Have you ever heard about a black-maned lion? People say that this rare species once roamed through Southern Africa. Is this just a fairy tale or reality?

Sightings of black-maned lions are rare, but rumors about this majestic predator never cease. This magnificent species once inhabited the savannah of Southern Africa and it seems like some of these Big Cats still roam the semi-arid Kalahari. Let’s take a closer look at this storied hunter.

So does this majestic beast exist? Yes, there have been sightings. A number of our tours, especially through the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, take you right through the lion’s territory. Although once again, seeing one is a rare experience.

Why is Their Mane Black?

Usually the colour of the mane becomes darker with the years. That means if the mane is dark you are facing an old and experienced predator. But is black equal to dark?

Many think that the black-maned lion is a sub-species. Here are 3 theories on the feline’s genesis.

 

 

Theory 1: No Interbreeding at All?

The first theory is that the Kalahari lions have never bred with other lions. This might have been a strategy to preserve and strengthen their genes with each new generation. My humble knowledge of genetics tells me that a small gene pool usually indicates the decline of a species, so take this with a pinch of salt.

Theory 2: Self Protection?

Another theory says that the black mane saves them from suffering the heat. Black absorbs sun beams and so the sun is collected by the mane instead of the skin. That might be given through nature as a kind of self protection. However, if wearing a black mane is anything like driving a black car, this theory has to be wrong.

Theory 3: Interbreeding with the Cape Lion?

The second theory brings the black-maned lion into contact with the supposedly extinct Cape lion. This species is said to have been the strongest and biggest and wore a black mane as well. So possibly the Kalahari lion could have bred with the Cape lion because it was the closest living species. Hence he could have received the strong genes and black mane from this extinct species.

The Black-Maned Surprise

We started early in the morning at about 6am to preserve our chances of animal sightings. It is commonly accepted that the best times to observe animals on safaris are dawn and dusk when animals scramble around the waterhole or roam through the savannah to hunt. Game is more active at these times because of the comfortable temperature. They do not yet or no longer face the heat of the day.

The first sighting of the day was a wild dog accompanied by members of the same species on its way. This sighting was followed by different kinds of antelopes, elephants and hippos. But the most spectacular spotting lay still before us.

When we reached a waterhole a big lion approached the water. But no common lion – a black-maned lion crossed our way. He looked strong, sturdy and different from other African lions. This lion was bigger than every lion I had ever seen. Furthermore he was rich in mane that covered the whole front part of his body. This encounter lasted just some minutes but I was able to record a video. I was really impressed because I had never seen a black-maned lion before and I didn’t even know it exists.

A black mane is not common to all African lions. You can just find them in Southern Africa, in particular the Southern part of Botswana or the Kgalagadi Park in general. If you like to spot them as well, have a look at our Kgalagadi tours.

Have you ever seen a black-maned lion? Please share your opinion in the comment section.

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