Planning a trip to Addo Elephant National Park? Download opspoor to see recent sightings in the park and log your own.
Your chances of seeing Lion in Addo Elephant National Park
Trophy sighting. Lion are one of the trophy sightings of Addo Elephant National Park: hard, but never impossible. Drive early and late, and open opspoor before you head out to see where they've been spotted recently.
When to see Lion in Addo Elephant National Park
Lion are most active early morning (04:00 to 08:00), late afternoon into dusk (16:00 to 20:00) and at night (18:00 to 06:00). In the heat of the day (10:00 to 16:00) Lion usually rest in shade, so scan under trees and in thickets. Much of their activity falls outside gate hours, so the first drive after the gates open and the last hour before they close give you the best chance.
This is Lion's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Addo Elephant National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Lion in Addo Elephant National Park: best roads and waterholes
Drive
Nzipondo Loop, Gorah Loop and Vukani Loop run through open grassland and dense thicket: good country for Lion.
- Nzipondo Loop6.2 km · open grassland and dense thicket
- Gorah Loop10.2 km · open grassland and dense thicket
- Vukani Loop4 km · open grassland and dense thicket
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Lion have actually been seen recently.
Wait at water
Lion are drawn to water, so waiting at a waterhole is one of the best ways to see them.
About the Lion
The lion is Africa's largest big cat and one of the continent's most recognisable predators. It has a powerful muscular body, short tawny coat and, in adult males, a prominent mane whose colour and size vary between individuals. Lions are highly social compared with most cats, living in prides consisting primarily of related females, their offspring and a coalition of males. They are apex predators that mainly hunt large mammals such as antelope, zebra and buffalo, although they also scavenge when opportunities arise.
How to identify the Lion
Large, powerful cat with a tawny to golden coat, rounded ears and a long tail ending in a dark tuft. Adult males develop a prominent mane, while females lack a mane. Cubs have rosettes and spots that gradually fade with age.
Other species to look for in Addo Elephant National Park
Other parks where you can see Lion
Easiest first.
Heading to Addo Elephant National Park? opspoor shows where Lion have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.