Lolelunga Private Reserve, near Kafue National Park in Zambia, has reintroduced two lions into its ecosystem. This marks the return of an apex predator to the reserve for the first time in more than 15 years.
The translocation, completed on April 12 in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the Zambia Ministry of Tourism, brings lions back to the 30 000 hectare reserve where they had disappeared due to poaching and human-wildlife conflict.
The initiative is the first in Zambia to rewild captive-bred lions. A seven-year-old male and female were translocated from Mukuni Big Five in Livingstone and are undergoing a managed rehabilitation process to prepare them for release.
The programme follows earlier groundwork at the reserve, including the introduction of cheetahs in 2024. In 2025, three cubs were born on the reserve, demonstrating the viability of predator restoration in the area.
“Reintroducing lions to Lolelunga is a conservation milestone and a deeply symbolic moment,” said Suhail Dudhia, Zambia Luxury Lodge Collection MD. “We hope this sets a precedent and inspires similar initiatives across the country, helping to secure a future for lions that might otherwise remain in captivity.”
Genetic integrity was a key consideration due to the reserve’s open river boundary with surrounding game management areas and its proximity to Kafue National Park. After assessing potential sources in Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa, Lolelunga partnered with Mukuni Big Five.
The lions are currently in a secure acclimatisation enclosure, 10 times larger than their previous habitat, where they are undergoing a six- to eight-week rewilding programme. This includes rebuilding hunting instincts and reducing human dependency under the supervision of a wildlife veterinarian, a rewilding expert and the reserve’s management team.
Once the process is complete, the lions will be released into the wider reserve to support biodiversity.
