The first time that you hear the fearsome roar of an African lion, is one that you will not forget. Known as the “king of the jungle,” the lion is one of Africa’s apex predators and not one with which to be messed!
Lions are fast, dangerous, unpredictable, and can literally use one paw swipe to kill a man! Weighing between 330 to 600 pounds for the larger beasts, this machine is pure muscle and takes down prey in a heartbeat. They are found throughout Africa, with some regions offering fenced lion hunting safaris and others offering free-range lion game hunting adventures.
There are a variety of reasons as to why people target this predator and why hunting lion in Africa remains a popular activity.
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Why are Lions Hunted on African Hunts?
1. A Sought-After Member of Africa’s Big 5 and Dangerous 7
The African lion remains a sought-after and much-prized game hunting trophy and is a trademark species of hunting in Africa. As a member of the Big 5, along with the Cape buffalo, leopard, African elephant, and rhino, it is targeted to complete the set of African big game hunting species. These animals are known as Africa’s Big 5 as they are seen as the most difficult, dangerous, and aggressive big game hunting trophies to hunt on foot. This name was given many years ago and has stuck ever since.
The same remains true should the hunter be targeting the Dangerous 7, which includes all the Big 5, plus the Nile crocodile and hippo. These animals are fierce, angry, and aggressive, each providing the hunter with a unique challenge when hunting in Africa.
Game hunting lion in Africa and hunting this beast is on the bucket list of many avid game hunting fanatics. For many hunters, it remains one of their lifelong dreams and ambitions to participate in a lion hunting safari. For any hunter, a certain amount of bragging rights goes hand-in-hand with harvesting the “king of the jungle.”
2. Trading In Body Parts
There is a growing call for body parts of this mighty beast, including claws, teeth, skin, and bone. The Asian market has for a long time already utilized various body parts in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and lions are hunted and poached to retrieve these body parts.
Closer to home the lion is used in items such as curios, clothing, handbags, wallets, and ornaments, and it is also used in traditional medicine in some areas of the African continent.
3. Protection of Livestock
As deforestation increases and the lion’s natural habitat decreases, there is at times an overlap between the wild and domestic ways of life. Hungry lions hunt and kill livestock in villages and settlements, destroying livelihoods and communities – and that is only if they target the livestock and not the humans!
These lions are then hunted and killed, to ensure the safety of the farmer’s livestock.
4. Part of a Cultural Rite of Passage and Protection
Lion hunting has always been a popular game hunting activity and used to formed part of a cultural rite of passage for an African tribe, the Maasai. Due to the reduced numbers of lions, they are no longer hunted as a rite of passage but are rather undertaken when their livestock are threatened or attacked by lions.
Where are Lions legally Hunted in Africa?
Lion hunting in Africa is available throughout Southern Africa, including, amongst others, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique.
Lion hunting has also been seen as the pinnacle of African hunts, with international hunters vying for prized game hunting trophies. The sport of lion hunting in Africa remains, with many African destinations offering spectacular lion hunting safaris.
If the thought of hunting Africa’s king of the jungle sends an exciting thrill down your spine, read more about our team’s hunting experiences hunting both a lion and lioness in South Africa’s Kalahari region.
Author: B. Hershensohnn