Safaris are of African origin and are associated with its magnificent wildness and there is no better animal than the lion. The lions are commonly referred to as the King of the Jungle and they are grand creatures that are respected and feared. Their crude strength, social organization and attractiveness make them among the most desired animals to see in an African safari. Whether you are an expert safari-goer or this is your first time, a visit to the wild lions will be a life time experience.
Here, we will discuss the Best Places to See Lions in Africa, whether it is a huge national park or private conservancy, which has a chance at its own to observe such a majesty in the action. To ensure that you see lions in the beautiful and wildlife-rich places in the continent, this list will guide you in planning your safari experience in the savannas of East Africa, through to the deserts of Southern Africa.
1. Masai Wildlife Reserve, Kenya.
Serengeti National Park is, perhaps, among the first places that come to mind when you mention lions in Africa. It is among the best known safari sites in the globe, and is a UNESCO world heritage site that has two huge plains, which are well endowed with wildlife. Serengeti has one of the biggest selected species of lions in Africa, and is also the best place to spot lions.
These lions are known to be good hunters and social animals. Big prides are supported by the ecosystem in the park and frequently, visitors are able to see dramatic interactions between predators and preys. The variety of environments found in Serengeti fills the park with different lion viewing opportunities throughout the year that are available by different ecosystems such as grasslands, wood and riverine forests. Lions are most active in the early morning hours and in the afternoon thus being the most appropriate times to see.
2. Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta in Botswana is also the most diverse and the purest ecosystem in Africa. This interior delta has attracted an extreme amount of wildlife such as one of the most successful lion populations globally. The Okavango Delta is known to have some of the best wetlands, canals and islands and has provided an incredible opportunity of viewing lions in diverse environments; the dry savanna environment and the floods of water environment.
This is one of the most interesting phenomena of seeing lions in the Okavango Delta and concern the behavior of lions that inhabit this place. Other prides have become accustomed to hunting in the water and hunt creatures such as buffalo and antelope as they come to feed in the channels of the delta. The Moremi Game Reserve is especially notable, with the lion population being very high and having a high amount of lions that tourists can frequently view when hunting or resting along the shore of the water bodies. This is why the Okavango Delta was one of the Best Places To See Lions in Africa, a combination of water-based and land-based safari experiences.
3. Kenya, Masai mara national reserve.
The Masai Mara National reserve is a luxury safari attraction and among the Best Places to See Lions in Africa. The Mara which is found in southwestern Kenya is known to be a great place of wildlife and scenic beauty. Here, lions are specifically abundant and several renowned lion prides can be found in the reserve which conservationists have documented and researched in large numbers.
Masai Mara is also known as the Great migration where millions of wildebeest, zebras and other grazers pass through the plains in search of water and food. Guests are always close companions of the lions and they usually get to experience exciting predator-prey action during this period. Nevertheless, lion sighting is the norm in the Mara throughout the year and with the vast grasslands in the park, this has offered the lion excellent prey due to perfect hunting environment by the creatures. The dry season is the best season to visit to see the lions because the grasses are shorter and therefore wildlife is easily spotted.
4. Botswana, Chobe National Park.
Another brilliant place to find lions is the Chobe National Park located in Botswana, especially along the Chobe River. Large population of the elephants is another advantage of this park besides being very good in sighting the lion, the best place to see this animal is in the north of this park where the river joins the floodplains. The lions of Chobe are also known to hunt and stalk along the banks of the river especially during the dry season when the wildlife is concentrated on water sources.
The diverse ecosystems present in the park such as savannas, riverine forests, etc., provide a large prey population that increases the number of lions attracted. Another good place to see the lion is the Savute Marsh area because it is one of the most preferred hunting grounds by these mighty predators. One of the most common species in this area is the lion hunting buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. Chobe is a land and boat safari, which provides a visitor with a unique experience of watching lions in their various habitats.
5. Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
Hwange National Park is considered to be one of the most important and the largest in Africa and its position is in the west of Zimbabwe. The park is popular due to the high population of elephants, although it harbors a successful population of lions. Large open areas that consist of grasslands, woodlands, salt pans make the park an excellent place of watching lions especially during the dry season where animals congregate around water holes.
The lions of Hwange have a great social arrangement and hunt in groups. The isolated location of the park ensures that the park receives relatively low visitors compared to other leading safaricentres hence this also makes it an ideal place considering that visitors seek wildlife especially intimate and a non-disturbing environment. Other predators can be seen by the visitor as well in the form of leopards and wild dogs in addition to the lions. Hwange National Park has been listed as one of the Best Places To See Lions in Africa because of the presence of wildlife and less number of tourists visiting it.
6. Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Kruger National Park is regarded as one of the best safari parks in South Africa and also has a healthy population of lions. Kruger is one of the most diverse wildlife experiences taking place in the northeastern side of the country with some of the best lion views in the rest of Africa. Visitors can move about the diverse landscapes at ease in the park due to the vast road network within the park to experience lions in different locations.
There are big prides of lions in Kruger and people find themselves constantly looking at lions lying in the sun, or in hunt or resting. Sabi Sand Game Reserve, belonging to the larger Kruger region, in fact, is especially famous in the density of lions, and a number of prides here can be very much accustomed to the presence of safari vehicles. Due to the variety of landscapes to be found in Kruger, including thick brushlands and open plains, lions can be viewed in many different environments and therefore it is one of the Best Places To See Lions In Africa.
7. Zululandi Transfrontier Park, South Africa/Botswana.
To get further and rougher, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park will provide an option to observe lions up in the picturesque desert set-up. It is a massive park that lies across the boundaries of Botswana and South Africa, which is marked by the red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and special wildlife. The Kalahari Desert is highly hostile environment and the lions here are highly adapted to accommodate the climatic conditions of the Kala Desert and are commonly observed roaming in the open plains.
Kalahari lions are known and notorious in terms of size and strength and it is usual to see the magnificent creatures, particularly around waterholes. The park has several lion prides roaming the desert in search of their prey such as springbok and gemsbok. Visitors may explore remote parts of the park on either self-drive safaris or guided game drives and receive an opportunity to observe the amazing behavior of Kalahari lion within one of the rarest safari wechselt.
8. South Africa, Timbavati Game Reserve.
Timbavati Game Reserve is a private reserve located in the greater Kruger area which is associated with exceptional lion sightings. A healthy population of lions exists in the reserve including white lions of Timbavati which is a rare and specific genetic variation that endears the animal to tourists in the world.
Through its exclusive safari getaways, tourists get a chance of experiencing wildlife close up and Timbavati being a lesser visited section of the main Kruger national park has less tourists compared to the main section. The habitat variety of animals provides the best chances of finding lions, particularly in the early mornings and late afternoons, when lions are most active in the reserve such as savannas, woodlands, riverbeds and so on.
9. The Etosha National Park, Namibia.
Even though most people would not have thought that etosha national park Namibia has great chances of viewing lions especially the areas near the waterholes of the park. Etosha has salt pans and open plains which are well known and lions can easily be seen roaming to find their prey. Roads and waterholes are well-kept and the park is considered as one of the places in Africa where it is best to see Lions particularly during the dry season where animals congregate over the little water that is left.
Lions are seen frequently patrolling the water holes preying on the springbok, gemsbok, and wildebeest. The massive size of the park and distinctive topography provide more remote experience in the safari, and people have a chance to see the lion in one of the most specific natural settings in Africa.
10. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Ngorongoro Crater, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the places where lions can be seen in Africa. The volcanic crater commonly known as the Eighth Wonder of the World houses a large population of wildlife with a large number of lions. The fertile crater floor with its lush grasslands and forested regions are an experience that offers the ideal habitat to these top predators.
The lions of Ngorongoro have been frequently observed lying on the grassy plains in pursuit of zebras, wildebeest, and other animals. The fact that the crater is only relatively small can be seen to result in the wildlife being concentrated in a single area providing the visitors with a good opportunity to view the lions in close detail. Ngorongoro will be a magnificent experience of safari as one will be able to observe lions in a very unique and breathtaking view.
Conclusion
Whether it is the plains of the Serengeti, or the dry ground of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Africa can give people some of the greatest sites in the world to view lions in nature. Be it in the most well-known reserves such as Maasai Mara, Kruger and Serengeti, or more remote ones, such as Timbavati and Kgalagadi, the continent is swarmed with choices of seeing these great animals in their natural ecosystem. With well-planned safari, you will, of course, be rewarded with some memorable moments in the wild of Africa as you see the raw sides of the ferocity and beauty of the lions.
