African Lion
Panthera leo
Field notes
How they live.
- Diet
- Carnivore (wildebeest, zebra, buffalo)
- Social structure
- Prides consisting of related females, their cubs, and a coalition of dominant males
- 01
Lions are the only cats that live in social groups (prides).
- 02
A lion's roar can be heard from up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) away.
- 03
Female lions (lionesses) do about 90% of the hunting for the pride.
Where to see them
Your best chances.
Ranked by how reliably our guides find african lion in each park. Nature makes no promises, but the odds are not equal.
- Masai MaraKenya · Approx. 850-900Best months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- NgorongoroTanzania · Approx. 60-70Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- SerengetiTanzania · Approx. 3,000Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctAbundant
- AmboseliKenya · Approx. 100Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- LaikipiaKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Lake NakuruKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Ol PejetaKenya · Approx. 70Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- SamburuKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- TarangireTanzania · Approx. 250Best months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, NovCommon
- Tsavo EastKenya · Approx. 600Best months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctCommon
- Lake ManyaraTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctOccasional
- Tsavo WestKenya · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, OctOccasional
- Lake EyasiTanzania · Varies by season / Data unavailableBest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, OctRare
Also out there
The rest of the field guide.
Plan your journey
Go and find the african lion.
Tell us this is what you came for, and we will build the route, the season and the guiding to give you the best possible chance.