Travelling up to five miles across the savanna, a lion’s roar can be both social and territorial. As well as asserting confidence and dominance it can also be used to strengthen bonds within a pride. But did you know that a lion’s roar is not the only way this beautiful creature communicates? Lions express what they’re thinking and feeling through body language too, much like humans, with their walk revealing a lot about their activity or mood. Here’s a deeper dive into five types of lion walks and what they mean.

The Territorial Walk

When a male lion walks with its head held high and its mane fluffed to look larger and more intimidating, it is asserting its territorial dominance. The animal’s shoulders roll with each step and the tail often flicks as slow, heavy and deliberate steps are taken. Both male and female lions also stop to spray their scent onto bushes, trees and rocks. This helps to communicate a lion’s presence and warns potential intruders away.

The Hunting Walk

The most critical part of how lions hunt prey is their stalk. During this phase, lions move low to the ground, using tall grass or shrubs as cover. They move almost invisibly, advancing slowly and deliberately towards their chosen prey. Lions can crawl for more than 100 metres in this low position with their breathing steady and controlled. Only when they’re close enough will the chase begin as this maximises their chance of success.

The Controlled Stride

When a lion feels in control of its environment it walks with a relaxed yet purposeful stride. Pride leaders often walk like this when satisfied with a patrol, their head level, shoulders steady and tail swinging gently. While still greatly aware of its surroundings, a lion in this moment knows it’s in charge and feels both confident and proud.

The Agitated Pacing Walk

If you’ve read The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field, a wonderful lion and mouse story about finding confidence and courage, you’ll know that even lions get scared sometimes. When lions are agitated, they tend to walk quickly, packing back and forth. Their muscles tense, their ears flick and their tail swishes sharply, signaling frustrations, anticipation and stress. In the wild, lions pace when they are waiting for a hunt to begin or when separated from their pride.

The Submissive Walk

There’s usually only one dominant pride leader, so subordinate pride members often walk submissively with their body lowered, head tipped and tail down to avoid conflict or to acknowledge hierarchy. It’s a way of staying out of trouble while showing respect.

Catch The Lion Inside this summer

The Lion Inside is delighting people on the stage this summer, and is a story about a lion and a mouse that will stay with you long after the curtain closes. While the lion and the mouse book was popular, the stage show brings this lovable tale to life with songs, dancing and puppetry. Book your tickets today and join the fun.