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Africa’s top lion hotspots + salt pans expedition + wildest pics
Back in the day, my geography teacher enjoyed spanking naughty boys on the bum with a wooden bat in front of the class. After each such ordeal, we had to sign the bat, which he had nicknamed ‘trane’ (‘tears’ in Afrikaans). Our English language teacher made us eat chalk if we failed her live spelling tests. Goodness, how things have changed!
Things have also changed in the wildlife conservation world. Up to the 1980s, painted wolves (wild dogs) were shot as vermin in national parks in many parts of Africa, and until 1994, entire families of elephants were culled in the Kruger National Park.
Yet many in the commercial extraction industries – including mining, wild forest logging, fishing and trophy hunting of free-roaming animals – continue as they did hundreds of years ago as if nothing has changed, despite massive evidence of collapsing resources.
Another thing that has not changed is our drive to provide responsible options for travellers seeking tailor-made experiential safaris. Thanks for your support. Is it time to plan your next safari?
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
For a decade and a half, Uganda’s big carnivores – lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas – have been living in the conservation shadows. That’s until a team of local and international experts decided to roll up their sleeves, get to ground level, and count, count, count. With a mix of rangers, university students, lodge owners, and even trophy hunters – over 100 collaborators in total – Uganda embarked on the country’s largest carnivore survey. Over 26,000km of driving, 7,500 camera-trap nights and hours of training to ID lions later, we now know that Murchison Falls’ lions are holding their ground, but Queen Elizabeth’s famous tree-climbers are sadly on the decline. Meanwhile, leopards are doing just fine and hyenas are proving surprisingly resilient. So, what’s the takeaway? There is a lot to be done to help Uganda’s lions in the face of poaching, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. Science is saving Uganda’s big carnivores, one whisker spot at a time – and more importantly, it’s uniting the country’s conservationists for a common cause. 
This week’s Photographer of the Year selection captures the spirit of Africa in crystal clear detail. There’s plenty of wild drama and golden afternoon light to delight. And then, our safari experts have put their heads together to come up with a tight list of the best spots to see lions in Africa. Don’t miss this must-read guide below.
DID YOU KNOW?
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level. YOUR safari choice does make a difference – thank you!
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STUNNING PHOTOS
Photographer of the Year 2025 is here! Enter for a chance to win a safari to incredible Odzala-Kokoua National Park
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LION HOTSPOTS
For the best chance of seeing lions in the wild, head to one of Africa’s top lion hotspots – recommended by AG safari experts
TRAVEL DESK:
Our safari picks for you this week:
Still searching for that handcrafted experiential safari? Browse our ready-made safari ideas OR click here for free safari planning.
Vusa the Lion Guardian: Helping kids navigate life in lion territory
How do you teach young children about the challenges of living alongside Africa’s apex predator? The Southern African Conservation Trust (SACT) has an answer: an exciting new comic and poster featuring Vusa the Lion Guardian. This fun yet vital educational tool helps rural schoolchildren and their families understand human-wildlife conflict and how to stay safe. The comic teaches kids how to build bomas to protect livestock from lions, while the poster lays out life-saving “do’s and don’ts” for unexpected lion encounters – crucial knowledge for children walking to school through wild landscapes.
Recently, students from Nsongwa Primary School, bordering Hwange National Park, received their very own Vusa comics, sparking curiosity and conversations about conservation. Now, SACT needs your help to get these essential resources into more classrooms, clinics, and community centers across Africa. Want to support this game-changing project? Read more about our Collar a Lion campaign to see how you can make a difference!
WATCH: In the heart of Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Phoebe Niringiyimana is one of few female guides leading treks that bring visitors face-to-face with majestic mountain gorillas. Witness her deep connection with these incredible creatures in this heartwarming video. (01:58) Click here to watch
For more videos celebrating Africa, check out our videos here
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