World Lion Day 2016

Today we celebrate World Lion Day, and we here at African Travel are always happy to share some of favorite facts about one of the most famous members of “The Big Five”. The lion has forever been a symbol of strength, power and ferocity. They are also some of the most loyal and playful creatures you are likely to find on safari.

Here are 10 of our favorite facts about these beautiful creatures.

1. African lions are the most social of all the big cats, they live together in “prides.”A pride usually consists of about 15 lions.
2. Male lions defend the pride’s territory while females do most of the hunting. Despite this the males always eat first.
3. These majestic cats are threatened by habitat loss. The lions is one of the most vulnerable on the IUCN Red List Of Threatened Species.
4. The lion is now predominantly found in Africa, with one exception: some still inhabit Sasan-Gir National Park in India.
5. You can hear a lion’s roar from as far as 5 miles away.
6. A lion can run for short distances at speeds of up to 50 mph and leap as far as 36 feet.
7. A good gauge of a male lion’s age is the darkness of his mane. The darker the mane, the older the lion.
8. A lion’s heels don’t touch the ground when it walks.
9. A lion may sleep up to 20 hours a day.
10. Female lions in prides are sisters and live together for life. Their female cubs also stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs venture out on their own once they reach maturity.

Looking to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat? Talk to our safari specialists about crafting your once-in-a-lifetime safari to Africa today.