Tanzania Safari is famous for watching the wildlife activities in live. Among all the Tanzania destinations, Serengeti National Park is the best place to watch hunting. As the lions are on the top of the food chain, they learn hunting on their own. Cubs are used to know the hunting tactics under the supervision of the lioness at a very early age. Slowly, they learn every tactics by their own experience. The brave approach, strong claws, well coordinated teamwork, graceful and agile moves make them a terrific hunter to rule the jungle.

Lions progress towards the prey in stealthy footsteps

Known as a “King of the beasts”, Lions hunting strategies are calculated and unique. Mostly the lion attacks the bigger prey like cape buffalos, zebras, giraffes in groups. They stay hidden in the grass and let the prey to come close.  they make a very stealthy and slow movement towards their prey. After getting close to a cashable distance, they charge upon the prey quickly. To make the prey paralyzed, lions bite the back and nose and break their windpipe after the attack. During the Tanzania safari, you can see it in live.

They are extremely patient while it comes to hunt

Lions have the experience to keep patience because most of their prey has a better speed. During the hunt, they stay hidden in the grass without any little movement and wait for a long time until the prey to come closer. Any little movement can ruin their plan. Sometimes they have to wait several hours to hunt a single prey which shows their extremely patient when it comes to feeding them. Once the prey gets closer, lion attacks and hunts the prey.

Lions follow a different hunting pattern for different animals

Lion hunting strategy is different according to the size, strength, and aggressiveness of the prey.

Lions use a co-operative strategy for big animals. While attacking on zebra, Cape buffalo, or wildebeest, they first encircle or cover the herd from all the side. After they get closer, they charge upon the group. Mostly, lions prefer to attack the weaker, older ones and the calves for better conversion. 

When attacking small animals, the lion hides in the grass maintaining a low profile. With slow and intended move, the lion captures the prey. Mostly they go for the straight-forward chase & hunt strategy for the smaller prey.

Watch this incredible video to know how lions hunt & what their tactics works

Credit: Nat Geo Wild

Most hunting is done by the lioness. When attacking the smaller prey like a warthog, lions move towards their prey very carefully by hiding in the grass. When the prey notices any disturbances, it runs. At that time, the hidden lion on the way of prey catches the prey and kills the prey.

When attacking the herd of gigantic animal-like Cape buffalo, the lions do not hide. The lions cover the herd of buffalo and make chaos among them to separate. But it can be a risk for a lion’s own life as African buffalos are aggressive and bulky. So they chase anyone of them very carefully. After separating and chasing, they attack the far separated one by jumping up to the back of the buffalo and biting the end of the spinal cord. When the prey slows down, the lions from different side attack and jump up to the prey. Lions scratch and bite the backbone of the prey to damage the bone marrow.

The lion is the only predator who is a social and courageous one. Bigger size doesn’t matter to them whatever their target is. Lions hunting strategy is unique and different from other predators, that’s why everyone calls them “King of the beasts”. It will amaze you during your Tanzania safari.