Tree Climbing Lions in the Serengeti National Park

I was recently on safari in the Serengeti where we had a truly special experience, it involved plenty of big cats, unbearable temperatures and a tree. Lake Manyara has been made famous by its tree dwelling lions, however these elusive cats are not so readily seen thanks to the thick vegetation in the park. In the Serengeti thick vegetation is not always a problem making sightings relatively easy.

Whilst on game drive we came up to a sausage tree where we were thrilled to find 3 grown lionesses and 2 tiny cubs enjoying their siestas. Everyone was amazed at precision of how the lions had set themselves up into the perfect sleeping position.

We carried on to see what we could find and I can tell you we were not disappointed, just a few hours later we found a female lion with her 3 juvenile cubs. They were resting on a fallen tree until they figured they needed a better resting place. They strolled right past our car and carried on in the direction of a large acacia and we followed. The mother was the first to climb quickly followed by one cub, the other two cubs decided to go exploring. We sat there in complete awe as the lions sat peacefully in the tree just 10 m above our car. The lions put on a private show for us and we could not be more grateful as we were the only car there to watch. Totally satisfied we headed home with huge smiles on our faces and a few hundred pictures in my SD card.

On the way out from the Serengeti we were treated to a proper farewell we found a tree with some 11 lions in it, which kind of looked like a new type of tree fruit.

Usually after the rainy season the grass in the Serengeti gets quite high and there is an explosion in the local lion flies populations. Lion flies are quite small and very irritating. That is one reason why lions prefer the safety of the trees in order to get away from the flies as well as to get more shade and a good vantage point from where they can spot a potential meal.

Author: Taher Nassrulla

Born in Kenya, Taher has a lifelong passion for Africa and over 20 years of experience in African tourism.

He began his career guiding and photographing in Kenya and Tanzania, leading guests through East Africa’s iconic National Parks.

Guiding in English and German, and drawing on his knowledge of Swahili, Taher brought destinations to life for travellers from around the world.
He joined our team in 2013, first as a guide and later, in 2024, as a Travel Expert, using his in-depth regional knowledge to design bespoke safari experiences. Over time, his expertise expanded to include Southern Africa.

Today, Taher plays a pivotal role in Business Development, building and nurturing partnerships across the region. His extensive on-the-ground experience, regional insight, and collaborative approach support our partners throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.