Trophy Hunting the The African Lion (Panthera leo) in South Africa

LION HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

The African Lion is one of the big five species which can be trophy hunted on a hunting safari in South Africa accompanied by experienced professional hunters.

The lion is the second largest living cat with some males weighing more than 550lb. Lions lives for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulate. While lions do not typically hunt humans, some have been known to do so. Weights for adult lions range between 150-250 kg (330-550 lb) for males and 120-182 kg (264-400 lb) for females.

The mane of the adult male lion is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the species. It makes the lion appear larger, providing an excellent intimidation display; this aids the lion during confrontations with other lions and with the species' chief competitor in Africa, the spotted hyena. The presence, absence, color, and size of the mane is associated with genetic precondition, sexual maturity, climate, and testosterone production; the rule of thumb is the darker and fuller the mane, the healthier the lion.

White lion hunting in South Africa

White lions owe their coloring to a recessive gene. The white lion is not a distinct subspecies, but a special morph with a genetic condition, leucism, that causes paler coloration akin to that of the white tiger; the condition is similar to melanism, which causes black panthers. They are not albinos, having normal pigmentation in the eyes and skin. White Transvaal lion (Panthera Leo krugeri) individuals occasionally have been encountered in and around Kruger National Park and the adjacent Timbavati Private Game Reserve in eastern South Africa, but are more commonly found in captivity, where breeders deliberately select them. The unusual cream color of their coats is due to a recessive gene. Confirmation of the existence of white lions only came in the late twentieth century. For hundreds of years prior, the white lion had been thought to be a figment of legend circulating in South Africa.

Sightings were first reported in the early 1900s, and continued, infrequently, for almost fifty years until, in 1975, a litter of white lion cubs was found at Timbavati Game Reserve.

In my opinion there is no other dangerous animal that gives the hunter an adrenaline hunt like the Lion. All our Lion hunts are fair chase walk and stalk hunts. A recent CITES scare and a shortage of good Lion hunting areas has resulted in the price of fair chase hunts skyrocketing.

Habits 

Lion are widespread throughout Africa occurring where water and food is adequate. They are the only social cats and live and hunt in prides sometimes reaching up to 30. Resting in the daytime, they hunt from dusk, stalking prey downwind before the final rush. Common prey are herding animals such as zebra, wildebeest and buffalo, where confusion and panic can be caused. A 200lb Lioness will think nothing of tackling a 2000lb buffalo bull. Lion tend to follow big herds and it is not uncommon to find Lion spoor when on the track of a herd of buffalo. Although not always successful, Lion are extremely efficient hunters and opportunists, often robbing prey and young from cheetah and leopard.

TIPS ON HUNTING LION

Cats are soft skinned animals and do not need solid bullets or large caliber rifles. A well placed shot on the front shoulder will usually put the animal down. Lions are very inquisitive and will often sit up and stare at the hunters not sure what its next course of action is. A shot placed in the front chest will hit the vitals and often break its back. Lions in South Africa are hunted on foot finding their tracks and then wearing them down until they either hold up in a bush or charge. Grootpan Hunting Safaris also hunt Male lions in Zimbabwe. The hunting method there is usually to put out bait and wait.

RIFLE CALIBRE FOR HUNTING LION

Anything from a .300 Magnum upwards with a heavy grain soft-nosed bullet is more than enough and shots are never at a great distance.

TROPHY ASSESMENT FOR LION HUNTING

To the hunter, the ultimate quarry is a large maned lion even though the SCI Measurement is based upon the size of the skull. Mane does vary according to habitat with lion in open savannah or desert-like regions growing larger manes than those found in thicker bush. Often large-bodied Lion do not sport a mane of significance and hunters often mistakenly keep trying until they eventually get "The King". Female lions are judged on size reaching maturity at about five years.

WHERE TO HUNT LION

Grootpan Hunting Safaris hunt Lion (male and female) in South Africa and male Lions in Zimbabwe. South Africa does have the best genes in the world and a hunter can still hunt a magnificent black maned lion as well as a white lion which are only found in South Africa.  South Africa also allows hunting of Lionesses. The "canned lion" story surfaced in the British press in the "Cook Report" in 1998 when a journalist accompanied a South African PH on a lion hunt. The video footage was indeed one-sided and propagated, but did show a lioness being shot from a vehicle inside a very small enclosure. A few clips of meowing cubs were added for emotional effect. The South African government has however since then put rules in place to counter this. All Grootpan Hunting Safaris lion hunts are Government approved and sometimes accompanied walk and stalk hunts.
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