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The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera,
and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding
250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after
the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan Africa
and in Asia with a critically endangered remnant population
in Gir Forest National Park in India, having disappeared from
North Africa and Southwest Asia in historic times. Until the
late Pleistocene, about 10,000 years ago, the lion was the
most widespread large land mammal after humans. They were
found in most of Africa, much of Eurasia from western Europe
to India, and in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru. Lions
live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity
they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild, males
seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from
continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity.
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Top African Lion Safari Sports
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An African lion safari is the ultimate
adventure holiday and one of the prime attractions in
Africa. The king of the beast has always held a fascinating
mystique among the human population even despite it's
dangerous nature.
So it will come as a major surprise to many to learn
this almost invincible looking animal is in grave danger
of being wiped off the face of the planet. Not by any
freak of nature but by human intervention.
Yes, you cannot stop progress, even in Africa where
more and more land is being made available for farming
and urban development with the resultant effect; an
encroachment into the natural habitat of the lions.
The problem exists with man and lion trying to occupy
the same space - one claiming the land as their own
while the other is refusing to budge. The consequences
are dire for the lion as they see livestock suddenly
grazing on territory which they once ruled. To them,
it's just another addition to the food chain which they're
top of but their big mistake is actually hunting and
killing this livestock for food.
They are paying the price either by copping the wrath
of farmers, or being forced away from their own territory.
So if you are thinking of taking an African lion safari
then now is a good time to consider it.
The African lion is finding refuge these days in national
reserves where it is safe from human intervention. There
are some excellent locations you can visit to see the
lion and we have our top four destinations.
Top African Lion Destinations
Our four must vist areas to see the cats in all their
glory include:
- Kenya's Masai Mara which has the ideal setting for
the king of the jungle. Open plains makes viewing and
photographing the big cat relatively easy.
- South Africa's Kruger National Park is one of the
most popular tourist destinations in Africa and it is
also home to the African lion. Guided tours will take
you to where the big cats congregate however, given
their daily ritual of sleeping for extended periods
of time, getting glimpses of the flowing mane of a big
male can sometimes be hit or miss.
- The Serengeti plains in Tanzania during the wildbeest
migration is possibly the best time to vist Africa for
a lion safari. There's plenty of food on offer and the
big cats are there in numbers to get their fill.
- Namibia doesn't often come up in discussion when talking
about an African lion safari but if you really want
to see them, then put it on your must see list. The
Etosha National Park is set up such that spotting them
is relatively easy. Although some care needs to be taken,
watching them in this environment is an exciting experience.
The king of the beast has always held a fascinating
mystique among the human population even despite it's
dangerous nature.
About the Author:
Want to know more about taking a cheap
African safari tour ? Get all the tips and tricks
plus information on African
lion safari destinations with our informative review
guides.
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Lion Gifts
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Collection of wildlife web templates, stock
photos and wildlife logos.

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