Description: Lions vary in colour from light buff to yellowish, reddish or brown making them unmistakable compared with the other large cats in Africa. They are the top of the food chain when it comes to animals in Africa rightfully earning their title of the “King of the Jungle”. They live in groups called prides consisting of females usually belonging to the same family and then there will be 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. When they are hunting larger prey 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.
Distribution: 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.
Level of Protection: A recent study estimates the population of the lion to be between 16,500 and 47,000 animals living in the wild. Their numbers are on the decline and it is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Best time to visit: Subject to the destination you are visiting.
Safaris available: You will have a chance to see lions on a safari to South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and even Uganda.
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