The Pride Lands is a large kingdom inhabited by numerous species of animals, epitomizing the abundance of life that originally existed in Africa. Lions are the highest ranking animals in the kingdom—hence its name. Pride Rock, a colossal rock formation, serves as the residence of the king and his pride.
The most well-respected and noteworthy king to have ever ruled was King Mufasa. By Mufasa and his queen, Sarabi, came their only cub, Simba. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, was notoriously envious of his elder and sought to usurp the throne through means of regicide. Scar succeeded in killing Mufasa and placed the blame on Simba, who was subsequently banished from the pride as punishment for his "crimes". Years later, Simba would learn the truth of his father's death and returned to Pride Rock to reclaim his throne. Scar was overthrown, and the kingdom has since been ruled by Simba; his heir being his eldest cub, Kiara. The reigning monarch of the Pride Lands is ably assisted by their majordomo (currently Zazu, a hornbill) and their Royal Mjuzi (currently Rafiki, a mandrill).
The land is governed under the philopshy that is the "Circle of Life"—the belief that all life plays a vital role in the ecosystem, a system that must maintain balance to prevent catastrophic consequences. Hyenas have commonly been known to disregard the Circle of Life by over-eating and over-hunting, leading to their banishment to the Elephant Graveyard. Other animals that similarly disregard nature are subject to banishment in the Outlands.
Places of Interest
Several locations in the Pride Lands are featured in various parts of the film, or play a part in the plot.
Pride Rock - A giant rock formation that is home to the pride of lions that rule the Pride Lands. Animal herds will gather here periodically for the presentation of a future ruler. It serves as the center of rule for the pride.
Water Hole - A hot spot, many animal herds gather here. In The Lion King, Simba and Nala come here in an attempt to lose Zazu among the different herds.
Elephant Graveyard - Home of the hyenas where the sun never shines, it's littered with elephant skulls and bones. It also appears to have numerous geysers which go off periodically. Technically, this area is considered to be beyond the borders of the Pride Lands even though it is surrounded by the Pride Lands.
Mount Kilimanjaro - The highest mountain in Africa. A herd of elephants and other animals can be seen walking past it during the "Circle of Life" sequence at the beginning of the first film of The Lion King franchise.
The Tree of Life - Home of Rafiki. The sides of the tree are littered with paintings of various lions, including Simba, Kiara and Kovu. Given its size, it can be assumed that the tree is ancient. The tree was recreated in detail and is the icon of Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Urembo Meadows - A large expanse of meadow filled with sweet-smelling yellow flowers and lush green trees. A few trails weave through it, and rocks of various size are scattered about. After floodwaters sweep through the area, a section of higher ground is all that remains, with pieces breaking off frequently.
Mbali Fields - A lush grazing ground on the edge of the Pride Lands. The land is relatively flat, with a few areas of foliage and rocks, and is bordered by a range of small mountains.
Lake Matope - The area is a large, muddy lake with an acacia tree looming over it. Several rocks are nearby on the outskirts of the water.
Maji Baridi Falls - A tall waterfall with high, rocky cliffs on either side. A tall, curving tree sprouts from a ledge on one of these cliffs.
Mapema Rock - It is a large rock that juts out into the water. Its edges are smooth, and it is colored a very light brownish-gray.
Hakuna Matata Falls - The home of Timon and Pumbaa and their adoptive nephew Bunga. It is a dense jungle area with a large waterfall that leads to a river. The area is also filled by trees and ferns.
The Pride Lands has a history of going bare presumably once during the reign of every new ruler. A drought happens during Mohatu's reign, Uru and Ahadi's reign, Mufasa's reign (in the comics), and Scar's reign.
Customization discs in the Disney INFINITY series allow the Toy Box to look like the Pride Lands.
The Pride Lands has two known neighboring lands: the Outlands and the Back Lands.
Maybe Scar was the only lion who accepted them for who they were.
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