20 August 2013: Lower Sabie
We were up so early this morning that we were out before the gates even opened.
![Razz ^0^](./images/smilies/bigtongue.gif)
Actually the gates opened a 5.50 so we got an extra 10 minutes!! -O My dad said that he thought it was too early to see anything, but as we approached Sunset Dam a lion crossed the road right in front of us!!
![Dance O/\](./images/smilies/dance3.gif)
There were two cars at Sunset Dam and we flashed our lights but they didn't see him.
A bit further on we came across a stopped vehicle with some people we had bumped into a couple times throughout out our trip. They pointed out a Giant Eagle Owl...we heard it before we saw it...a lovely sound.
![Wink ;-)](./images/smilies/bwink4.gif)
Not a great pic as it was still fairly dark.
We headed towards Skukuza and then crossed the Sabie at the high level bridge and got onto the H1-2. Close to the Kruger Tablets there were two cars parked on the right side of the road. We stopped next to the first car, but their windows were closed and they didn't even look at us...you know the type!
![Eyeeoll :O^](./images/smilies/eyesroll2.gif)
The car in front drove off and we moved forward slightly to see if we could find anything. We were about to pull off when my dad shouted "LION! Behind us!" A young male lion was crossing over from the left. He walked between us and the other car and came and sat right next to our car!!!
He was so close that I was battling to photograph him! -O
Just then an adult male crossed the road too and went and sat further into the bushes.
We then realised that the larger male had joined another lion and that's what those 'snooty' people had been looking at. The young male next to us then flopped down in the grass and went to sleep. I had changed lenses but it was still difficult to get him in without getting the car in too!! -O
He would occasionally lift his head and then flop down again...obviously a heavy night!
![Wink ;-)](./images/smilies/bwink4.gif)
Do you know how tempting it was to yank that little bush out of the way!! -O
As people arrived we would tell them what we were looking at, as it was quite difficult for anyone else to see him, and then point out the other two lions further in. The people behind us just looked down their noses as others tried to work out what was there, and refused to open their windows...people like that really get on my nerves!!
![Doff 0*\](./images/smilies/doh10.gif)
It's great to have a sighting to yourself sometimes, but I also love to share sightings. I always think to myself "what if these people have never seen this particular animal". Eventually there was quite a traffic jam and we could see these lions were not going to move so we let someone take our prime position and went on our way.
Here's a video of the lions...you can hear I was bit tense! -O
Lions