Can you imagine a safari without lions? We can’t. That’s why at Africa Kenya Safaris, we specialize in bringing our guests to the best parks for spotting prides of lions.
Sure, these Kenya wildlife parks offer safari-goers close views of elephants, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, and dozens more wild species. But it’s the iconic lion, the “King of the jungle” that electrifies adventure seekers on the plains of Africa.
Read on to discover our favorite parks for the perfect Africa lions safari – the great savannahs where the prides venture out on the hunt and the cool glades where they come to rest in the tall grass after a conquest.
The Mighty Masai Mara
Maybe the most famous wildlife park in the world and with good reason. The Masai Mara National Reserve is not only home to many prides of lions but also the Great Migration, a yearly flood of wildebeest and zebra, pouring into the park. This torrent of grazers supports the nutritional needs of the many predators roaming the Mara lands.
The Masai Mara is said to be the richest ecosystem in the region and the park holds what might be the greatest number and concentration of lions in Africa. Of all the parks, you’ll have the most opportunities to spot these big cats, in this, Kenya’s most popular reserve.
Tsavo East and West
These parks are massive – Kenya’s largest and they hold all of Africa’s “Big Five” – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. But since our focus is the lion, you should know that these parks are home to an unusual subspecies of this big cat.
Tsavo lions are unique in that the males don’t sport the usual long manes as others throughout the continent do. On the other hand, they have a long reputation for their ferocity, and long-ago legend has singled them out as “man-killers”. You’ll find them prowling these big dusty fields amongst the acacia scrub and over great lava fields.
Samburu to the North
Northern Kenya’s most popular park, Samburu National Park is relatively untouristed. It’s home to lots of species like elephants, leopard, and cheetah. But lions are a big attraction here, stalking through the acacia forests and broad dry plains. You’ll find them slaking their thirst at the Ewaso Ng’iro River, along with the park’s other thirsty inhabitants.
Lions have a special place at Samburu. It was here that the legendary Joy Adamson, of “Born Free” fame brought Elsa, the lioness, raising her from a young cub to adulthood.
Ol Pejeta – A Special Conservancy
So close to Nairobi you can make it into a day trip, Ol Pejeta offers an incredible variety of wildlife, including many prides of lions. All the big and small cats roam Pejeta’s grasslands, bush, and riverine forests, like leopard, cheetah, and African wild dogs. Other predators include jackals, caracals, and foxes.
And if you feel like taking a break from the conservancy’s feline population, visit Sweetwaters Sanctuary – the only place in Kenya where you can see chimpanzees in a natural setting.
Your Africa safari isn’t complete without the excitement of experiencing lions in their true natural setting. So contact us at Africa Kenya Safaris and journey to one or several of these wildlife parks where we’ll bring you up close to these fantastic creatures.
