The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Pumbaa]

Leopard + Lioness
Pearl Spotted Owlet
Duiker, Bee Eater and Elephant digging with a little one hidden behind bushes
I'm always admirative to see Ellie searching for water... where it seems there is nothing

superbe episode

It was in fact one of the best drives we ever had

[Pumbaa]

Beautiful owlet I have never seen one

I love the waterbucks The poor little impalas look very thin

How I wish to have a leopard sighting like that one

The owlet are cute and really small we were so happy that this one was sitting so in the open close to the road

[Pumbaa]

Lazy leopard and cute owl.

That leopard was indeed totally relaxed

[Pumbaa]

The rest of that road until we reached Gudzani East was unfortunately totally quiet and there we
noticed that a hippo mom plus her calf took over the waterhole already.



Not far a group of white backed vulture were hanging around as well and also a white headed vulture could be seen.



We often meet a steenbok close to that waterhole and so it was as well today. Same was resting



as well as many wildebeests.



Not far from that waterhole we then had to stop again for another large pride of lions on a buffalo kill extreme close to the road and we even noticed a couple of really small cubs also close who were busy in suckling at mom’s milk bar which just opened in the minute we arrived.



So in no way Timon parked the car and we once again snapped happily away and were again over the moon about such a dream sighting. A big daddy arrived – there were quite a lot of other full-grown lion males hanging around close to that kill – but the said big daddy was not that happy about the position of the carcass and tried to turn same a bit with all the other lions still feeding on same.



There we got also a demonstration of the amazing power of such a big daddy as he had no problems at all in turning the carcass the way he pleased most



whilst mom still nursed the little ones and also some elderly cubs arrived as well and the obligatory greeting rite could be watched to our pleasure again. Really love such a close bond





although some had a very naughty look

[Pumbaa]

but in no way same joined mom and the smaller siblings and was allowed to suckle as well.



In the meantime the big male had a lot to do in finally placing and positioning the dead buffalo he wanted



and whilst we were in the beginning always looking from mom and the little ones to big daddy and the carcass we allowed us to check a bit more the vicinity and noticed that there were a lot of more lions of all sizes lying and hanging around either under or behind bushes and finally the buffet was officially opened



and either small or great finally helped themselves peacefully.



Some of the smaller ones had then enough from the milk bar



whilst some of the larger ones had already had their fill from the buffet.



Finally mom then also declared the milk bar closed and stood up and called all the smaller cubs



which then had to follow her and how well behaved they were in doing so without muttering.



Here a nice size comparison!



to be continued........

[nan]

never seen Lions so dirty

and Dad had "the part of lion" (la part du lion = the best part)

[Flutterby]

Definitely bath time for those cubs!!

Great sighting.

[Lisbeth]

My! are they dirty

Great sighting, Pumbaa

[Mel]

A good mum doesn't only feed her offspring and tucks them in, she gives them a bath too



Those cubs really look gross But it still is an awesome sighting!

Poor hippos though - they have to retreat to waterholes because there isn't enough water elsewhere

[Richprins]

Catching up, Pumbaa!

Difficult to photograph, the Pear'Spotted and the duiker!

Amazing pics all round, and observations!

Those cubs are possible dirty from the contents of the buffalo stomach...

I wonder why the males always reposition the carcass...I suppose it is to "open up" new meat areas!

And they are incredibly strong!