A new four-part National Geographic series is set to take viewers deep into the Maasai Mara for the remarkable story of Kio, a lion cub whose journey could eventually see him become a king.
Kio is still adjusting to life outside the den. (National Geographic/Sophie Darlington)
Lion follows Kio across four years as he grows from a vulnerable cub into adulthood, offering an unusually intimate look at the challenges, relationships and dangers that shape a lion’s life in the wild.
Filmed in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, the series is the first natural history production to document a lion’s complete journey from cub to king. The production team, which included Kenyan filmmakers, spent nearly 1,400 days in the field across 52 shoots while following a single pride.
The series is executive produced by Jon Favreau, the director of the live-action The Lion King, and Mike Gunton of the BBC Studios Natural History Unit. The score is composed by Hans Zimmer’s Bleeding Fingers Music, with the soundtrack drawing on recordings made in the Maasai Mara, including local singers, instruments and even lion roars.
At the centre of the story is Kio and his close relationship with his mother. Her dedication and protection give the young lion a chance to survive the difficult early stages of life and, potentially, one day rise through the ranks of the pride.
Members of the Summer’s Pride drink and relax at a watering hole, taking a moment to quench their thirst. (National Geographic/Eric Averdung)
The result is intended to be more than a traditional wildlife documentary. National Geographic describes Lion as a natural history series rooted in documentary truth but shaped with the scale and emotional storytelling of a blockbuster drama.
Behind the scenes with the women making Lion
In May, Getaway Senior Features Writer Lisa Abdellah travelled to Kenya for an advanced press screening of Lion, visiting the home of the Maasai Mara’s famous lion populations.
During her visit, Lisa sat down with two of the women behind the production: Director of Photography Sophie Darlington and Field Director and Producer Faith Musembi.
The filmmakers discuss the challenges of following lions in the field and the experience of documenting Kio’s extraordinary journey. Faith also shares insights into her own filmmaking journey and her work to create opportunities for African wildlife and conservation storytellers.
Musembi is also the founder of the Nuru Film Institute, a Maasai Mara-based training hub focused on building pathways for African filmmakers working in wildlife and conservation storytelling.
When to watch Lion in South Africa
Lion premieres on National Geographic and National Geographic Wild in Africa from Sunday, 23 August 2026. In South Africa, the series will air on National Geographic on DStv 181 and National Geographic Wild on DStv 182, with a double bill each week.
The four-part series will also be available to stream on Disney+ in South Africa.
Olepolos sits while Osapuk and Orkitok stand beside him, their heads close together as the three pride males maintain a tight bond. (National Geographic/Simon Blakeney)
The series also forms part of Disney’s ongoing Protect the Pride campaign, which supports the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund and conservation partners working across Africa. The initiative aims to help double the number of lions in the wild by 2050.
For viewers fascinated by Africa’s big cats, Lion offers a rare opportunity to follow one animal’s story over an extended period, from the vulnerability of cubhood to the possibility of becoming a pride’s next king.
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