At Adventure Expeditions, we believe the greatest adventures are those that take you deeper into the wild, not just as observers, but as participants in meaningful conservation. One of our most exclusive and impactful experiences is a day with the Tsavo Simba Research Project, immersing you in the lives of Tsavo’s legendary lions.
What is the Tsavo Simba Research Project?
Tsavo National Park is world-famous for its rugged wilderness and its maneless lions. Descendants of the very same “Maneaters of Tsavo” that captured global imagination more than a century ago. Yet, despite this notoriety, surprisingly little is known about the day-to-day lives, behaviour, and movements of these iconic big cats in the vast Tsavo ecosystem.
The Tsavo Simba Research Project is changing that. Working closely with scientists, park managers, veterinarians and dedicated researchers, the project combines cutting-edge technology with arduous and patient, boots-on-the-ground fieldwork to unlock the secrets of lion behaviour and movement. Using GPS/SAT collars, UHF-ID tags, remote camera traps, and intensive direct observations, the team is building a comprehensive picture of how these lions live, hunt, socialise, and move across the landscape.
Beyond pure science, the project’s mission is deeply practical: to strengthen local capacity and co-develop effective, long-term strategies for lion conservation and peaceful human–wildlife coexistence in one of Africa’s most complex ecosystems. In fact, the research has shown lions in Tsavo have ranges larger than the whole of Chicago or Madrid or Nairobi, which shows the need for a large-scale conservation policy and measures.
Spend time with Researchers and the Tsavo Lions
After a hearty bush breakfast at your camp, you’ll meet the researchers from the Tsavo Simba Project. What follows is a day immersed in real conservation science that goes far beyond a standard game drive.
You’ll head out into the Tsavo wilderness to see wildlife, interpret signs and calls, and track lions. Under the guidance of the researchers, you’ll learn how lion tracking actually works in the field: interpreting GPS/VHF signals, understanding ranging patterns, and experiencing first-hand how the team locates and observes the animals. The researchers share the individual stories of the collared lions — each with its own distinct personality, history, and character. You’ll hear tales of daring hunts, dramatic territorial battles, and surprising moments of tenderness that bring these magnificent predators to life.
As you track near public-access roads (no off-road driving is possible), the team explains the valuable data being collected and how it directly informs conservation strategies and helps mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Every collar ping and camera-trap image contributes to a growing body of knowledge that helps monitor and protect both lions and the communities living alongside them.
Later in the day, you’ll travel to the Tsavo Research Center at the Wildlife Research & Training Institute. Here, the researchers dive deeper into their monitoring methods. You’ll get a close look at how GPS collars function, how camera traps are deployed and analysed, and what the resulting data reveals about lion behaviour in this unique environment.
Throughout the day, you’ll gain genuine insight into lion behaviour and migration patterns while contributing, through your participation, to the vital work of understanding and protecting these animals for future generations.
Why Join This Experience?
This is not a passive safari. It’s an active, immersive journey into conservation science. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a keen photographer, or simply someone who wants to understand Africa’s wild places on a deeper level, a day with the Tsavo Simba Research Project delivers a profound connection and appreciation for these apex predators and the whole ecosystem.
For keen wildlife enthusiasts who are willing to make a generous donation to the Tsavo Simba Research Project, we can help facilitate VIP status, where we seek special permission from Kenya Wildlife Service to go to less accessible areas of Tsavo with the lion researchers and really delve into their research with them. Your donations will directly go to the Project and fund critical equipment, field-allowances and fuel to monitor these incredible lions on a regular basis.
Spots are limited. If you’re ready to trade ordinary game drives for something truly meaningful, speak to the team at Adventure Expeditions about joining the Tsavo Simba Research Project for a day.
You can also follow the Project and their exciting updates using social media (instagram link) and their project website.
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