Lion (Panthera leo) in the wild — Catch'Um species field guide

Overview

The lion is the only truly social big cat, a pride of related females, their cubs, and a coalition of males ruling a territory of open grassland. The male's mane, the synchronized hunt, the lazy afternoon sprawled in shade: lions define the African safari dream.

For Catch'Um collectors, a lion sighting is legendary by definition. A pride on a kopje at sunset, cubs tumbling in dust, or a male's roar rolling across the Mara. These are the discoveries the app was built for.

Scientific namePanthera leo
Length1.4–2.5 m body; tail 70–100 cm
Height100–120 cm at the shoulder
WeightFemales ~120–180 kg; males ~150–250 kg
Lifespan10–14 years in the wild
DietCooperative hunters of…
ConservationVulnerable
RegionSavanna, East Africa

Habitat

Savanna
Grassland
Open woodland
Scrub

Lions live in savanna, grassland, and open woodland across sub-Saharan Africa, with a small isolated population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat, India. In Kenya, they are found in Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, wherever prey and cover support a pride.

Countries found

Lion in Kenya

Field notes

Field scale for the Lion: length around 1.4-2.5 m body; tail 70-100 cm; height 100-120 cm at the shoulder; weight Females ~120-180 kg; males ~150-250 kg. Typical lifespan: 10-14 years in the wild.

When you are scanning habitat, prioritise savanna, grassland, open woodland, and scrub. Those settings are where a clean look and a usable photo are most likely.

Quick ID anchor: Tawny coat without stripes; adult males carry a distinctive mane ranging from blond to black. Muscular build, long tail with a dark tuft, and a broad face, unmistakable on open savanna. Confirm with behaviour and habitat before you log the discovery.

Where to see one

Kenya
In Kenya, strong options include Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, and Tsavo East & West. Open savanna where lion prides patrol the grassland and the Great Migration crosses the Mara River from July to October.
Open the Kenya spotting guide for every park note tied to the lion.
Spotting guide for Lion in Kenya

Diet

Cooperative hunters of large ungulates—zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and antelope. Also scavenge kills and take smaller prey when opportunity allows.

Behaviour

The most social big cat, living in prides of related females with coalitions of males. Mostly nocturnal hunters; males defend territory with roaring that carries for kilometres.

How to identify

Tawny coat without stripes; adult males carry a distinctive mane ranging from blond to black. Muscular build, long tail with a dark tuft, and a broad face—unmistakable on open savanna.

Interesting facts

01
A lion's roar can be heard up to 8 km away on open savanna.
02
Prides are built around related females. Males come and go in coalitions.
03
A male's mane darkens with age and signals fitness to rivals and females.
04
Lions sleep up to 20 hours a day, hunting is energetically expensive.
05
Females do most of the hunting, working together to surround prey.
06
Lion populations have fallen by roughly half in the past 25 years across Africa.

Conservation status

VU: Vulnerable

Lions are Vulnerable and declining across Africa due to habitat loss, conflict with livestock keepers, and reduced prey. Kenya's protected reserves remain critical strongholds for East African lion populations.

Sources: IUCN Red List