Lion Quest

 

A male lion rests in the tall grass in Kruger National Park. I returned to South Africa to spend a couple more weeks looking for these apex predators. It's not easy to find them in the summer when the rains turn the park into a tangle of tall grass and thick cover. But my lion quest was a success. This is one of my fav pics from the trip.

Kruger is a vast national park in northeastern South Africa. It's 210 miles long or nearly as big as New Jersey: home to big cats, wild dogs and more than 20 species of antelope. I saw a few new creatures, including klipspringer, lesser bushbaby and African wildcat. But I missed seeing any cheetahs this time. And because of devastating poaching here, I saw just three rhinos in two weeks.

A pretty lioness watches the sun rise over the savannah at Satara, the heart of lion country in Kruger.

 

A huge pride of lions relaxes in the shade on a hot summer evening in Lower Sabie. This pride consisted of two lionesses and 11 cubs. They all looked like they needed a good meal — and soon. Most cubs don't survive their first two years. It's not easy being a lion.

Juvenile lions retreat to deep shade. The lionesses are busy with so many mouths to feed. But having so many brothers and sisters means there are always lots of playmates.

A young cub shows off his sharp fangs. Lion teeth are designed for slicing through meat.

Unlike a lot of lions I have seen that are covered in flies and ticks and have disfiguring scars or missing fur, this beautiful lion was ready for his closeup. What a legend!

A big male lion hunts a riverbank in Lower Sabie. Getting a clear look through all the leaves was a challenge.

A pretty lioness stares back from her tangle of grass in Lower Sabie. I spent five days in the park before I saw my first lion. But my luck changed and I had several good lion encounters over the next nine days.

A beautiful brown-maned lion looks like African royalty in the tall grass.

A lioness peers over a stump, stalking me as I was stalking her. She was not keen on being photographed. Hey, I can see you!

A passing antelope gets the attention of a lioness sleeping on the road in Satara. The entire pride was sacked out in the road just north of the rest camp. It made for tricky photography since road pictures are not my fav. I spent an hour at first light with the pride, but I was getting antsy because I couldn't get any decent angles with the big cats so close. Most of them were fast asleep. So I ended up weaving my way through the sleeping cats and moving farther north. In retrospect, I probably should have stayed with them and waited a couple hours for them to seek shade. Patience is not one of my virtues.

A lioness tries to disappear behind the smallest cover. I still see you.

A beautiful male lion sleeps on the asphalt road. Lions, hyenas and wild dogs often napped on the road in the morning. I guess sleeping in dew-covered grass isn't much fun.

A juvenile lion tries to nap in a dogpile in a pride composed of at least two litters. All the lions were about the same age.

A juvenile lion looks ridiculous with his little mohawk mane. But he's already a capable killer, no doubt. And he will be a regal adult.

A lioness wakes from a nap in the evening sun. Their golden eyes are piercing.

Lions spend time alone together to make the next generation. They don't eat much for the five or six days they spend together. 

I still see you.