Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-lion/ Species photography guide # African Lion Photography Holidays *Panthera leo* Explore our African Lion photography holidays in [Botswana](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/botswana/), [Tanzania](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/tanzania/) & [South Africa](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/south-africa/) & [Lemek Conservancy](https://natureslens.co.uk/specific-location/lemek-conservancy/) in [Kenya](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/kenya/), planned around the conditions that give this species the best photographic potential during the dry season (June to October) offer the best light and increased activity.Our small-group photography holidays prioritise time in the field, light, behaviour, positioning & repeatable photographic opportunities rather than rushed wildlife viewing. [View trips](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-lion/#nl-species-trips)[Where](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-lion/#nl-species-where)[Field notes](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-lion/#nl-species-field-notes)[Related species](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-lion/#nl-species-related) ![African Lion photography holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Kenya-Maasai-Mara-Leopard-2025-09-03.jpg) ## At a glance Trips8 associated holidays Where[Botswana](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/botswana/), [Kenya](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/kenya/), [South Africa](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/south-africa/) & [Tanzania](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/tanzania/) Led by[David Miles](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/david/) & [Pui Hang Miles](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/pui-hang/) Species profile ## About this species The African Lion is the largest wild cat in Africa & the second largest in the world, recognised by the male's distinctive mane which darkens with age. Lions are highly social animals, living in groups called prides that consist of related females, their cubs, & a small number of adult males. They are apex predators found across sub-Saharan Africa, playing a vital role in maintaining the balance of savannah ecosystems. **Habitat** African Lions are primarily found in open grasslands, savannahs, & scrubland across sub-Saharan Africa, with a small isolated population in the Gir Forest of India. They favour areas with a mix of open plains for hunting & patches of woodland or kopjes for shade & shelter. [Species background](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion) Where to photograph ## Where our trips feature this species You can photograph African Lion with us in [Botswana](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/botswana/), [Kenya](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/kenya/), [South Africa](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/south-africa/) & [Tanzania](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/tanzania/). These departures are part of our [Africa](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/) programme. In the field, [David Miles](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/david/) & [Pui Hang Miles](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/pui-hang/) helps guests make the most of these encounters. Field notes ## Photography notes **Best time** Early morning & late afternoon during the dry season (June to October) offer the best light & increased activity, as lions are most active around dawn & dusk when temperatures are cooler. **Approach** Position yourself low to the ground or shoot from a vehicle window to achieve eye-level shots that create a more intimate & compelling composition. Use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/1000s to freeze motion during hunts or playful interactions between pride members. Patience is essential - spend time observing pride behaviour & anticipate moments such as yawns, grooming, or cub play to capture characterful & natural images. Connected wildlife ## Often seen on the same trips On the trips associated with this species, photographers may also encounter: [African Elephant](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-elephant/)[African Leopard](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-leopard/)[African Civet](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-civet/)[Giraffe](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/giraffe/)[Impala](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/impala/)[Leopard](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/leopard/)[Plains Zebra](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/plains-zebra/)[Spotted Hyena](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/spotted-hyena/)[Grant's Gazelle](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/grants-gazelle/)[Bat-eared Fox](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/bat-eared-fox/) Available holidays ## Trips featuring African Lion The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article. #### Guide connection David Miles leads trips where guests have the chance to photograph African Lion in the field. [Meet David](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/david/) ![The Mara, Without the Crowds](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Kenya-Maasai-Mara-Leopard-2025-09-03.jpg) #### Related holiday The Mara, Without the Crowds gives guests time in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa & Tanzania where African Lion can be part of the day's wildlife encounters. [View trip](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/african-wildlife-of-the-lemek-conservancy/) Route Destination Signature Destination Photographing African Lions The African Lion is the defining image of the savannah – but the reality of photographing lions is far richer & more varied than any postcard suggests. Pride life unfolds over hours & days in continuous behavioural sequences: cubs wrestling in the morning light, females coordinating a stalk through dry grass, males calling at dusk with a roar that carries across kilometres of open plain. The lion’s size, its tolerance of vehicles, & the sustained drama of its social structure make it unlike any other large predator to photograph. There is always something happening, even when the pride is resting. Timing within the day matters significantly. Lions are most active in the first & last two hours of daylight, when the quality of light on the Maasai Mara is also at its best – warm, low, & directional, illuminating tawny coats & amber eyes with extraordinary depth. At Shompole, nocturnal hides at permanent waterholes allow photographing lions in spotlight conditions after dark, capturing behaviours that no vehicle safari ever sees. Where NaturesLens Takes You The Maasai Mara in Kenya hosts one of the highest densities of resident lion prides in Africa. NaturesLens vehicles follow established pride territories, & encounters are a near-daily feature of our Kenya itineraries. The peak migration months of July to October bring wildebeest river crossings that draw lions to the Mara River in large numbers, creating extraordinary opportunities for action photography at close range. Shompole Wilderness, in the Great Rift Valley, offers a contrasting experience: permanent waterhole hides that operate after dark, where lions, leopards, & hyenas arrive to drink & hunt, photographed under specialist lighting rigs. Photography Technique & Gear A 400-500mm lens handles most savannah lion photography effectively; a 500mm prime with a 1.4x converter gives useful extra reach for tighter crops without leaving the vehicle. Wide-angle shots of resting pride members in context are equally valuable & underrepresented – a 70-200mm or even wider for environmental portraits. For nocturnal waterhole photography at Shompole, you will work with fixed illumination rigs; use ISO 3200-6400 & f/4-f/5.6 with a shutter speed of 1/200-1/400s depending on subject movement. In-camera noise reduction should be off – handle noise in post. You can photograph the African Lion in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, & Tanzania. During our photography holidays, the African Lion is often photographed alongside African Elephant, African Leopard, African Civet, Giraffe, Impala, & Leopard. Photography themes commonly associated with this species include African wildlife, big cats, photographic safaris based in Africa, wildlife whilst on safari in Africa, leopards, & lions. Single occupancy Group Size: 5-7 guests Experienced guidance 8 departures - [![Join Us For The The Mara, Without the Crowds Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Kenya-Maasai-Mara-Leopard-2025-09-03.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/african-wildlife-of-the-lemek-conservancy/) Limited Places ### 17th - 23rd Aug 2027 - The Mara, Without the Crowds **Location:** Kenya Set within a private conservancy area on the quieter side of the Maasai Mara, our African Wildlife of the Lemek Conservancy photography safari is built around space, control & time with wildlife. **6 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£6499** Guided By **Pui Hang Miles** [View The Mara, Without the Crowds](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/african-wildlife-of-the-lemek-conservancy/) - [![Join Us For The Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/A-Leopard-Drinking-Water-at-Night-Causing-a-Superb-Reflection-photographed-at-Shompole-Wilderness-with-NaturesLens-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/wildlife-of-shompole-wilderness/) Special Offer ### 3rd - 10th Oct 2027 - Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness **Location:** Kenya Photograph the nocturnal wildlife of Shompole Wilderness in Kenya's Great Rift Valley. Two waterhole hides, varied species & experienced guidance. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **Was: £6999 Now: £6499** Guided By **Pui Hang Miles** [View Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/wildlife-of-shompole-wilderness/) - [![Join Us For The Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/A-Leopard-Drinking-Water-at-Night-Causing-a-Superb-Reflection-photographed-at-Shompole-Wilderness-with-NaturesLens-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/wildlife-of-shompole/) Special Offer ### 12th - 19th Oct 2027 - Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness **Location:** Kenya Photograph the nocturnal wildlife of Shompole Wilderness in Kenya's Great Rift Valley. Two waterhole hides, varied species & experienced guidance. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **Was: £6999 Now: £6499** Guided By **Pui Hang Miles** [View Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/wildlife-of-shompole/) - [![Join Us For The Wildlife of the Chobe River Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mother-calf-elephant-silhouettes-at-sunset-captured-during-our-Wildlife-of-the-Chobe-River-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/botswana/wildlife-of-the-chobe-river/) Limited Places ### 23rd - 30th Oct 2027 - Wildlife of the Chobe River **Location:** Botswana Explore trip details for an October 2027 Botswana photography holiday, focused on elephants & river-based wildlife photography. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **Was: £6999 Now: £6499** Guided By **Pui Hang Miles** [View Wildlife of the Chobe River](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/botswana/wildlife-of-the-chobe-river/) - [![Join Us For The Lions of the Serengeti Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/One-of-the-larger-lions-who-rule-the-Lobo-region-the-region-of-Tanzania-that-we-use-for-the-NaturesLens-Wildlife-of-the-Serengeti-Photography-Holiday-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/tanzania/lions-of-the-serengeti/) ### 1st - 8th Sep 2028 - Lions of the Serengeti **Location:** Tanzania Photograph the Lions of the Serengeti in Tanzania's Lobo Valley, working resident prides & leopards with David in small vehicle-based groups **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£7999** Guided By **David Miles** [View Lions of the Serengeti](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/tanzania/lions-of-the-serengeti/) - [![View Details Of The Big Five & other African Wildlife of Karongwe Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/An-African-Leopard-walking-within-Karongwe-Game-Reserve.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/south-africa/african-wildlife-of-karongwe/) Limited Places ### 16th - 22nd Sep 2028 - Big Five & other African Wildlife of Karongwe **Location:** South Africa Karongwe Game Reserve delivers close, unhurried access to African lion, African leopard & African elephant against a backdrop of dense bushveld & rocky hillside. This seven-day trip is built around consistent vehicle-based & hide-based sessions, timed to the reserve's dawn & dusk activity, for photographers who want repeat encounters rather than a single pass. **6 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£6999** Guided By **David & Pui Hang Miles** [View Big Five & other African Wildlife of Karongwe](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/south-africa/african-wildlife-of-karongwe/) - [![Join Us For The African Wildlife of the Maasai Mara Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/a-lion-silhouetted-by-the-rising-sun-behind-photographed-during-a-natureslens-photography-holiday-to-photograph-the-wildlife-of-the-maasai-mara-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/maasai-mara-2028/) ### 15th - 22nd Oct 2028 - African Wildlife of the Maasai Mara **Location:** Kenya Travel to Kenya with us for a photography holiday in Kenya, October 2028, focused on cats & the other wildlife of the Maasai Mara that lives on the savannah. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£6499** Guided By **Pui Hang Miles** [View African Wildlife of the Maasai Mara](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/maasai-mara-2028/) - [![Join Us For The Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness Photography Safari](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/A-Leopard-Drinking-Water-at-Night-Causing-a-Superb-Reflection-photographed-at-Shompole-Wilderness-with-NaturesLens-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/wildlife-of-shompole-wilderness-2028/) Limited Places ### 25th Oct - 1st Nov 2028 - Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness **Location:** Kenya Photograph the nocturnal wildlife of Shompole Wilderness in Kenya's Great Rift Valley. Two waterhole hides, varied species & experienced guidance. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£6999** Guided By **David Miles** [View Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/kenya/wildlife-of-shompole-wilderness-2028/) -