Few creatures command as much awe as the African lion. A perfect blend of power, intelligence, and teamwork, lions are apex predators, finely tuned by evolution to take down large and dangerous prey. Whether working together to bring down a Cape buffalo or stalking prey under the cover of night, their hunting prowess is nothing short of extraordinary. But what lions eat depends on their environment, available prey, and even human activity. In this article, we explore the question: “What do lions eat?” with a particular focus on the unique populations of lions in Tsavo.
How lions hunt: the strength of the pride
Lions are the only truly social big cats, living in prides that allow them to hunt cooperatively. Cooperation enables them to take down larger prey and take more risks. If a lion is injured during a hunt, the rest of the pride can continue providing food while it recovers, making it possible to tackle more dangerous animals.
In the Serengeti and other parts of Africa, lion prides specialise in ambushing zebras, wildebeests, and buffalo, using teamwork to bring down large, powerful prey. However, lions are highly adaptable, shifting their hunting strategies based on their surroundings. Some hunt alone, stalking smaller prey, while others develop unique hunting techniques to exploit their environment.
The unique lions of Tsavo
Tsavo is home to approximately 450 lions. However, due to the vast size of Tsavo—comparable to Switzerland—their ecology is far less studied than the well-documented populations in the Mara and Serengeti.
Maneless males
Unlike most lions, Tsavo’s males have little to no mane—thought to be an adaptation to the region’s extreme heat and thorny shrubbery. This trait reduces overheating, making them better suited to the arid conditions of Tsavo.
The man-eaters of Tsavo
Tsavo’s lions are famously linked to one of history’s most chilling wildlife encounters. During the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway in the late 19th century, two male lions terrorised railway workers, killing dozens of people before they were eventually hunted down. While man-eating is rare among lions, this case remains one of the most infamous examples of lions preying on humans.
What do Tsavo’s lions eat?
A study using scat analysis (2019–2023) revealed that more than 85% of Tsavo’s lion diet consists of large ungulates (weighing over 150kg). Their primary prey includes:
- Zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, and waterbuck, which together account for over 70% of their diet.
- Small antelope, such as gerenuk and Grant’s gazelle, make up just 2%.
- Endangered species, including Grevy’s zebra and hirola, contribute 5% of their diet, despite making up only 1% of the available prey.
This disproportionately high predation rate on hirola and Grevy’s zebra raises conservation concerns. These species were introduced to Tsavo as part of ex-situ conservation programmes, but lion predation may be preventing their recovery, trapping them in what is known as a predator pit.
What is a predator pit?
A predator pit occurs when a small population of prey animals is unable to recover because predators continue to hunt them at unsustainable rates. Even if the species has enough food and habitat, predation prevents their numbers from increasing. In Tsavo, hirola and Grevy’s zebra may be facing this problem, as lion predation remains disproportionately high despite their already low numbers.
When lions hunt elephants: the Savuti case
While lions typically hunt medium to large ungulates, extreme conditions can push them to take on even larger prey. In Botswana’s Savuti region, lions have been documented hunting young elephants, a behaviour driven by drought conditions that forced elephants to gather near a few remaining waterholes.
Lions in Savuti target elephants aged 4 to 10 years, as they are vulnerable but no longer under constant maternal protection. Their hunting technique is both brutal and effective—isolating a young elephant before suffocating it by attacking its trunk or overwhelming it with sheer numbers. Though rare, this behaviour demonstrates lions’ ability to adapt to their surroundings when traditional prey is scarce.
Adaptive strategy
The lions of the Kalahari Desert showcase remarkable adaptability in response to seasonal changes. During the rainy months, when prey is more abundant, they remain in cohesive prides, working together to take down large animals such as gemsbok and wildebeest. However, as the dry season sets in and larger prey migrates elsewhere, these lions shift their strategy entirely. The pride structure dissolves, and individuals resort to solitary hunting, relying on smaller, more elusive prey like porcupines and hares to survive. This seasonal flexibility highlights the resilience and resourcefulness of these apex predators, demonstrating their ability to thrive in one of Africa’s most extreme environments.
Lions and human-wildlife conflict
In areas where livestock farming overlaps with lion territory, conflicts between humans and these apex predators are inevitable. Lions, like any opportunistic hunter, may turn to cattle as an easy food source, particularly when wild prey is scarce.
In Amboseli and its surrounding areas, research indicates that lions predate on approximately 2.5% of the total livestock owned by pastoralists. This figure aligns with similar studies across Africa. For example, commercial ranches adjoining Tsavo reported an annual loss of 2.2% of cattle to lions.
Interestingly, while lions often take the blame for livestock predation, hyenas and leopards kill far more domestic animals. However, the cost of losing cattle to lions is particularly high due to their tendency to hunt more economically valuable livestock such as large bulls.
Unfortunately, many lions also lose their lives to retalitory killings as a result of this predation. In June 2023, six lions were speared to death after they had started killing goats.
At Tsavo Trust, reducing human-wildlife conflict is a core part of our mission. We work closely with local communities to implement livestock protection strategies, including training local community members as scouts. In extreme cases, we assist in translocating problematic lions, preventing further conflict while ensuring these iconic predators can continue to thrive in the wild. By promoting coexistence, we aim to secure a future where both lions and the communities who live alongside them can prosper.
The adaptability of lions
Lions are expert hunters, capable of taking down large prey, adapting to changing conditions, and even targeting elephants or cattle when necessary. They have a significant impact on the areas they live in, which can be challenging for certain species such as hirola and Grevy’s zebra, as well as for humans who live in close proximity to these expert hunters.
At Tsavo Trust, we remain committed to protecting these apex predators while also balancing the conservation needs of endangered species and local communities. By understanding what lions eat, we gain valuable insights into their ecology, ensuring a future where both lions and their prey can thrive.
Support Tsavo Trust’s conservation efforts today and help us protect Africa’s most iconic predator.