There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Ben Cranke Wildlife Photographer with Tusk Photo at Elephant Plains Game Lodge:
(Mhangeni Pride)
October 6th, 2017
We left in the early predawn darkness to try and find one of the leopards we saw yesterday. We didn't find anything, and took the opportunity to photograph some general game before we heard that a large pride of lions had been spotted. Both our vehicles headed that way immediately.
We found seventeen lions in all. There were nine eighteen month old males! The large number of young males were accompanied by six lionesses. The first of our vehicles to arrive found a number of the pride strolling down the road before they found a good place to stop. When we arrived some of the pride members were drinking at a puddle, and we quickly aimed our cameras to capture those shots. The other pride members were already resting in the shade of vegetation.
We stopped for our coffee break, when it started to drizzle very lightly.
We received a call about a leopard right on the border of the reserve, but as we arrived, the cat unobligingly moved to the adjacent territory where we were unable to follow.
So we returned to the lions, and as the sun had just set, the lions were on the move. We followed them, but could not work out how many were on the march as our spotlights could only illuminate one or two at a time, and the cats were moving through the bush. However, we were able to photograph them in ones, pairs, or small groups as they progressed through the veld until they vanished in the inky darkness into thick undergrowth. Photo of the MHANGENI PRIDE by Ben Cranke Wildlife Photographer.