Addo Outings 2015

[Richprins]

So anything chased by an Addo male just has to jump into some bushes...safe!

[PJL]

RP I think it just makes these lion faster than their KNP counterparts... they ensure their prey is caught before entering thick bush

[nan]

much, much beautiful than....

[PJL]

Our day trip today was probably unbeatable. We knew a cold front was coming in and wondered whether to even bother heading to the park with the forecast being bad, but it wasn't raining this morning so we ventured along. The south was very quiet - perhaps many of the herds were anticipating the approaching weather, so apart from a few warthog and red hartebeest there was nothing much to report. Stopping on Ngulube loop at the same point where we previously saw the brown hyena we scanned for a few minutes then heard the amazing boom of a male lion's roar somewhere down the valley. After a few minutes Josie appeared:



She wasn't easy to see at that distance, so when I realised the cubs were also in the same image (look very hard and you might just see them), we had to try and get closer to them

The only way of getting near that area is actually outside the park, so we managed to duck out a side exit and down the road we wanted. Nomad was on the hillside on the left of the shot above, and after some scanning we managed to locate Josie and the cubs who were very much on the move. We tracked along with them as best we could, but then eventually lost them in some dense bush













Just before ducking into the dense bush they seemed to do a good inspection on these pipes - not sure why they were there but perhaps spare material for a nearby pump.

[nan]

fantastic

[Lisbeth]

Josie with the cubs! Wonderful!

[Flutterby]

The cubs are looking so healthy!!

[PJL]

They certainly were looking healthy From closer inspection of the photos I think there are 2 girls and a boy

As they ducked into some dense bush we moved further along to a spot where we thought they would pop out again but they never did. After waiting for a couple of minutes D chirped that Roy was watching us.... we reminded him we were expecting Josie to appear - there weren't other lions with her and the cubs. But he was right - Roy was sat opposite and staying so still we hadn't even seen him



After a while he got up and moved further back into the bushes






Josie and the cubs must have found a good spot to settle down for the day as they never appeared again. Hopefully we'll get to see them again soon

On our way back we stopped to say hi to Nomad




6 lions - not a bad start to a day

[Lisbeth]

Nomad looks as if he is watching you

[Flutterby]

Roy and Nomad are very handsome!