This is Where to See Lions in South Africa

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Lions are one of the most popular and regal wildlife mammals in the world. These massive cats are the pride of Africa. If seeing lions in the wild is something you’ve always wanted to do, then South Africa is one of the best places to get a glimpse of these magnificent beasts. Lions are part of the famous Big Five, and seeing them is probably on most people’s bucket list!

Planning a trip to South Africa? Here’s a roundup of some of the best places to see lions in their natural habitat in the country.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Kruger National Park will give you the best opportunity to spot these beautiful creatures. This park is one of Africa’s most-famous safaris to view the Big Five and is located in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. And it’s vast, larger than the country of Wales. It has one of the most fertile lands in Africa and is home to a tremendous range of flora and fauna. The rich diversity of species in the park makes it a popular spot for safaris. And its large population of wild lions makes it one of the best options for spotting lions in Africa.

Because of its immense terrain, the park also has a wide range of geography and ecosystems creating unique habitats across the region. Lions are spread throughout, however, the population of lions is higher in the areas with rich vegetation owing to the availability of high numbers of prey.

SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

The Lowveld area of Mpumalanga hosts a group of private game reserves adjoining Kruger National Park, where the animals roam freely between parks. It’s not heavily populated with tourist resorts or lodges, so visitors get a more intimate safari experience. They come with multiple perks such as off-road driving and private night safaris that offer the opportunity to view lions hunting. Sabi Sands is one of the most exclusive of these, with excellent lion sightings.

TIMBAVATI GAME RESERVE

Timbavati is located between Hoedspruit and Acornhoek in the Mpumalanga province and is to the north of the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. It’s in this park where you’ll see the famous white lions. The name ‘Timbavati’ itself alludes to this rare species and means ‘the place where something sacred came down to Earth from the Heavens’. This refers to the magnificent white lions with big beautiful blue eyes that are considered a gift from heaven.

PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Phinda is located in Zululand in the KwaZulu-Natal province. This region boasts a variety of habitat and you’re sure to have one of the best opportunities to see assorted wildlife in the park’s diverse ecosystems. It’s famous for providing close-ups of the Big Five and is situated only a few hours away from Durban. You can start your day spotting some wild lions and end it in the city!

SANBONA, WESTERN CAPE

If you weren’t content with seeing white lions in Timbavati, head over to Sanbona, on the Western Cape. Sanbona is in the Western Province at the foot of the Warmwaterberg Mountains and is only a few hours from Cape Town. The White Lion Project started in this reserve has successfully yielded healthy cubs.

To book your trip to South Africa to see lions in the wild, contact True Travel today.