National Geographic LION Follows a Cub’s Extraordinary Journey to Become King
What does it take for a vulnerable lion cub to survive long enough to become a king?
That is the question at the heart of LION, National Geographic’s ambitious new four-part event series following the extraordinary real-life journey of a young lion named Kio in Kenya’s Maasai Mara.
The series, which has been four years in the making, promises audiences an intimate look at the challenges, relationships and dangers that shape a lion’s journey from cub to adulthood.
LION premieres across Africa on National Geographic and National Geographic Wild from Sunday, 23 August 2026, with the series also available to viewers in South Africa on Disney+.
Four Years Following One Pride
Filmed in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, LION is described as the first natural history production to document a lion’s complete journey from a vulnerable cub to king.
The scale of the production reflects the ambition behind the project.
Crews spent nearly 1,400 filming days across 52 shoots, following a single pride over an extended period.
Local Kenyan filmmakers were also part of the production, helping capture the environment and the lives of the animals at the heart of the story.
Rather than offering a brief snapshot of wildlife, the series has had the unusual opportunity to observe Kio and his pride over several years.
That extended access allows viewers to witness change as it happens — from the vulnerability of a young cub to the challenges that come with growing up in one of Africa’s most iconic wilderness areas.
A Wildlife Story With a Cinematic Feel
LION brings together natural-history filmmaking and the storytelling approach of a major cinematic production.
The series is executive produced by Jon Favreau, director of the live-action The Lion King, alongside Mike Gunton, Creative Director of the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, known for productions including Planet Earth II and Dynasties.
The narration is provided by O.J. Lynch, whose credits include Mufasa and The Lion King stage production.
The result is intended to go beyond a traditional wildlife documentary.
Instead, LION presents Kio’s story as an emotional coming-of-age journey involving family, survival, courage and the unpredictable realities of life in the wild.
A Soundtrack Built From the Wild
Music is another major part of the production.
Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer leads the score alongside Niccolò Pacella and George Hutson Warren of Bleeding Fingers Music.
The soundtrack incorporates recordings captured in the Maasai Mara, including local singers, instruments and even lion roars.
Additional vocals were recorded with the Nairobi Chamber Chorus, creating a sound intended to combine the scale of a cinematic adventure with the emotional atmosphere of the African wilderness.
The score also includes subtle musical references to The Lion King, connecting the new series with themes familiar to audiences around the world.
The original soundtrack is scheduled for release through Hollywood Records on 21 August, ahead of the series premiere.
A Story About Family, Survival and Courage
At its centre, LION is a story about growing up.
Kio must navigate the realities of life within a lion pride while facing the dangers that come with living in the wild.
The series follows the relationships between lions and the challenges that shape their lives, while placing Kio’s development at the centre of the narrative.
According to Favreau, following the pride for four years continually revealed new surprises, with Kio’s eventual transformation proving particularly extraordinary.
The result is a story that combines wildlife observation with the emotional structure of a coming-of-age drama.
Beyond Entertainment: Protecting Africa’s Lions
The series also arrives alongside Disney’s continuing Protect the Pride campaign, which supports the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and conservation partners working across Africa.
The campaign supports the LRF’s goal of helping double the number of lions living in the wild by 2050.
Since Protect the Pride launched in 2019, Disney says it has invested more than $5 million in the Lion Recovery Fund.
The fund’s network has supported more than 400 conservation projects across 26 countries, focusing on stabilising and recovering lion populations through locally led conservation solutions.
That connection gives LION a significance beyond the television screen.
The series introduces audiences to the lives of individual animals while also drawing attention to the wider challenges facing Africa’s lion populations.
When Can South African Viewers Watch LION?
South African viewers will be able to watch the four-part series from Sunday, 23 August 2026.
National Geographic
DStv: Channel 181
StarTimes: Channel 220
Episodes will air on Sundays at 18:00, with a double bill each week.
National Geographic Wild
DStv: Channel 182
StarTimes: Channel 221
The series will also be available on Disney+ in South Africa.
A New Kind of Lion King Story
For audiences who grew up with The Lion King, the premise of LION may feel familiar — a young lion facing the challenges of growing into his place within the pride.
But this time, the story is not animation.
It is the real-life journey of a lion living in one of Africa’s most extraordinary landscapes.
Kio’s story offers viewers an opportunity to witness the wild not simply as a spectacular backdrop, but as a living environment where survival, family and leadership are constantly being tested.
LION promises drama, beauty and high-stakes adventure, but its greatest strength may be the time invested in telling Kio’s story.
Four years of observation have created something rare: an opportunity to watch one lion grow.
And as Kio’s journey unfolds, viewers will discover whether this vulnerable cub can ultimately become the king he is destined to be.
LION premieres on National Geographic and National Geographic Wild on Sunday, 23 August 2026, and will also be available on Disney+ in South Africa.
