Kruger Lion Expedition with the Little Lionman Steve Kelly
5
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About
Your guide, Steven Kelly, makes this a truly unique and once in a lifetime experience.
Steven has over 8 years experience working hands on with Africa's apex predators including Lions, Leopards, Cheetah, Hyena and Wild Dogs.
It was only after Steven met his childhood hero Mad Mike who turned Steven's passion for captive animals into educating people on the importance of WILD LIFE!
Steven gave up his career in the captive industry as a big cat handler to take you out to go and witness Lions do what they do best - rule the open Savannah and all that inhabit it.
He will keep you entertained with his stories and also has the luck of the Irish when it comes to spotting Lions, and was the only tour operator in Pilanesberg to have 100% success rate in locating lions in 2018.
Steven has hosted some of South Africa biggest celebrities on tour due to his reputation as the little lion man - a nick name given to him by South Africas Biggest Rock Band - the Parlotones.
Lowest price guaranteeFree cancellation
Ages 0-99
Duration: 5 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Breakfast
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Lunch
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- WiFi on board
- All Fees and Taxes
- The Kruger Park Big Cat Experience with the Lion Man of Southern Africa - Wild World Tours
- Accommodation - 4 Nights at 4 Different Camps
- Big 5 Bush Walk to Track Lions
- 2 x Two Hour Night Drives - Lower Sabie and Berg en Dal
- Guide Fee
- Transfer
- Binoculers
- Light snacks and beverages
What's not included- Alcoholic Beverages
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- Any Hotel or Bed and Breakfast in Johannesburg or Pretoria.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Airport pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.- Lanseria Airport, Lanseria South Africa
- Johannesburg Intl Airport, Johannesburg South Africa
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 193178P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- If you cancel at least 4 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
- If you cancel within 3 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 193178P2
From
$1,298.71
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- simondH9778IR0 contributionsWhat a Day, What a Guide , True Bucket list experienceOutstanding from the get go. Big 5 in 3 hours and a wild dog on a fresh kill. Scary that our guide Steve predicted 2 of the sightings 30 min before seeing the lion and buffulo. This guy is like a Safari machine, telling interesting stories about his history of working with lions and big cats and his famous mentor mad mike . As Arnold Said so well. WELL BE BACKWritten February 3, 2025
- Fearless045899530860 contributionsGreat Game Drive in KrygerGreat Game Drive by Steven. He told us many things about the animals. We saw snakes the Big Mamba and Cobras and elephants, Giraffes and many more. We can highly recommend Steven if you shall to Kruger. All the best for from all of us. The big Danish GroupWritten January 27, 2025
- andrewmU3938TO0 contributionsThree Men and a Honey BadgerExceptional 6 night tour, seeing all the game we could have dreamed of plus a whole lot more. Personable and very well informed guide who could not have done more to maximise what we got out of our Kruger experience. Thank you Steve and the team, it was emotional !Written October 10, 2023
- Enri_TheG0 contributionsFun and memorableOne of the most memorable and relaxing private safari tour in a long time - Steven a passionate guy that’s knows and understand his animals - patient and tried his best to show us all the majestic animals upclose .Will definitely come back again to do more big tripsWritten August 12, 2023
- boitumelos2700 contributionsTranquil guide and phenomenal experienceThank you Steve for amazing tour. We really enjoyed our stay and your phenomenal experience and service.. wish to come back again..Written June 14, 2023
- Tour203629160240 contributionsKruger Park AdventuresWe had a great experience with Steven as our Tour Guide. We saw 3/5 of the Big 5 and also Wild Dog Pack 😍 we will be back to see the Lion and RhinoWritten June 1, 2022
- 699kaleighd0 contributionsUtterly AmazingWhat an amazing experience! STEVEN WAS GREAT!!!!!!! He was super knowledgeable and great at spotting animals. Super personable, you leave feeling like you’ve gained a friend. Will definitely be back to experience Kruger with this guy! See you in a few months!!!!!Written August 18, 2021
- dorisa2850 contributionsA one of a lifetime experience with the little lion man!If there is anything you absolutely must have done in life, it’s a safari with the little lion man, Steve Kelly. What a unique experience, awesome, thrilling. You will never be closer to wild animals you’ll never feel safer around them. This guy is reading the animals like an open book. I have been on several safaris in many countries, never have I experienced anything like it. You will look in the lion’s eyes and - as Steve says - he is reading your thoughts! I felt totally safe, although I could have stroked the lioness through the open window. And there is this crazy guy next to you: "don't close the window, you're safe, she won't jump..." Simply incredible! You’ll share the nervous anxiety of the nearby impala, you'll admire the rare wild dogs (only 4 left in the park - hilarious, we saw 2 of them!) You’ll laugh at the little cheetah punks - and you’ll hope that the last dinosaur will not overturn your vehicle - with Steven next to you “don’t worry about rhino boy - he’s just curious...” hoping the rhino knows it too! Steven’s passion for the animals, his excitement, his joy, they are so real, so genuine, you can’t help being taken in. We were on 5 game drives with him, he had arranged for absolutely everything, from the perfect accommodation at the nearby Kingdom Resort to snack and water bottle. And all this at a more than fair price. Shame we were his last customers, after our visit, everything was closed due to Corona. But we will be back, for sure!Written March 29, 2020
- AL-Gerrard-70 contributionsUnforgettable ExperienceI took my family on the Pilansberg tour. We had the most unforgettable experience. Our host Steven was an amazing host. He asked us each which was our favorite wild animal, and made a pledge to ensure that we got to see each of them in it's natural/wild environment. With 66 thousand hectares to cover, I thought it was a tall order as my favorite is Leopard and my daughter, who can be slightly random, loves Caracal (both are apparently at the top of the prize sightings list). We seen Lion's hunting, a mother cheetah with her young and several beautiful Leopard sightings over the course of our stay and too many more to list. And yes, we got to see a Caracal on our penultimate day. The food was amazing, Steven's passion for the bush admirable and the experience as a whole was 15 out of 10. Our kids are still speaking about it weeks after the event. Thank you Steven and the Wild World team for exceeding all of our expectations and making our trip unforgettable!! We look forward to coming back for the Kruger trip asap! The Gerrard's CA, USAWritten March 29, 2020
- J1615TIscott0 contributionsA great experience!Thank you for a fantastic experience, we thoroughly enjoyed all aspects!! The morning drive on a more traditional safari vehicle offered a unique experience. We got up close and personal with some wonderful animals! Lunch was beautiful with a stunning backdrop. The afternoon drive with Steven was great, he was very knowledgeable and tried to tailor the tour as much as possible. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any cats but there’s always next time!Written February 15, 2020
- jdhelgestad0 contributionsA- MAZINGAmazing opportunity to see the big 5 ( and the rest) without having to be a part of a big tourist group. Agnes made the travel arrangements a cinch while Rudie went above and beyond to ensure we saw EVERYTHING. He is a local and happy to share his experience. There is no better person to see Pilansburg and Soweto than with Rudi. We clearly got the "off the beaten path" tour and was so far beyond our expectations. We will be back. (and seriously Rudie, you guys are welcome to stay with us in the States).Written February 6, 2020
- I3969BMrobertt0 contributionsA great day with great picturesWe had an awesome day with Steve and his rangers - Finally we did the „cat-trick“ 😃 , which makes this trip even more memorable ... THANKS A LOT !Written January 28, 2020
- montoyamania0 contributionsOnce in a Lifetime experienceSteve's tour is one of a kind. Having done a separate safari tour days prior, I can confidently say that the tour Steve offers is second to none. His knowledge of the area and the animals make for an expertly curated tour. He will dive past general details on the species, and will dive deeper into the nature of the animals and the habitat they live in. He can predict the pattern of these animals and anticipate what time of day and what area to find them. It felt like being the camera lens of a safari documentary. Always keeping a keen eye on your happiness, Steve will make sure you are having the most fun in a safe and secured manner. This is a tour I would recommend to anyone that asks, and one I will make an annual tradition. 10/10Written January 5, 2020
- 204terib0 contributionsMind Blowing ExperienceFrom the moment we met Steven, he made our entire group feel at ease. His enthusiasm and love for what he does comes through automatically. We saw the big 5 as he promised and our entire trip was absolutely sublime. Steven's knowledge about the wildlife he shows is absolutely incredible. I highly recommend doing a tour with Steven, it is most definitely a once in a life time opportunity. It was on my bucket list and Wild World Tours and Steven delivered and unforgettable weekend. Looking forward to my next tour with Steven.Written December 19, 2019
- Bushbaby20180 contributionsLife changing experience with the Amazing lion man StevenThis man is insane, his knowledge of the park and the animals is something out of this world. Steven said we will find lions here and Leopard there, and what happened, where he said the animals will be that is where we found them. He goes out of his way to make the tour memorable, from 6:30am to 19:00 we were entertained, my family and I have learned so much from Steven. Thank you for an amazing day and for sharing your passion and your love for nature and wildlife with us. This man spots a chameleon on the side of the road and stops so we can enjoy the beautiful small creatures of the park aswell. That is the thing I loved the most about the tour, we got it all from the small creatures to big ones, that to me is the way all safari tours should be experienced. I'm very impressed and cannot wait to go on another tour with Steven.Written December 19, 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Joonas777
Espoo, Finland11 contributions
Jan 2020
Just came back from our 5 day tour from Kruger with Steve. The trip was unforgettable in terms of sightings and the company. Kruger was delivering amazing encounters and Steve was passionate professional, but also the most laid back guide I've seen so far in my safaris. We went to four different lodges and managed to get good mixture of landscape and animals during the journey. Everything wen't beyond expectations and highly recommend the Wild World Tours!
Cheers little Lionman!
-Joosan-
Cheers little Lionman!
-Joosan-
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My brother
All I can say is I need a holiday after that WILD your
See you for part 2
Steve
Written March 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bill Kist
4 contributions
Mar 2020
This was a dream experience for us. Trip of a lifetime.
Steve handled everything and was an exceptional host and guide.
The specifics:
He picked us up on time from Skukuza and drove us back to Joberg at the end.
He prepared and cooked every single meal; we never wanted for anything and the food was incredibly good. (Steve has actual culinary training btw)
He arranged for the best guides to supplement his guiding.
He and his guides know the park, know their animals and know where to go to spot them.
He has a sincere passion for the wildlife of Africa and its contagious!
Highest recommendation. Just an overall fun group of guys to spend your days with.
We saw all of the Big 5, and 6 of the magnificent 7. missed sighting cheetahs, but there's a reason to come back!
Steve handled everything and was an exceptional host and guide.
The specifics:
He picked us up on time from Skukuza and drove us back to Joberg at the end.
He prepared and cooked every single meal; we never wanted for anything and the food was incredibly good. (Steve has actual culinary training btw)
He arranged for the best guides to supplement his guiding.
He and his guides know the park, know their animals and know where to go to spot them.
He has a sincere passion for the wildlife of Africa and its contagious!
Highest recommendation. Just an overall fun group of guys to spend your days with.
We saw all of the Big 5, and 6 of the magnificent 7. missed sighting cheetahs, but there's a reason to come back!
Written April 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MustLoveDogs
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
What a magical experience, Steve isn't only the lion man he is also a elephant wisperer! I now love elephants, Steve took me on a unbelievable journey with these beautiful creatures. He is friendly and passionate about everything he does, you really cannot get a better game ranger! A truly unforgettable experience, one I wont be forgetting in a long time.
Written June 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josep Sivera
Valencia, Spain4 contributions
Feb 2020
I contracted the Kruger Lion expedition and Steve arranged everything for me and my family. We only needed to go Johannesburg and from there, everything was set up for us. I cannot describe in words what I have lived at Kruger Park. YOU must see by yourself and think that life is not only what we're used living in our cities. Nature is big and the big cats made as all to learn about life.
Steve was really caring about us and to make sure we enjoy the trip. I need to say that thanks to Steve my kids are more nature respectful. Completely safe and breathtaking images that we will never forget.
I really recommend to make a safari with Steve, the little Lionman.
Thank
Steve was really caring about us and to make sure we enjoy the trip. I need to say that thanks to Steve my kids are more nature respectful. Completely safe and breathtaking images that we will never forget.
I really recommend to make a safari with Steve, the little Lionman.
Thank
Written March 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josep Sivera
Valencia, Spain4 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
I’ve known Steve for more than 15 year. I finally went to see Lions and Steve showed professionalism
Written June 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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