The Fate Of African Lions

An African lion safari is just about the ultimate experience for those seeking adventure and a brief brush with danger. Make no mistake, despite their easy going, laid back nature, lions are dangerous.

African lions spends the best part of their days doing nothing. In fact, statistics suggest at least 20 hours is spent just soaking up the sun and moonlight. So what makes these magnificent beasts such a drawcard for safari seekers?

The Lion's Demise

The african lion's numbers have been a cause for great concern in recent times in fact, there has even been talk of extinction. It's a dirty word in the world of conservation and while the lion presents as a creature of indestructible dimensions, the sad fact is, the one creature on the planet capable of wiping it out, man, has been responsible for it's dwindling numbers.

Take for example just over 100 years ago, the African lion was around in numbers south of the Sahara desert. Today, it's almost got to the stage where the only place you can see the king of the beasts in it's "natural habitat" are large conservation parks. The reason; man's yearning for progress.

Conflict With Man

The African lion has been in conflict with humans and is losing out badly. It's an unfortunate situation but when progress spreads it's tentacles there are always going to be casualties. The conflict has arisen because of the new settlement areas being created in Africa. With these new settlements comes livestock and as we know, unlike the normal prey of the lion in it's natural environment which play hard to get, livestock such as cattle, are pretty docile animals and an easy and inviting temptation for a lion looking for a snack.

The solution to the problem is a little hard to pinpoint but the good news is, there is some very special work going on by people determined to see the African lion survive the next 100 years.

An African Lion Safari

So is it still worth the trip to Africa to see the lion. You betcha! While the free roaming lion is dwindling in numbers, the opportunity to see the king is always there through planned tours. Operators in various parts of Africa offer the tourist special safari tours including South Africa's Kruger National Park, Tanzania's Serengeti, the Masai Mara in Kenya and of course, the magnificent landscape of Botswana.