I view the pridelands as a mythical place, kind of legendary to animals around the world. Humans don't exist, or don't exist yet.
Most of the world is chaotic. Most animals fend for themselves, and only look out for their own. The pridelands are different. A mighty king or queen rules over, and tries their best to keep stability. Different groups of animals can live together without much fear. Sure, lions and other predators need to eat but it's not lawless. The lions have rules they need to follow too, same rules as everyone else. There's a chance a zebra will be eaten but it's still 99% safer than outside the pridelands.
Animals can live and raise families without much fear. If outside animals enter the pridelands and try to kill without thought, the predators will protect those weaker than them. The Lion Guard was created specifically to protect. There are nuetral animals, that dont kill indiscriminately but dont protect those weaker.
How can such a wonderful place exist? Which is why most animals of the world don't believe such a place exists.