*** NEW Stories ***
Like my previous TR’s, this is not going to be a day to day TR, but a series of stories about animals and special situations based on our last trip from november 11th 2012 till december 9th 2012.
Story 05 – BC Diaries - Lion Roadblock -
Hello all and thanks for joining again. This time your “reporter” will take you to the Satara area.
I will take you with me for this drive and try to let you experience what I experienced.
It was very early in the morning when I went to the gate of Satara camp. Standing there nr 2 waiting for the gate to be opened.
Still doubting where to go… left to Olifants? Right and right to Orpen ?, straight to Tshokwane?, or right and left to S100 ?
First decision just by sixth sense was right and late decision again turning left to S100.
In my mirrors I saw all others going other directions so let’s see…
It was still a bit dark… and hoping not to miss anything I was driving very slowly. Almost 15 minutes and except a warthog crossing the road nothing to see.
Then just around a “corner” I said something like yessssssss and this male lions came towards me. Time.. 04:36 (gate opened a bit too early but no complains by me)
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First thought was…. Good decision for taking the S100
Even having seen many male lions it is always a very very nice surprise to see one and every time again I am impressed by them
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I was just looking at him and I was glad I did the settings for my camera before I left to be able to make some pictures since it was still a bit dark.
I think I said something like “Ohhh nooo” when the lion left the road and walked into the grass
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3 minutes later…. And wowwwwwwwwwww…… This male was not on his own roaming the S100 but pffffffffffffff his whole family or pride was with him….
Jumping on my seat now… is this true ?
First members of the pride
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And looking around I realized that they were heading to the S100 road…coming all together there and just in front of me.
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I had a feeling of “I can’t believe it… no one else and all these lions for my eyes only” Looking around I saw lions left to me, in front of me and behind me.
Let’s focus on the ones in front of me
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Just about 5 minutes from first view and a very very nice Lion roadblock…. I love roadblocks by animals…. Happy feeling at that moment and was just giving a compliment to my sixth sense.
Waiting a few seconds so other lions could pass me and nice of this one to give me look
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Again some minutes later when they were going “over the hill”
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Starting wondering about no other cars yet but also glad they were not there since it is nicer to make pictures without cars in front of you
After the “hill” they continued walking the S100 (sometimes nothing to see at all and sometimes soooo rich… I love this road. Later on in an other story you will see why…smile…
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I remember I was singing “the long and winding road” , window open and no one could hear me , except one of the lions who was looking at me saying “stop singing please”…
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What can you do..? right answer…. Following them till…?
And they were walking…. Like a group doing a morning trail….
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And another 100 meters … what a show. Left and right some lions were walking through the bush and high grass which made it difficult to capture them.
In the mean time I tried to count them and came to 19 lions in total.
The male lion was checking his pride every now and then… with a face saying “pff always waiting for the ladies….come on…”
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Then a nice moment … one of the cubs turned around and was looking at me… trying to convince me that my singing was not right and spoiling his morning walk
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So I stopped singing and captured him.
Some minutes later another youngster showed he was a bit tired of all this walking and decided to lay down near the road
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I changed my song and started “you never walk alone” inspired by this big pride.
Still no other cars coming towards me. Incredible for the S100 at this time. I was 20 minutes together with them now and enjoying every second. They were still on the road rounding another corner…
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Just around the corner the male decided to leave the road at the lefthand side.
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And all the other ones were follwing the leader (what else…) -O
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So this really wonderfull sighting was coming to an end
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A last glimse of some pride members , lioness with a collar and bye bye bye lions…thanks for this special moment… being one of the special ones…
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Just when I left them and driving about 500 meters a car came around a corner and asked me to stop…. ”Anything special on the road ?” they asked…………….
Thanks for driving with me this time and hope you liked it.
Many more BC diary stories to come
Aat & Elly
Many other pictures of last en other trips:
My Wildlife Photography Site
http://www.awv-photography.com
