Lion
LionLionLionLion

Lion

Panthera leo

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
70–80% · Very likely
overall probability at Masai Mara National Reserve
604 Verified records at Masai Mara National Reserve
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large cat of the genus Panthera, currently ranging only in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the tip of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane that extends from the head to the shoulders and chest. The lion inhabits grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands. It is an apex and keystone predator, preying mostly on medium-sized and large hooved mammals. It is usually more diurnal than other wild cats, but when persecuted, it adapts to being active at night and at twilight. Wikipedia →

70–80% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 604 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

40–50% · Likely
Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

60–70% · Likely
Serval
LC

Serval

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Leptailurus serval

20–30% · Possible
African Wildcat
LC

African Wildcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Felis lybica

Insufficient data
Caracal
LC

Caracal

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Caracal caracal

Insufficient data
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

60–70% · Likely
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

40–50% · Likely
Common Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Common Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale parvula

20–30% · Possible
Bat-eared Fox
LC

Bat-eared Fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otocyon megalotis

10–20% · With luck
Slender Mongoose

Slender Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Galerella sanguinea

5–10% · With luck
White-tailed Mongoose
LC

White-tailed Mongoose

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ichneumia albicauda

5–10% · With luck
Marsh Mongoose
LC

Marsh Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Atilax paludinosus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

60–70
Jan
70–80
Feb
70–80
Mar
60–70
Apr
60–70
May
70–80
Jun
60–70
Jul
70–80
Aug
70–80
Sep
70–80
Oct
50–60
Nov
60–70
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
70–80%
2 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
70–80%
3 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
70–80%
4 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
70–80%
5 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
60–70%
6 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
60–70%
7 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
60–70%
8 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
60–70%
9 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
60–70%
10 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
60–70%
11 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
60–70%
12 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
13 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
14 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
50–60%
15 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
50–60%
16 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
50–60%
17 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
50–60%
18 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
50–60%
19 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
50–60%
20 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
21 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
22 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
50–60%
23 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
24 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
25 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
26 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
40–50%
27 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
28 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
29 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
30 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
31 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
30–40%
32 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
33 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
20–30%
34 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
35 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
36 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
37 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
38 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
39 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
40 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Lion in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 604 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Lion in Masai Mara National Reserve?

February has the highest sighting rate for Lion in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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