Species guide · Most wanted
Where to see lions in Africa
Lions are the animal almost every first safari is built around, and the good news is that in the right places they are seen on most days. Choosing where to go shapes the kind of lion experience you get: big open-plain prides, swamp lions that wade through water, or the dark-maned lions of the desert.
Quick answer
For the most lion sightings, the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania are hard to beat. In southern Africa, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger in South Africa, and the Busanga Plains in Zambia's Kafue are excellent. Go in the dry season, roughly June to October, and stay at least three nights.
Best regionMasai Mara and Serengeti
Best in southern AfricaOkavango and Greater Kruger
Best timeJune to October
The best places to look
Kenya and Tanzania
Masai Mara and Serengeti
Open grassland with large prides and the great migration; the classic place to watch lions hunt.
Botswana
Okavango Delta
Prides that have learned to cross water and hunt buffalo, in private concessions with few vehicles.
South Africa
Sabi Sand and Greater Kruger
Reliable sightings with off-road tracking, and easy to combine with leopard and the rest of the Big Five.
Zambia
Kafue and the Busanga Plains
Remote floodplains famous for tree-climbing lions and vast lechwe herds, with very few other visitors.
South Africa and Botswana
The Kalahari
Dark-maned desert lions in red dunes and dry riverbeds. See our guide to the black-maned Kalahari lion.
When to go
| Months | Chances | Why |
|---|---|---|
| June to October | Best | Dry season: short grass and animals concentrated at water make prides easier to find. |
| November to May | Good | Green season: fewer visitors and plenty of newborn prey, with good lion activity. |
Tips from the field
- Stay at least three nights; lions sleep up to 20 hours a day, so time in the field matters.
- Go out early. Lions are most active at dawn and dusk.
- Choose private reserves or concessions where guides can drive off-road to follow a pride.
Questions travellers ask
Where is the best place in Africa to see lions?
The Masai Mara and Serengeti give the most consistent sightings. In southern Africa, the Okavango Delta and Greater Kruger are the strongest choices.
Are lions easy to see on safari?
In the best areas, yes. Most guests in the Mara, the Okavango or the Sabi Sand see lions within a few days.
Are lions one of the Big Five?
Yes. The Big Five are lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
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