Despite being crowned the ‘Kings of the Jungle’, lions can often be trickier to spot in the wild than one might expect. However, if you know where to look it’s possible to catch sightings of these majestic big cats in their natural habitats, and our travel experts take pride in possessing this expertise. As symbols of strength and power for many cultures, the regal association is certainly warranted, yet you won’t have much luck trying to see them in the jungle (given that they only inhabit plains and grasslands). Traverse the lush landscapes of Botswana’s Okavango Delta or coast through Serengeti National Park in Tanzania for the chance to get up close to the real-life cast of The Lion King. Read on for our list of the best places to see lions…
- The Masai Mara, Kenya
- Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Hoanib Valley, Namibia
- Okavango Delta, Botswana
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Masai Mara, Kenya
Kenya's Masai Mara is one of the most densely populated wildlife areas on earth and home to a very high concentration of lions. Naturally, this also makes the area pretty dense with tourists. Luckily, we're in the know on the best out-of-the-way camps and have a little black book of guides who know isolated spots for tracking wildlife away from other 4x4s. While the Mara plays host to plenty of Simba look-a-likes, the real life lion prides here have also been immortalised in the BBC’s TV series Big Cat Diary, which follows five of the most prominent prides along the eastern banks of the Mara River.
Eastern Cape, South Africa
South Africa's Eastern Cape is malaria-free, which makes it the ideal spot for a family safari adventure and one of the best places to see lions. Parents can take their own pride to see lions, elephants, cheetahs, warthogs et al. without worrying about persuading them to swallow much-maligned malaria tablets. With the help of family friendly guides and plenty of activities - from fire making and bush art to braai-ing (a sort of South African barbecue) - parents can enjoy plenty of alone time, and even an evening game drive sans enfants.
Hoanib Valley, Namibia
Namibia's vast deserts are home to some rather special lions. The big cats who live in the country's far north have adapted over the course of thousands of years to cope with their desert environment. In a display of survival of the fittest, they have slightly smaller paws, need less water and have longer legs to keep them higher above the hot sand. On an aerial safari, it is even possible to spot them hunting seals on the beach. The best time for catching sight of these tawny-coloured creatures is during the winter (from June to October), when vegetation is less dense and animals flock to the remaining water sources.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Thanks to the abundance of buffaloes found in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, the lions here are bigger than your average ones found throughout the rest of Africa. The predators are particularly powerful on Duba Island, one of the best places to see lions in the Delta, and prides have adapted to the swampy conditions of the Okavango by mastering the skill of deep water swimming and hunting by day (despite typically being nocturnal). This day-time hunting ritual allows visitors to witness the wildcats in action during daylight.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is renowned for possessing the lion’s share (excuse the pun) of fierce felines and is often described as ‘big cat country’ in recognition of its large lion population. The legendary Wildebeest Migration that takes place here annually can take some credit for this, as the migrating prey attracts hordes of hungry hunters. Africa’s oldest lion research project has been operating in Tanzania for over 50 years, monitoring prides throughout the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and other northern parks.
Written by Luisa Watts