2016-10-18: WPC Frame
2016-10-12: Wordless Wednesday
2016-10-03: Monochrome Monday
2016-06-20: Monochrome Monday
2016-06-17: Feel Good Friday
These lions were amazing to spend time with while in the Sabi Sands in South Africa. Over the course of a few days we spent time with them on two kudo kills, watched as the female chose which of her suitors she preferred (the one pictured here, of course) and even saw them mating several times. Animal interaction in the bush is always exciting, and I learned new things which each game drive.
Thinking about spending time in the bush, and looking through my pictures, certainly helps to put me in a great mood 🙂
Here’s to a great weekend ahead!
Enjoy your Friday! 🙂
2016-04-25: Monochrome Monday
2016-01-27: Wordless Wednesday
2016-01-26: WPC Optimistic
I am optimistic that all of these beautiful creatures will have the opportunity to live out their lives in the way nature intended, without the influence of poacher’s or trophy hunter’s bullets. That is my hope, and if like minded people continue to join together, perhaps it will happen in my lifetime.
Londolozi, May 2015
Ngala Game Reserve, May 2015
Sabi Sands, May 2015
Phinda Game Reserve, April 2015
Kalahari Desert, April 2015
Lions vs a leopard
The experience on my last game drive of my previous holiday is something I have wanted to post about since I got home. I am glad I have finally had a chance to go through the photos, select my favourites, and relive the experience.
We spent the last two nights of our trip at Londolozi, where we had the pleasure of having the team of Dave and Judas guiding us through the bush. For anyone that missed it, I posted a few highlights from this trip previously: http://jennifersawicky.com/2015/06/29/londolozi-highlights/
On our last game drive, we had yet to see a leopard at Londolozi; and being that the property is known for amazing leopard sightings, our ranger was hoping we would see one before we set off for home. We started a leisurely morning drive with a group of three rhinos, and then moved on to a herd of elephants in the most gorgeous morning light. If that was all we saw that morning, I would have come home happy (me and elephants, everyone knows my love of them by now). Dave took a call about a leopard sighting quite some distance away, but a very unique one, a leopard that had been treed by a pride of lions. Dave put us on the sighting wait list, and we continued on with our drive. During a drive through a dry riverbed, we spotted an owl; while the light wasn’t favourable for photographs, I was still thrilled.
Still waiting our turn, we stopped for a coffee and watched a pair of giraffes grazing on acacia leaves. A hare hopped by and paused long enough for me to take a few photos before carrying on its way. Coffee finished, we took the call that our turn was coming up, and we made our way over to the area. As we drove into the area, two impala rams were facing off, rutting season being in full swing, and the noise they were making was absolutely incredible.
When we arrived, a female leopard called Mashaba was high in a tree, with the Tsalala lion pride lazing around near the base.
We weren’t there long though when the lions picked up the sounds of the nearby impala, and one by one, they slowly moved off.
As soon as the last lion was out of sight, Mashaba quickly made her way down the tree and disappeared, so we went to find out what had happened to the lions.
Viewer discretion is advised…
We found the lions a short distance away, and the impala rams were no longer. The pride of seven took down two impala at the same time, and devoured them in less than a quarter hour. I was concentrating more on still shots, but I did take a few video clips, which I have included more for the sound than anything. Mostly the lions fed relatively peacefully, without coming to blows with each other over the choice pieces.
It was a thrilling end to an amazing trip!