Lion pictures and videos

[Sully]

Elephant Plains Safari: Ooops – a Lion Thuds to the Ground
(All images from Back of Brendon Cremer’s Camera)
 
Fanus Weldhagen Reports: 
 
Before daybreak we headed straight to the hyenas with the wildebeest kill. During the night they had polished off most of the remains, but the twenty or so members of the clan were still bickering over the meagre scraps. They created a lot of dust and with backlighting illuminating the almost eerie scene everyone captured some fabulous images. The youngsters were especially entertaining as they dodged the adults in their persistent attempts to grab a snack.
As the sun was rising we received a call about lions that had been spotted passing through the reserve. We arrived to discover three young lions – two females accompanied by a male – patrolling the eastern boundary. They are about three years old, and have clearly split from their pride recently to form a new coalition. They looked very thin and hungry and were hunting with determination as they hastened along.
Suddenly all they leaped into a tree, and started to climb higher and higher. As we drew closer we could see the reason for their ascent … a duiker kill way up there in the highest branches of the lofty tree. The three clambered higher and higher into the tree, swiping at the carcass.
Then down came the male. He tumbled heavily through the branches to land with a whoof and a heavy thud on the ground below. He staggered up, and as we watched with mixed concern and amusement, we saw that all he suffered was a bruised ego.
Meanwhile the lionesses reached the duiker carcass together and spent the next hour alternately scrapping and eating while we photographed every movement and action.
This was how we spent the remainder of a very productive and entertaining morning before heading to the Lodge for breakfast and out photo and Lightroom workshops.
This afternoon found us on our way to the hyena den where we found two youngsters aged about 4 months. They lounged around but didn’t do very much, so after a number of photos we left.
We photographed plentiful general game including zebras, hippo, impala and then …
… who should we bump into but Salayexe, the mother leopard, although her daughter was nowhere to be seen. She was relaxed as always, rolled around and posed for us as we filled our memory cards with image after image. We found her far from her usual territory and surmised that maybe she has relinquished part of her usual territory to her cub, and is also possibly about to be on heat again. Either way, it was wonderful to meet up with her again.
Now we are back at the lodge and enjoying our drinks before the gong summons us to another delicious dinner under the glittering African Sky.
Tomorrow we plan to check for any sign or track of Salayexe’s Cub …

*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

Reply