A lion is considered by many as the king of the jungle, males develop thick manes on the neck and shoulders at about 2 years, short tawny coat, and a tufted tail. They live for 10-14 years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than 20 years. Lions are the most sociable of all the big cats. They live in groups called prides, which consist of related females and their cubs.
The lion’s body is efficiently fashioned for the hunt. It has muscular legs -with the fore limbs designed for striking, seizing and gripping, while the hind legs are best suited for pouncing. The legs have enormous paws and retractile claws, with a dew claw that comes handy as a tooth pick. It has a powerful well-built jaw that opens wide to reveal 30 conical teeth. The canine teeth are remarkably long and pointed- up to 8 cm, enabling it to pierce and tear into flesh. The molars are for cutting and tenderizing chunks of meat.
Lions live in the savanna grasslands, shrubs and bushes obscure them and provide cover and camouflage. As lions are ambush hunters, they use this natural cover when stalking to creep as close as possible before making a final charge to catch their prey.
Places to see lions in Uganda
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo valley national park lies between Uganda’s borders with Kenya and Southern Sudan, about 520 km from Kampala. Kidepo is arguably one of Africa’s most breathtaking wildernesses. Lions in Kidepo are bigger and heavier than lions at Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park because they feast on large herds of buffalos that roam in the Park.
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda’s largest national park together with the longest river in the world the mighty Nile, the powerful Murchison falls, is one of the places in Uganda to see lions. Game drivers at the park give visitors the opportunity to see lions and other wildlife.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Park is positioned on the rift valley floor, surrounded by snow capped Rwenzori Mountain, lakes, rivers and escarpments. The Park is famous for its tree climbing lions which spend most of the day spread out along the branches of Acacia trees. It believed that lions are the laziest cats - they spend 15 to 20 hours of the day sleeping and resting. Kindly contact Adyeri Creations Limited for more information about wildlife safaris in Uganda.