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Why are lions the only cats that live in cooperative communities? How does their social structure contribute to their survival? These are the questions that American researcher Craig Packer sought to answer more than 30 years ago, when he first went to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania.
Building on Packer’s work and others in the Serengeti/Ngorongoro system, Ingela Jansson founded the Kope Lion project in 2011, with lions under pressure from retribution killings from Maasai villagers, whose stock the lions occasionally killed in the area. Ingela wanted to directly involve these pastoralist communities to bring about positive change, so that these people could actually benefit from the presence of lions and help in providing information to the project team.
Co-existence of people, especially those with cattle, goats and sheep, has never been easy in Africa, in the many places where humans and wildlife overlap. But slowly and with solid evidence based information and research, Ingela and the team have been able to win the trust of the Maasai villagers and work with them, to help maintain lion numbers. Based out of a humble office on the rim of Ngorongoro crater, Ingela has traversed many thousands of kilometres with her local team over the years, to help build an organisation that is critical to the long term future for both the cats, which bring in the tourist dollars and the local people. Monitoring lions, talking with people, putting in the strong foundations around a very complex issue, has paid dividends for Tanzania, in this iconic wildlife destination.
On some of our Tanzania safaris there is an opportunity to meet with Ingela if she’s around and find out directly about some of these issues in the Ngorongoro Conservation area. You can learn a great deal in a short time about the reality of conservation, not the distant, sometimes glossy, western view of it.
Explore our sample Tanzania safaris and reach out to initiate the planning of your unique adventure.
9 nights classic Tanzania
A fantastic mix of camps and lodges starting with stunning Rivertrees in Arusha to set up your safari. Kuro warm and inviting, is in the heart of elephant and lion country in the spectacular Tarangire NP with its signature baobab trees everywhere, while Entemanu stands alone and majestic in our favourite secluded spot on the Crater rim. And there is no more authentic Serengeti experience than Serian Lemai taking in the migration in season.
9 Nights Premier Tanzania
This safari centres on magnificent camps and lodges in Tanzania whilst taking in the vastness of the Serengeti. Depending on the time of year you travel, catching part of the great migration. Starting in the safari hub of Arusha at stunning Legendary Lodge, you venture to Little Chem Chem, one of the country's most talked about camps nestled between Tarangire and Lake Manyara NP. Then it's onto magnificent Mwiba and Singita and the Serengeti. It combines well with gorilla and chimp trekking in Uganda or Rwanda and/or some days on the squeaky white sand beaches of the East African coast like Zanzibar.
Tanzania Active 11 nights
Way more active than this male lion! A safari that starts at an iconic lodge in Arusha (Ngare Sero) and ends with 3 wonderful nights at an iconic property in the Ngorongoro - Serengeti system (Ndutu Safari Lodge). In between you're staying near the majestic Great Rift Valley wall in Lake Manyara National Park (Wayo Manyara Green camp), the spectacular surrounds of Entamanu Ngorongoro on the crater rim and walking in the Serengeti at a stunning mobile camp, Ikoma. If you want the full African experience and authentic taste of the bush and all its richness, this is a fantastic and great value safari option.
Stories from on the road along with some handy travel tips.
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