Cecil, The Real Lion King

In the Western reaches of Zimbabwe, the country’s largest national park lies beneath a canopy of Mahogany and Cathedral mopani trees. Once the ancient hunting grounds for the warrior-king Mzilikazi, the Hwange Game Reserve has been a national park for nearly a century.

While celebrated for huge elephant herds and spectacular scenery, there is one creature here that has captured the hearts and minds of all – Hwange’s lions. These massive cats are rumored to be some of the biggest wild lions on the planet. One magnificent beast in particular was destined to become one of Africa’s most tragically famous animals. He was known as Cecil.

While his demise at the hand of hunters was splashed across the media, sparking fury and sadness in all who heard his tale, Cecil’s life-story before he was posthumously iconized is worthy of celebrating. To let him slip into anonymity would be as tragic as his death. By remembering him as a warrior, father and loyal brother, he will always be remembered as the king he was born to be.

This is where our story begins...