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Saturday, February 03, 2007

African Kenya Lion Country Safari: Where To Watch The Big Cats Hunting

For centuries, no other wild animal has fascinated man like the lion has and this is why it is hardly surprising that those who go on an African safari in places like Kenya, will always be very eager to seek out lion country first.

The legendary king of the jungle will rarely disappoint those who take the trouble to travel all the way to Africa on a safari mainly to see it. Some tourists have even been lucky enough to see lions hunting while on their African safari. There are few spectacles in this life that are more fascinating than this.

Contrary to what many people believe, the lion is not a fast animal, at least not in comparison to its' favorite meal, which would be a Gazelle or Zebra. A zebra being a larger animal would usually call for lions to hunt in groups.

Because of its' lack of speed, especially over a long chase, lions rely on stealth to get as close to their prey as possible without detection. They will then dash out the last few metres using their weight and power to move as swiftly as possible over the short distance. Not unlike a 100 metres athelete whose power serves them well over the short distance. The key here is always speed off the mark rather than speed over a long distance.

Another hunting method for lions that you may be lucky enough to see on an African safari in lion country is when they hunt together in groups. The lions simply surround their prey then one group charges out and causes the herd to run off in a certain direction, straight into a trap where a another group of lions will be waiting to make their kill.

Expert safari guides in Africa can help you greatly increase your chances of watching this awesome spectacle of lions hunting. Game reserves like the famous Masai Mara in Kenya, a country in East Africa is an excellent place to go on a lion safari.

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Read more African lion safari tales.