This was published 4 years ago
The best places to see lions in Africa: The world's most exciting animal to see in the wild
By Ben Groundwater
The largest lion in the region with his huge amber eyes, looks for shade, Mombo, Botswana.
In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion most definitely does not sleep tonight. Anyone who has spent the early hours camped in an African game reserve, huddled in a pitch-dark tent or cabin, listening in awe and a state of nervous excitement to the noises of the night will be able to tell you that.
The lion doesn't sleep – it roars. It roars with a sound that's nothing like the one you're expecting, not the short, sharp growl that you've heard on TV or in movies. A real lion's roar is a whole series of sounds that can last for minutes at a time, a growl that turns into a grunt, a primal, guttural "hoo hoo hoo" that carries for kilometres over empty bushland, that convinces you the source of this tremendous noise is right near you, close enough to smell its breath, to see the reflection of its eyes.
There's no sight in Africa or possibly the entire world as deeply impressive as a lion. There's just something about these magnificent creatures, something both beautiful and terrifying, both graceful and deadly. You never forget the first time you see a paw print in the dirt, a pad the size of a dinner plate. You never forget that feeling when you spot one of these beasts in the wild, as it lumbers towards you: the rhythmic rise of its shoulders, the pad of its paws, the glower of its huge eyes. Suddenly, you know your true place in the world.
Chikwenya - Zimbabwe.
Lions scare and fascinate us. It's partly why the original Lion King movie was so successful, and why a new version – featuring the vocal talents of Seth Rogan, Donald Glover and Beyonce, among others – released on July 17, was so widely anticipated. To celebrate the film's release, we've collected some of our favourite destinations on the African continent to view lions in the wild.
1. OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
If you're chasing big cats, Botswana is the place for you. The magnificent Okavango Delta is famous for the sheer size of its lions, thought to be the largest on Earth. The frequently sodden land here is tough terrain for lions, which need to be able to hunt in shallow waters, and to rely on taking down the likes of buffalo and hippopotamuses to survive. That makes for one amazing viewing experience. "Dereck and Beverly Joubert filmed their critically acclaimed documentary The Last Lions here, showcasing the lions interacting with the most daunting and dangerous species," says Sarah Hoyland, director of the Classic Safari Company. "The Okavango is renowned for epic encounters between predator and prey."
The largest lion in the region, Mombo, Botswana.Credit: CrookesAndJackson
WHERE TO STAY The pinnacle of lion viewing in the Okavango is thought to be around Duba Plains Camp, a stunning property located in the area the Jouberts were filming. See classicsafaricompany.com.au
2. ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK, NAMIBIA
This vast salt pan and game park in central Namibia offers an amazing experience, the chance to camp out in the middle of the reserve (behind high fences, of course) and listen in the night as lions roar. Public campsites such as Okaukuejo also offer the opportunity to sit around a floodlit waterhole and watch as prides of lions wander in for their nightly drink. "The low density of trees in Etosha makes it relatively easy to spot lions," says Sarah Hoyland. "For feline lovers, seeing 'desert-adapted' lions is hard to beat."
WHERE TO STAY For those on budget-friendly, self-drive safaris, public campsites within Etosha such as Okaukuejo and Onguma Tamboti are ideal. See etoshanationalpark.co.za For something a little more comfortable, Onguma The Fort is ideally located and unique in design and experience. See classicsafaricompany.com.au
3. MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE
For the truly adventurous lion seeker, Mana Pools offers an experience that's as close as you are ever likely – or would want – to come to lions in the wild. Here, walking safaris are extremely popular. Experienced guides lead bands of safari-goers into the bush on foot, seeking out the big game from a safe distance. "The park offers excellent lion habitat," says Lara Behrens, from safari experts Bench Africa, "with sparse vegetation allowing for good visibility. Mana Pools is famous for fairly relaxed wildlife, which means you can expect to get quite close on foot." Staring deep into the eyes of a wild lion while you're out there walking: there's nothing that can compare to that.
WHERE TO STAY There are many camps and lodges within Mana Pools, all of which will get you close to lions. These sites range from the mobile John's Camp (classicsafaricompany.com.au), which is basic but well serviced, to Chikwenya Camp, a luxurious property on a private concession. See benchafrica.com
4. MASAI MARA, KENYA
Although on safari there are never any iron-clad guarantees, if you really want to see lions, you should head to Kenya's spectacular Masai Mara. Here, thanks to the massive herds of wildebeest, buffalo and zebra constantly moving through, there's a large population of lions year-round, with a very strong chance of sightings for visitors. "Consistently the best lion sightings I've enjoyed have been in the Masai Mara," says Jeffrey Shewell, a Travel Designer at the Classic Safari Company. "Given the many years of Big Cat Diaries being filmed there, the cats are habituated to vehicles, so you have a very good chance of coming away from a safari with excellent close-up photos."
WHERE TO STAY Given its size and worldwide celebrity it's no surprise to find the Masai Mara has an abundance of accommodation options. On the budget end of the scale, Crocodile Camp is basic but comfortable (crocodilecamp-masaimara.com), while Elephant Pepper Camp, in the Mara North Conservancy, is stylish and luxurious. See classicsafaricompany.com.au
5. SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA
Zambia's South Luangwa is a stunning reserve that's famous for its vast and varied birdlife, for its large leopard population, and for its lions, which are abundant and active. This park is where the concept of the walking safari originated, so you can expect a visit here to include some time on foot, getting up-close and personal with the big cats. "South Luangwa is renowned for its world-class predator action," says Lara Behrens from Bench. "There are frequent sightings of sizeable prides of up to 30 lions."
WHERE TO STAY For the budget-conscious, Croc Valley (crocvalley.com) is a rustic camp just outside the park gates. For those who would prefer to be in the thick of the action, and enjoying a little more comfort, Time + Tide Chinzombo enjoys a vast sweep of the Luangwa River from its permanent luxury tents. See benchafrica.com for more.
FIVE MORE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
1. PENGUINS, ANTARCTICA
These funny, tuxedo-clad animals are the surprise packet of the animal world, adorable creatures that make up in charm what they may occasionally lack in grace or elegance. To spend time among a penguin colony on a trip to Antarctica is to marvel at just how entertaining waddling birdlife can be.
See chimuadventures.com/antarctica
2. WHALE SHARKS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The gentle giants of the marine world, whale sharks can be as long as 18 metres (that's one and a half double-decker buses), and yet move with incredible grace. These beasts circle the warm waters of Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef every March to August, and the experience of swimming with them in the wild is one for every bucket list.
3. GORILLAS, RWANDA
The anticipation builds as you trek through dense jungle, as the guides slash the undergrowth with machetes, as the sound of large creatures in your midst grows louder. And then, suddenly, there they are: mountain gorillas, huge and majestic, wild in the Rwandan jungle, and your life will never be the same again.
4. GIANT TORTOISES, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
As impressive as they are in both age and size, the giant tortoises of the Galapagos aren't even close to being the sole reason to visit this unique place. These islands host a huge range of amazing wildlife, from snorting marine iguanas to flightless cormorants, vast schools of hammerheads to swimming sea lions and penguins.
5. POLAR BEARS, CANADA
Although it's the – ahem – polar opposite of seeing penguins in Antarctica, viewing polar bears in the Arctic is just as impressive an experience, although far more intimidating. In Churchill, in Canada's far north, visitors can take to the surrounding tundra in search of these majestic and sadly increasingly threatened creatures.
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