Namibian lions live at low densities and maintain large home ranges in an arid to semi-arid environment (Stander 1991; Nowell & Jackson 1996). In a classic example of adaptation to a harsh environment these lions exhibit unique behaviour, such as individual specialisation and cooperative hunting in Etosha (Stander 1992) and killing seals along the Skeleton Coast (Bridgeford 1985). Lions are of great aesthetic appeal and financial value due to the growing tourism industry in southern Africa. Alarmingly, there is a shortage of reliable and accurate data on their population dynamics and conservation status. It is therefore imperative that sound baseline data on density, demography and ecology be collected to guide the development of long-term conservation strategies. This study aims to provide such data for the desert adapted lions of the Kunene Region, Namibia.