{"id":9004,"date":"2019-06-04T14:34:45","date_gmt":"2019-06-04T14:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/?p=9004"},"modified":"2019-06-04T14:34:45","modified_gmt":"2019-06-04T14:34:45","slug":"top-places-see-wild-lions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/top-places-see-wild-lions","title":{"rendered":"Top places to see wild lions"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019d hedge a bet that just about everyone coming on an African safari has lions on their wildlife must-see list, and we completely understand why. The most iconic of the continent\u2019s big cats, lion are majestic and fascinating to watch in the wild. There are, however, less around than you might think. In many areas, the cats are under threat from habitat loss and human conflict and to see them in their natural environment has become a scarce privilege. But we\u2019re here to help you find these beautiful beasts and we\u2019ve put together a definitive list of the top places to see wild lions in Africa. Read on to find out more\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Top<\/a>
\nMasai Mara<\/h2>\n

Kenya<\/em><\/p>\n

Home of the Marsh pride of lions, made eternally famous by the BBC documentary, Big Cat Diaries and more recently, David Attenborough\u2019s Dynasties, the Masai Mara<\/a> is always going to be one of the top places to see wild lions in Africa. Named after the glorious Musiara Marsh in the heart of the reserve, the pride is everything you would expect from TV superstars \u2013 strong and healthy and completely unperturbed by the vehicles that come to see them. But of course, the Marsh pride aren\u2019t the only lions in this beautiful spot; the Mara is carnivore country and there are more than a few cats to be spotted often in larger than average prides, in different areas and territories.<\/p>\n

To be in with a chance of seeing the Marsh pride, add a few nights at either Governor\u2019s<\/a> or Little Governor\u2019s Camp<\/a>. Both are in the vicinity of the Musiara Marsh, the pride\u2019s stomping ground, and Governor\u2019s was in fact the camp of choice for the Big Cat Diaries film crew.<\/p>\n

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\"Masai<\/figure>
Masai Mara<\/div>
Learn more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n

\"Top<\/a><\/p>\n

Ruaha National Park<\/h2>\n

Tanzania<\/em><\/p>\n

10% of the world\u2019s lion population supposedly roam the rugged terrain of southern Tanzania\u2019s Ruaha National Park<\/a>, earning it second place on our list of top places to see wild lions. It\u2019s a remote paradise of fat baobabs and sandy riverbeds, far off the beaten track of the country\u2019s usual hotspots, where the lion sightings are private, exclusive and most definitely free of tourist crowds. If you\u2019re brave enough for an up close and personal big cat encounter then this is the place to do it, for Ruaha is famous for both its walking safaris and extraordinary guides \u2013 a winning combination if ever we saw one.<\/p>\n

For a truly intimate, traditional bush camp experience, Kigelia Camp<\/a> is the place to be in Ruaha, or pull out all the stops at the fabulous Jabali Ridge<\/a>; both will reveal lion sightings to remember.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Ruaha<\/figure>
Ruaha<\/div>
Learn more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n

\"Top<\/a>
\nOkavango Delta<\/h2>\n

Botswana<\/em><\/p>\n

It will come as no surprise that wildlife hotspot the Okavango Delta<\/a> has made it on to our list of top places to see wild lions on the continent. But where exactly should you be headed to maximise your big cat sightings? The Duba Concession is a 33,000-acre matrix of glorious woodland, waterways and palm-spotted islands and it\u2019s one of these tiny islands that forms the stage for some of the most incredible lion activity you\u2019ll ever see. Trapped by the surrounding water, the resident buffalo herd is a prime target for the lions on the island and the battles that commence are epic in every sense of the word. Expect unusual behaviour, fascinating sightings and extremely well-fed cats.<\/p>\n

Duba Concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta<\/a> is home to uber-luxurious Duba Plains Camp<\/a> as well as the Duba Plains Suite<\/a>, a fabulous, two-bedroomed house with all the mod-cons for lion viewing in ultimate style.<\/p>\n

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\"Okavango<\/figure>
Okavango Delta<\/div>
Learn more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n

\"Top<\/a>
\nSouth Luangwa National Park<\/h2>\n

Zambia<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s rare that a blog article appears without a mention our favourite park, but when the lion population is as good as it is in the South Luangwa<\/a>, we most certainly couldn\u2019t leave it out. The northerly region of the park is the top spot for big cat watching but you certainly won\u2019t miss out if you\u2019re staying around the main gate \u2013 the difference is that in the north, you\u2019ll probably have the sightings all to yourself. Up here, the Marsh and the Hollywood prides dominate the animal kingdom (keep your eyes peeled for dominant males George and Brad in particular \u2013 just as beautiful as their namesakes!) and it\u2019s rare to not see them lounging and lazing under the trees as you drive. Even better, night drives are permitted in the South Luangwa, increasing your chances of seeing a hunt tenfold.<\/p>\n

Our favourite camps for lion spotting in the northern region of the South Luangwa<\/a> include the aptly-named Lion Camp<\/a>, Kaingo<\/a>,or Mchenja Bush Camp<\/a>\u2013 add any of them to your Zambia<\/a> trip and lion sightings are (almost) guaranteed.<\/p>\n

\n
\"South<\/figure>
South Luangwa<\/div>
Learn more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n

\"Top<\/a><\/p>\n

Serengeti National Park<\/h2>\n

Tanzania<\/em><\/p>\n

One of the continent\u2019s most well-known parks, the Serengeti<\/a> is a must-visit if the King of the Jungle (or savannah in this case!) is top of your wish list. The iconic, grassy plains attract herds of antelope, great and small, and if there\u2019s one thing lions love, it\u2019s an antelope. Throughout the year, game drives will provide plenty of predator vs. prey action in just about every region of the park, but if it\u2019s real spine-tingling, memory-making game viewing you\u2019re looking for, time your visit for the river crossings of the Great Migration<\/a> in the north (July to October are the best months). It\u2019s here that tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra congregate on the banks of the Mara River in a tangle of hooves and horn \u2013 and you can be sure that the lions are never far away\u2026<\/p>\n

Namiri Plains Camp<\/a>, in the eastern section of the park, has one of the highest concentrations of big cats in the park and yields incredible sightings year-round. For Great Migration viewing from July to October, our favourite camps include Olakira Migration Camp<\/a> (a mobile camp) and Lamai Serengeti Camp<\/a> (our favourite \u2018permanent\u2019 choice).<\/p>\n

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\"Serengeti<\/figure>
Serengeti<\/div>
Learn more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n

\"Top<\/a>
\nKruger National Park and surrounds<\/h2>\n

South Africa<\/em><\/p>\n

The most exclusive of the Kruger\u2019s<\/a> private reserves, you\u2019ll often hear the name Sabi Sands bandied around when it comes to the top places to see wild lions. The lions here are ambush hunters and will lie in wait at waterholes, ready to pounce on any thirsty prey that comes their way. As a result, the winter months (July to October) are probably the best for exciting sightings – the grasses are short and you\u2019ll spot the flicker of a tail from miles away. Just north of the Sabi Sands is Timbavati, another exclusive reserve, this one famous for its population of white lions. Unlike their amber-coated relatives, the lions here have completely white fur, not as a result of albinism but rather a genetic quirk known as leucism, and photographing them is a delight.<\/p>\n

In the Sabi Sands, Ulusaba Safari Lodge<\/a> and Dulini Lodge<\/a> are two fabulous choices to add to your South African<\/a> route, and both are in excellent game viewing areas, whilst in the Timbavati, it would have to be classic Tanda Tula<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Kruger<\/figure>
Kruger<\/div>
Learn more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\"General\"General<\/figure>
Design your own trip<\/div>\n Choose a destination, pick your properties and we'll do the rest<\/span>\n
Design a trip<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where to find Africa\u2019s most iconic big cat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":9011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173,176],"tags":[40,42,4591,4588,53,4590,4596,4597,3123,4589,4307,66,3278,4598,72,4594,139,537,4305,3612,4149,4593,135,3374,2540,4592,4599,79,4600,4368,84,3277,4601,3290,87,92,3228,93,136,3064,4602,96,4595,140,3335,4322,4587,107],"class_list":["post-9004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safari","category-top-10s","tag-africa","tag-african-safari","tag-attenborough","tag-big-cat-diaries","tag-botswana","tag-david-attenborough","tag-duba-plains-camp","tag-duba-plains-suite","tag-dulini-lodge","tag-dynasties","tag-governors-camp","tag-great-migration","tag-jabali-ridge","tag-kaingo-camp","tag-kenya","tag-kigelia-camp","tag-kruger","tag-kruger-national-park","tag-lamai-serengeti-camp","tag-lion-camp","tag-lions","tag-little-governors-camp","tag-masai-mara","tag-mchenja-bush-camp","tag-migration","tag-musiara-marsh","tag-namiri-plains-camp","tag-okavango-delta-2","tag-olakira-migration","tag-olakira-migration-camp","tag-ruaha","tag-ruaha-national-park","tag-sabi-sabi","tag-sabi-sands","tag-safari","tag-serengeti","tag-serengeti-national-park","tag-south-africa","tag-south-luangwa","tag-south-luangwa-national-park","tag-tanda-tula","tag-tanzania","tag-the-duba-concession","tag-the-great-migration","tag-timbavati","tag-ulusaba-safari-lodge","tag-wild-lions","tag-zambia"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTop places to see wild lions in Africa - 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