Tree-Climbing Lions in Tanzania: Where to Look

Lions are not natural climbers. They are heavy, built for short bursts of power on the ground, and usually more comfortable in the shade of a bush than balanced on a branch. Yet in parts of Tanzania, lions are regularly seen lounging in trees, and the sight has become one of the most sought-after photos on safari.

Here is where they are reported, why they do it, and an honest view of what to expect.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is the park most associated with tree-climbing lions, and decades of photographs show prides draped over acacia and mahogany branches there. The park's lions are the reason many guidebooks treat the behavior as a Manyara specialty.

However, many guides, including ours, find sightings in Manyara less predictable than their reputation suggests. Lion numbers in a small park can rise and fall, and prides move. A visit to Manyara is worthwhile for its forest, elephants, baboons and birdlife, but we never sell it on the promise of lions in trees.

Lake Manyara is also a convenient park to visit, sitting close to the road between Arusha and the Ngorongoro highlands, so it fits easily into a northern circuit itinerary without long detours. A half or full day there can be relaxed and varied.

The Serengeti and Tarangire

Lions climb trees in other parks too. In the central Serengeti, around Seronera, lions are sometimes found resting in sausage trees and acacias, and the same trees are favored by leopards, so it pays to look up. Tree-climbing lions are also reported from time to time in Tarangire.

Outside Tanzania, the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda is well known for the same behavior, which shows that it is not unique to one population.

Why do lions climb trees?

There is no single proven answer, but researchers and guides suggest several likely reasons, and more than one may apply at once.

• Escaping biting flies that gather near the ground
• Catching a cooling breeze on hot days
• Getting a better view over long grass to spot prey
• Avoiding buffalo or other animals on the ground
• Learned behavior passed between pride members

Setting honest expectations

Tree-climbing lions are a bonus, not a guarantee. No operator can promise one, and we would be wary of anyone who does. The best approach is to spend enough time in good lion habitat, with a guide who knows which trees local prides tend to use, and to enjoy every lion sighting, whether it is on a branch or on the ground.

If you do see one, keep a respectful distance and stay quiet. A lion in a tree may be resting after a meal, and disturbance can drive it down.

Remember that leopards are far more natural climbers than lions. If you see a cat in a tree in the Serengeti, check its shape and markings carefully. Our guides enjoy helping guests tell the difference, and spotting a leopard instead is hardly a disappointment.