Lions in Masai Mara can be seen at Serian Mara north conservancy, Ol Kinyei conservancy Olare Motorogi conservancy, Mara triangle, Mustafa marsh area, Olare Olok conservancy and Tarek river area. Its important to go on a game drive with an experienced and knowledgeable ranger guide who knows more about Masai Mara lions, their territories and behavior such that you can have high chances of spotting them in their natural habitat.
Lion sightings during game drives are common in Masai Mara game reserve and almost 1000 lions live in Masai Mara national reserve making it one of the best destinations to look out for the King of the jungle Deming your trip to Africa. The lions is the largest of the African big cats. Seeing a lion while on a trip is satisfactory because it’s among the African big five which many travelers hope to see while on a trip to Africa.
Lions live in prides of about 10 to 20 members. Including a few males, several females with a dominant female and cubs. Lions protect their territories ranging from 30 to 400 kilometers squared and fights are inevitable when other prides cross territories of other prides. Females are mainly the ones who hunt while the males come in to assist with larger animals. Tourists visiting Masai Mara during the peak of annual wildebeests migration seasons can also have high chances of seeing lions.
Female lions have a gestation period of about 3 months and give birth to 1 to 6 cubs. The cubs are usually blind during birth and only begin to see when they are 2 weeks old. Female lions go on heat for 3 to 4 days in a month. During this time mating can happen 20 to 30 times in a day. During mating, pairs first separate themselves from the pride.
Male lions often kill young male lions for females to get on heat immediately. Reason why sometimes female lions isolate themselves when their due. And come back to the pride when the cubs are a little grown. The female will build a hidden den. Here she will hide the cubs from predators and other competing adults. She will breastfeed the cubs and hunt for them food. Until it’s time to move back to the pride where she will Carey them by their necks.
Lions communicate using sounds such as roars, meows, purrs, moans and snarls.
Lions reach sexual maturity from three to four years. Most of the males leave the pride to start up their own prides. During this time while females stay at their original pride. Lions cubs are weaned up to 6 to 7 months and start to practice hunting by 11 months old.
You can visit Masai Mara national park all year round. Have an opportunity to see lions although the best time is from June to September and December to February.
Plan for the great wildebeest migration by contacting our migration safari companies or inquire with us below to plan for your safari tour with us.
