Lion tales

[Potato]

https://www.sabisabi.com/blog/22954/a-whole-lot-of-roar/

April 2020

2 last Birminghams males vs 4 N'waswishaka/Ndzenga males part 1

This morning started as most morning drives have started, besides from the bit of misty rain coming down, wetting the tips of the grasses and providing a cool breeze out in the bush. I left the lodge not really knowing which direction to drive to start the morning. I moved into the Eastern sector of the reserve hoping to come across any tracks or signs of any predator that may have been moving about in the early hours of the morning. I had spotted two different herds of elephants and two different hyenas in the first hour. The bush was waking up! Little did I know what had been happening through the night…

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I was driving through a relatively open area when suddenly, in the distance, two animals crossed the road. Quite quickly I might add. As I sped up to see what they were, I realized that they were the four male lions we had recently been seeing on the reserve.

“But why are they moving so quickly through the bush? Are they looking for the female that was seen with them recently?” I thought. I followed them as they cut through the bush following one another in a line. The males picked up on some scent in the road and were rolling around and lying in the road for some time.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Before we carry on with the story, I just want to put it out there that I have been waiting to photograph lions walking in a line together for years!!!

On with the story. As they moved swiftly through the bush, sometimes even running, I thought that they would be getting closer to something that they had heard or smelt. I then realised as we came out and into the open of a second clearing that they were actually being chased! Chased by two, much older, possibly stronger but definitely more dominant male lions!

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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