Hunt Lion, Plains Game & Croc OR Hippo in Lunga Luswishi GMA
Booking Season: 2027
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
When reflecting on dangerous game hunting in Africa, top of the list of many hunters’ bucket lists, and often considered the pinnacle of big game hunting in Africa, is the Lion. This dangerous African cat is found across sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting a range of ecosystems including savannas, grasslands, open woodlands, and semi-arid deserts. Lions prefer habitats with sufficient cover to allow the stalking of prey, as well as open areas for hunting.
For many American hunters planning their first African dangerous game safari, pursuing a lion represents the ultimate challenge. Few hunts demand the same level of preparation, patience, and respect as coming face-to-face with Africa’s most iconic predator.
At Game Hunting Safaris we work with experienced professional hunters across Africa to help international hunters identify legitimate lion hunting opportunities and avoid the common mistakes that can occur when booking dangerous game safaris.
A successful Lion hunt needs the hunter to be on top form, demanding sharp tracking skills, patience, and respect for the dangerous nature of the animal. Lion hunting tests a hunter’s stealth and endurance, often involving long hours in the African bush under tough conditions. To come face-to-face with one of Africa’s most dangerous apex predators and successfully harvest it: priceless!
Humans have hunted lions for hundreds of years, mainly for survival and protection, but this king of the beasts has also become a sought-after trophy for hunters. Lion hunting remains a popular pastime that provides revenue for conservation programs and initiatives, with local communities also benefiting from hunting safaris.
Lion populations have faced pressures from habitat loss, human conflict, and poaching, with numbers decreasing by more than 40% in some regions. However, through conservation initiatives, they continue to grow in many African countries.
Big game hunting is popular throughout Africa, and lion hunts are available in numerous countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique.
Lion hunts are usually conducted as part of 10–21 day dangerous game hunting safaris, depending on the country and concession.
Because lions are territorial animals that move across large areas, hunts often require several days of tracking, scouting, and bait preparation before a mature male is located.
Hunters are spoilt for choice when it comes to a Lion hunt, with both fenced and free-range hunts still available. South Africa offers fenced and free-range Lion hunting safaris, with popular locations including the Limpopo and Northwest province.
Prime locations for Lion hunting in Namibia are the northern areas of the country, close to Etosha, as well as the Zambezi region (formerly known as the Caprivi Strip).
From the Selous region to Maasailand, Lion hunting in Tanzania is exceptional with quality trophies available. Western Tanzania boasts large-bodied black-maned lions while southern Tanzania is renowned for its maneless lions. Large wilderness concessions make Tanzania lion hunting safaris some of the most traditional free-range lion hunts available in Africa.
Botswana’s Lion hunting regions include the arid Kalahari Desert, as well as the lush Okavango Delta, both producing premier trophies.
Lion hunting in Mozambique produces some top-tier trophies, with popular hunting locations including the Niassa Reserve and the Marromeu Complex. Remote areas such as the Niassa Reserve provide outstanding opportunities for Mozambique lion hunting safaris in vast unfenced wilderness concessions.
While lion hunting safaris can take place throughout the country, the Luangwa Valley is a prime spot to hunt this deadly predator in Zambia. Zimbabwe remains one of the most respected destinations for Zimbabwe lion hunting safaris, particularly in areas such as the Save Valley Conservancy, Matetsi Units, and the Hwange region.
Zimbabwe remains one of the most respected destinations for traditional lion hunting safaris, particularly in areas such as the Save Valley Conservancy, Matetsi Units, and the Hwange region where large wild concessions allow lions to roam freely.
Tanzania is widely considered one of the premier destinations for free-range lion hunting, with vast concessions producing exceptional trophies for experienced dangerous game hunters.
Mozambique’s Niassa Reserve offers one of the most authentic wilderness lion hunting experiences available, with enormous unfenced concessions supporting healthy lion populations.
In some regions, such as South Africa, Lion hunts are conducted throughout the year, but the best time to hunt Lions is during the dry season, which generally falls between May/June and August for most lion hunting regions in Africa.
During the dry season, the vegetation is lower, allowing the hunter more visibility during the hunt and there is a higher likelihood of animals gathering around shrinking water holes.
Dry season conditions also make it easier for professional hunters and trackers to locate fresh tracks and determine the movement patterns of territorial male lions.
While most Lion hunts are conducted during daylight hours due to ethical and safety concerns, night hunting, using artificial lights, is permitted under stringent conditions, on private concessions in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Lion hunts are generally undertaken using two methods: Firstly, placing bait for the Lion and then building a temporary blind from which the Lion is hunted, or secondly, a spot-and-stalk safari where trackers track the Lion until they are close enough for the hunter to harvest the trophy.
Both methods require extreme caution and coordination between the hunter, professional hunter, and tracking team, as lions can react aggressively when wounded or cornered.
Lion hunts are among the most specialized dangerous game safaris offered in Africa and require government permits, strict quotas, and experienced professional hunters.
Depending on the country and hunting concession, lion hunting safaris generally range between $35,000 and $80,000 depending on the location, permit structure, and concession size.
Many outfitters begin baiting operations several days before the hunter arrives in camp in order to locate mature territorial males.
When it comes to a Lion hunting safari, these are often seen as a rite of passage within hunting circles, where hunters hunt one of Africa’s most dangerous and respected apex predators, emerging with one of the best trophies Africa has to offer.
Lion hunts provide an exciting dangerous game hunting experience for hunters, testing their tracking and stalking skills against an apex predator, as well as their patience and courage when facing this ferocious predator.
Lion hunts also provide revenue that gets used for conservation initiatives and programs, while simultaneously providing employment for local communities.
For many hunters visiting Africa from the United States or Canada, harvesting a mature male lion represents the culmination of years of planning and preparation.
A mature male lion trophy is typically judged by mane size, body condition, skull size, and overall maturity rather than simply body weight.
Large black-maned lions from Tanzania and parts of southern Africa are particularly sought after by dangerous game hunters.
Lion hunts are best suited for experienced hunters who want to pursue one of Africa’s most respected and dangerous predators.
Many hunters pursuing lions are returning to Africa after previous plains game or dangerous game safaris and are looking to complete their African Big Five hunting experience.
Lion hunts are not typically suited for hunters looking for a relaxed safari or high-volume hunting experience.
These hunts require patience, discipline, and the ability to remain calm in potentially dangerous situations.
Most lion safaris last between 10 and 21 days. The early days of the safari are usually spent scouting the concession, preparing bait sites, and locating fresh lion tracks.
Once a mature male is located, the professional hunter and trackers begin monitoring its movements until the best opportunity for the hunt presents itself.
A standard Lion hunting safari will include the basic service offerings such as accommodation, meals, drinks, professional hunter, camp staff, trackers, on-territory transport, and field preparation of the Lion trophy.
Lion hunting in Africa is strictly regulated by wildlife authorities and international agreements such as CITES, with each hunt requiring permits and export documentation.
Exclusions and optional extras when Lion hunting in Africa:
Lion hunting in Africa is typically done using two primary methods: baiting and tracking.
In baited lion hunts, carcasses are placed in strategic locations to attract a territorial male. Once a mature lion is identified, a blind is set up downwind, and the hunter waits for the lion to return.
In tracking-based lion hunting safaris, experienced trackers follow fresh spoor on foot until the lion is located. This can take hours or multiple days, depending on conditions, terrain, and how the lion is moving.
Both methods require patience, coordination, and discipline. You are dealing with a dangerous animal that can react aggressively, especially if pressured or wounded.
This is not a high-volume hunt — it is a controlled, deliberate process built around understanding lion behavior and making the right decision at the right moment.
Lion hunting success rates vary depending on the area, the quality of the concession, and the experience of the outfitter.
In well-managed lion hunting areas with strong populations and experienced tracking teams, success rates are generally high when enough time is allocated to the hunt.
That said, lion hunting in Africa is never guaranteed. Mature males can move large distances, avoid bait sites, or become difficult to track if pressured.
Hunters who understand how lion hunting works — and allow the process to unfold — typically have better results than those who try to rush the hunt.
Choosing the right lion hunting area and giving the hunt enough time are the two biggest factors that influence success.
Lion hunting safaris are not for every hunter.
This hunt suits those who are comfortable tracking dangerous game on foot and understand that encounters can happen at close range under pressure. It requires a hunter who is prepared for a physically and mentally demanding experience and who is willing to trust the judgment of an experienced professional hunter when it matters most.
It is not well suited to hunters looking for a relaxed or low-risk safari, or those expecting frequent shot opportunities. Anyone uncomfortable with close-range encounters or who prefers a more structured, low-pressure hunting environment will likely find this hunt challenging.
For the right hunter, a lion hunt in Africa is one of the most serious and rewarding dangerous game experiences available.
For the wrong hunter, it can feel slow, demanding, and high-risk.
Lion hunting is one of the most dangerous forms of hunting in Africa.
Unlike many other species, lions are territorial predators that may stand their ground or charge when pressured or wounded. Encounters often take place at close range, sometimes in thick cover where visibility is limited.
A poorly placed shot or rushed approach can escalate the situation quickly.
This is why lion hunts are conducted with experienced professional hunters and tracking teams who understand how to manage these situations safely.
For the hunter, this is not just a physical challenge — it is a mental one. Staying calm, following instruction, and making controlled decisions under pressure are critical.
This level of risk is part of what makes lion hunting one of the most respected dangerous game hunts in Africa.
Most lion hunting safaris run between 10 and 21 days, depending on the country and concession.
The early part of the hunt is focused on locating a mature male. This may involve checking bait sites, scouting large areas, or tracking fresh spoor to establish movement patterns.
Once a target lion is identified, the approach changes. The professional hunter and tracking team begin working that specific animal, either by following tracks on foot or waiting on a baited setup.
Some days involve long hours of tracking with no result. Other days can change quickly, with a close-range encounter developing in a matter of minutes.
This is not a predictable hunt. It is a process of building opportunities over time until the right moment presents itself.
Hunters who understand this tend to handle the pace of the hunt far better than those expecting immediate action.
Whether it’s finding lion hunts, stalking, or walking and stalking at dawn, we’re here to deliver the experience of a lifetime with integrity and precision.
✉️ Contact us today to speak with an expert and plan your tailored lion hunting adventure.
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Regulated lion hunting contributes funding toward wildlife conservation programs, anti-poaching operations, and community wildlife initiatives across Africa.
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