The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Pumbaa]

The rest of our drive along the S126 was unfortunately extreme quiet, however, we were happy to drive again that road as same is often closed during our stay in that area. For sure we headed straight to Ximangwaneni and were rewarded there with a lot of waterbucks out of which this mom and her youngster were the cutest,



masses of impala were also around



and also some knob-billed ducks.



As already said it was not that hot as during some of the previous days but we still had temperatures around 35 degrees so still for us extreme hot but it started to cloud over and our tactic to do again waterhole watching paid off again.



The cute waterbuck youngster started to chase the impalas away who wanted to take a drink



and same was finally even successful



until the impalas overrun the waterbuck mom and her youngster as they were clearly in the majority so they moved back into the water.





That side trip to this waterhole was more than worth as at midday in that area there is nearly no traffic so we once again had the waterhole all to ourselves and after a longer stay there we drove back via the S36 and finally H7 to Nsemani. A couple of metres prior to Nsemani, however, we got stuck in a traffic jam and as we could not see anything we asked the people in the car close to us and have been told that a lioness is coming up with two smaller cubs.

We were the last car which arrived consequently the last in the queue and what to say the lioness and the two cubs went straight into the direction of our car



here you can already see clearly her two small cubs in the background and we once again hit the jackpot in simply having arrived in the right time at the right place but one can also say we had extreme luck that day.

[Pumbaa]

Whilst the mother already stood on the road the two little cute pies came closer



in the beginning the higher grass in that area was hiding them but as they came steadily closer and closer





the view onto them got better and better



Who can resist such big brown beady eyes?





Finally they followed their mother now on the road and now we had problems in turning around with our car between all the other cars and now we head more than 20 cars in front of us and consequently not the best view onto this little family



but Timon only had the chance in getting shots from them in simply following the crowd whilst putting the camera onto the side mirror and press the button



in getting at least a couple of shots on which it looks as if we had them all to ourselves but it was crowded around that sighting



overall must say that the outcome of the shots was not that bad.



to be continued..........................

[nan]

We were the last car which arrived consequently the last in the queue and what to say the lioness and the two cubs went straight into the direction of our car

indeed what a chance and sometime we need it
nice pics of the little ones

[Lisbeth]

That's an incredible number of cars for February

The lion cubs do not look very healthy

The waterbuck baby, on the other hand, is adorable and one of my favourite antelopes, maybe even number one

[Richprins]

Lovely waterbuck at the Dam, Pumbaa!

And so nice to have it all to yourself!

Plus incredible cute lion cubs, they are tiny!