colour from light buff to yellowish, reddish or brown making them unmistakable compared with the other large cats in Africa. Lions live in groups called prides consisting of females, usually belonging to the same family, and between 1 and 4 males who defend the territory.

Most of the hunting is done by the smaller more agile females 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.

Found in isolated parks throughout Southern Africa extending through Zambia and Malawi into Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda with pockets of prides found across Africa just south of the Sahara Desert.

Experts view: Oliver Greenfield

African lions can be found on safaris throughout Africa, and are often a highlight of the stay, especially the black-maned lions of the Kalahari.

African lion facts

CONSERVATION STATUS Considered vulnerable, numbers are thought to be between 16,500 and 47,000.

HABITAT Lions thrive in various habitats, from vast plains, to salt pans and even in trees.

LENGTH Males can grow up to 5.6 feet in length, from head to tail.

Why book with us

We are destination specialists

Our team of specialists have extensive on-the-ground knowledge and have all lived, guided or explored in great detail the destinations that they sell. They will design your journey around you, at the right place at the right time.

We are wildlife specialists

As a leading specialist operator we have excellent partnerships with naturalists and conservationists. We know our wildlife and do what we can to preserve its natural habitat.

We really care about our destinations

At Natural World Safaris we frequently monitor the social, economic and environmental impact of our travel operations to ensure we are at the forefront of a sustainable and ethical tourism industry.

Your Next Steps

Download our big cat travel guide, or talk to one of our specialists for more details on tracking big cats in the wild. Please note we recommend a budget of from £7,000 / $10,000 USD per person for our style of trip to this destination.