A male lion roar can be heard up to 8 kilometers, it's a sound that makes you shake in your boots. The sound wave of a lion roar can let your hair rise up, your blood run cold and it awakens something in your soul. The lion is the second largest cat on earth after the tiger and these masters of the bushveld are not called "The King of the Jungle" without good measure. Here at Kilima Game Lodge and Spa in Limpopo the king along with his queen and followers rules his kingdom.

Lion (Panthera Leo) are easily recognizable especially the males with their manes. The presence, absence, colour, and size of the mane is associated with genetic precondition, sexual maturity, climate, and testosterone production; the rule of thumb is the darker and fuller the mane, the healthier the lion. The mane makes the lion look bigger especially during confrontation with rival lions and Spotted hyenas which is old enemies of lions. Many years ago lions roamed freely across the whole of Africa especially in the Lowveld, often in history books will be story of lion meeting man on the road. Now lions just like most game have been reduced to the safety of game parks and reserves like Kilima Private Game lodge.

Males can weigh up to 250 kg and can live up to 20 years in the wild. Usually males tend to live up to 10 years as continue fighting causes injuries and in some instances fatal injuries. But lions are tuff animals and since the day they are born they have to fight for survival. Cubs weight around 1.2 - 2.1 kg at birth and born blind, their eyes only open after a week of being born. After a day or so they will begin to crawl and in 3 weeks they are able to walk. Mother lions often changes the location of the den to stop a scent being build up keeping predators away from the cubs. She will leave them alone to go hunt for herself and often cubs are more likely to be killed during this period. Buffaloes are known to trample a den of lion cubs due their dislike of lions, a very sad yet harsh reality of being the king of the Limpopo.

80 % of cubs will died before reaching maturity most cases are due to other predators like Jackals, Leopards, Spotted Hyenas, Martial eagles and snakes like the African Rock python. Rival male lions that takes over a pride will kill any cubs due to the competition and that female lions won't go into estrous cycle until their cubs are at least 2 years old or have died. But lions do come out stronger on top and often their kills are successful where the females do most of the work. The male lion gets first choice to eat (the lion's share) and will fight off any pride member till he has satisfied his hunger. They usually hunt Buffalo since they target the old and sick animals but they will hunt other antelope like Kudu, Zebra, Eland, Springbok, Wildebeest and Warthogs. Young of antelope are also targeted but most lions prefer a larger meal depending on the size of the pride. It is recorded that lions will hunt Elephant during the dry season in Botswana.

Here in Limpopo lions are often heard but not seen due to their excellent camouflage. They can sleep up 20 hours a day and do most of the hunting in the late afternoon, early morning and in full moon at night. They have excellent vision, hearing and smell senses making them opportunists. They are family orientated and will live in a group called a pride for most of their lives. Sisters usually will stick together and help each other raise their cubs. Often young male lions will be pushed out of the pride by the main male lion due to competition and to stop interbreeding. Often young males and females will form a pride that is related by soon the females will find themselves a non related male. Since lions hunt as a pride it can take up to 30 individuals to surround a herd of antelope, single out a weakling and take it down. Lions use the suffocation method to kill their prey which can take up to 3 minutes.

Although there are recorded cases of lions hunting man it's the case herein Limpopo, lions here to prefer the taste of antelope like buffalo. They are also extremely sensitive for TB which has caused many deaths among Kruger lions. The Buffaloes contracts TB from the cattle feeding along the Kruger National Park boarder fence and when hunted by lions, lions contract it that way. Because they groom each other the TB virus can quickly spread amongst the pride and often killing young cubs.

Kilima Private game lodge and spa offers to their visitors day trips to the Kruger National Park to view lions in their natural habitat. Our guides are highly qualified and can provide not only a pleasureable trip to one of the world most famous wildlife parks but also educational. Spotting the Big 5 are always a exciting journey as the lion are part of the Big 5 including the rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard. You can make a booking at Kilima Private Game Lodge and spa online and view our Kruger National Park guided trip details here. Come to Kilima to view where the king of Limpopo ancestors use to roam while roaring into the night to make his presents know