Lions... at last! Our team finds the big cats on their last full day in Kenya | Day 7

Every day in Kenya has been amazing but Wednesday was extra special because we found what we came here for... lions! It wasn’t easy.

The day before we had spent more than eight hours looking for lions. The Samburu area has about 60 lions, including three prides, two dominant males, smaller groups of adolescent males, as well as some solitary lions. It can be tough to find them because they are mainly nocturnal hunters and sleep up to 20 hours a day to avoid the heat. While it was tough to locate them, the day wasn’t lost. We were able to see a number of other beautiful wildlife.

With only one and a half days left in Kenya, the clock was ticking, and we were starting to feel the pressure of coming all the way to Africa without seeing a lion. Then, the call came.

Wednesday morning, we were loading up in the safari vehicles at 6:00 when one of our guides received a call that eight lions had just been seen just a few minutes outside our lodge. We grabbed all of our things and jumped in the vehicles as quickly as possible. Our drivers got us there as fast as they could and 12 minutes later we found the pride!

We came across the lions as they were slowly and casually walking down the middle of the road. At first, we were one of about six vehicles on the scene following the group. They knew we were there, making sure we didn’t get too close, but they could not have been less interested in our presence.

It actually was a seven-member group of lions known as the Kalama Pride. The name comes from the area of Samburu that they inhabit. It consists of two sisters who are the mothers of the other five: three adolescent males, a young female, and a female cub.

One of the mothers hunts for food while the other protects the rest of the pride. Once a kill is made, the first mother communicates with the rest of the pride and they find their way to her to eat.

We spent about an hour following the pride and it was one of the most amazing hours of my life. They were everything you would imagine - strong, beautiful, and regal at the same time. They also were pretty quiet as they were wanting to sleep after eating for most of the night.

I am thankful we had this opportunity. As Ewaso Lions continues its work to save and grow lion populations with support from the Houston Zoo, I pray I can return soon to see even more lions inhabiting the Samburu National Reserve and the Westgate Conservancy.

KPRC 2 and the Houston Zoo will air a documentary on the Ewaso Lions and the group’s conservation work. Watch for “Saving Lions: The Pride of Kenya” in the fall of 2025.

More Lion Pics!

SAVING WILDLIFE: KENYA CHRONICLES

• Saving Lions: Journey from Houston to Kenya | Day 1
• Our first full wild day in Kenya with the Houston Zoo | Day 2
• ‘Mama Simbas’ are regrowing grasslands and saving lions in Kenya | Day 3
• PHOTOS: Warriors saving lions in Kenya, PLUS an elephant encounter 🐘| Day 4
• From lions to dogs: Caring for animals in northern Kenya | Day 5
• The animals we found while searching for lions in Kenya | Day 6
• Lions... at last! Our team finds the big cats on their last full day in Kenya | Day 7

Watch the entire Saving Wildlife series produced in partnership with the Houston Zoo