The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Pumbaa]

never seen Lions so dirty

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

He had but he behaved very well and let the others eat as well

[Pumbaa]

Definitely bath time for those cubs!!

Great sighting.

It was one of the best sightings we ever had

[Pumbaa]

My! are they dirty

Great sighting, Pumbaa

The were dirty but it even got dirtier

[Pumbaa]

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

I also felt with the hippos

[Pumbaa]

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!

Most of the cubs have been inside the carcass - That is why they were that dirty - The stomach had been opened only later - and in fact he completely turned the carcass around to get that meat as well

[Pumbaa]

What a cutie



and those big brown eyes – Needless to say that we already melted away like ice cream.



Peekaboo between Mom’s legs!



Some litterbugs as well



and a bit farer away nearly behind a bush we noticed a far lighter male compared to the coat colours of the other lions.



I ate too much, my tummy hurts!



We really could not take our eyes from the small cuties as besides two or three farer away sightings of lions with cubs this was definitely so far the best and closest we ever had and on top we had the honour in observing them extensively



another advantage was then that the traffic jam kept within a limit and maximum three up to five cars were enjoying the lion family the whole time we stayed with them.



Finally mom called all the smallest cubs and they had to follow her



the older cubs were allowed to stay where they were and we have been eyed as well.

[Pumbaa]

Nothing is possible without tussling!



At first we were very disappointed that all the cuties disappeared and that they might not come back anymore but now we had also the possibility in watching copiously the large feed and then we noticed once again that the male was still not satisfied with the position of the buffet



and on top a dispute about the greatest or delicious food was also on



but it did not take long and everything and after the feeling ran high they went low again. Please also notice the vultures who also hung around that kill already.



Nature was also calling



and this one had already a more than great portion from the buffet



and also one of the big daddies had already had enough and finally walked away under a nearby bush in order to take a nice nap



whilst the other was still busy in filling his belly.



With the one male gone now also the lighter one dared to come closer to the kill to get his share as well



and even now the white headed vultures came closer



whilst this one had to stand up in order that more can be eaten.



to be continued......

[nan]

what an horreur... the first one

mum will have a lot of work to "bath" all these cubs

noticed the Vultures are coming nearer and nearer

what a sighting

[Lisbeth]

The blonde male never got close to the meal? He must be a kind of paria

Fabulous sighting, Pumbaa

[nan]

the last male has a bigness near the shoulder