Africa Wild

Hi All,
Back home ...
Not nice to get back in wintertime in netherlands after 4 weeks of nice warm weather in Kruger.

We had a splendid trip , meeting several forumites with yellow and/or green ribbon (I got both with help of some forumites)
Seen a lot, animals we haven't seen before , situations we haven't seen before , usual and unusual roadblocks

We just went to see some Tuskers but some other animals / species tried to stop us or asking for attention...so we did give them some time to show themselves. -O

Just loaded all pictures, so I am ready to start writing a few stories ..... you're ready to read and look ?

*** 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 01 – The Birth of Gomondwane

Hi to all,
Time to start a new series of stories. Elly and I like to share our sightings with you.

It’s almost Chrismas time so I think I could not start the new series better then with this story.
We were witness of a special moment in the life of one of the thousands of Impala mothers giving birth to a new lovely tiny adorable baby.
Yes, in november / december thousands of antelope babies are and were facing the wild world and probably you have seen a lot of them driving around in this period.

Let’s start with the story and we like to share all we experienced with you on november 21st of 2012.

Driving the Gomondwane loop we were just talking about all the gooddies we have seen here, Leopards, Black Rhino, Lions, Hyena Den, White Rhino, Tusker etc etc…. and almost at the end of the loop we just were saying “no specials this time” till …………..

We almost passed this Impala, laying down and something in my mind said “There is something” with her…. Stopped the car , reverse mode and back to this lady Impala.

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At that very moment no one else around and then both of us looking what was going to happen
The Impala on her feet and speachless we were looking at her…….

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Just speachless and looking at this special moment…. Never seen before with our own eyes and so close (about 15 meters)

Next moment the mother turned her head to her baby, like checking everything was ok and was going well

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What a moment… watching this new baby entering the wild world
Since we were the only ones we decided to name “our child” Gomondwane, hoping he/she will have a wonderful time in Kruger.

The Impala mother was going to lay down again to complete the birth of her child…
And there she/he is , first picture of the new born.

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First contact… checking… licking
So far the mother made no noise / sound at all… all in silence

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Then mother Impala started to eat the “left-overs”

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Just a few seconds later the baby tried to stand up … not easy

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I think no words needed for this moment…

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While mother was cleaning the place the baby tried and tried … finally getting on his / her feet… and all within 15 minutes.

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As a good mother she helped her child to find the right place to drink

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Exactly 20 minutes after giving birth the baby was on his/her feet and drinking… amazing !

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Proud mother licking her baby while the little one was tumbling , trying to walk… stand up, tumbling again…

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“our” Gomondwane more steady on his/her feet and mother still licking, making contact… private moments for mother and child…. And we still speachless… what a privilege to see this happen.

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Expressing a proud mother and a baby facing the world….

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Thanks Mom and Gomondwane…. Have a good life

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Born november 21st 2012 at 08:40
Address: Gomondwane loop


Let’s say it is a kind of Christmas story. For us one of the very special moments
Hope you liked this first story and yes more to come soon…

Aat & Elly


Many other pictures of last en other trips:
My Wildlife Photography Site
http://www.awv-photography.com

@ All .... thanks for the warm welcome back and the only thing we can do is share our adventures, sightings etc... and we certainly will do that

This first story was very special for us... I even tried to make the pics as silent as possible not disturbing anything...

@ Leachy - It was a surprise to meet again and idd ...a nice fire with salad , chicken and drinks would be great.
We spent most time in Satara and North but as crazy as we are we sometimes decide to go from Satara to Croc Bridge for a breakfast and coffee... based on sixth sense at 4.30 in the morning -O -O

My cell phone did not work well for several days , no connection or did not even got in on-line status... some days it worked.

In general:
We have seen an incredible number of Cats
Quiet at many days ... even in Satara many cottages empty and few tourist cars with few tourists on board ... (not bad to be honoust ...lollll)
Unexpected animals / species at unexpected places (for us)
Elly could photograph me together with an interesting Tusker at Babalala ....
We had incredible roadblocks .... not by Buffalo but by ...... and ........ and ...........

A great time it was and back in dark , rainy, cold netherlands with very short days .... mind is in kruger , body in netherlands....

Wish you all a Merry Christmas next week.

Richprins wrote:Excellent, aat!

Ja, the mother eats the afterbirth to try and remove anything that may attract predators.

The newborn has no smell yet, so the mother leaves it hidden in vegetation for the first few days...or so the theory goes!

*** 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 02 – Big Boys are Beautiful


For the ones knowing me a bit better it will be not a surprise this story is about Tuskers
Big and / or promising tuskers. Tuskers are : Fascinating , Special, Impressing and very very Interesting.
I am also writing this story to try to convince the visitors of Kruger and other (south) african areas and countries to pay extra attention to these gentle giants. Make photo’s and post them at the Tusker thread

After this introduction just one more reason to pay extra attention …. The number of Big Tuskers is less then most rare animals / species in Kruger…. So it is a great privilege to meet one.

Coming to the story… I like to present you 5 named tuskers I met during my last trip to Kruger (nov-dec 2012)


First one I like to show is RICEHO
I met him just south of Shingwedzi camp along the main road.
Very nice tusker with promising tusks, growing well and both tusks are thick
I could get close to him, he was very relaxed and friendly. A bit of “whispering” and he was posing as it should be.

First contact… coming towards you and looking at each other … are you relaxed ?
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Getting closer and saying Hi…. Don’t laugh but I am always talking to them as a friend… in whisper mode telling him that he will be on the internet with new pictures… making him proud

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It’s great to get close and just look at him… eating in a reaxed way.

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Second tusker, just about 5km away of Riceho, I found MANDZEMBA
Great to see him again, I remember I found him in february 2009 and decided to name him, convinced he would be a big tusker in near future. See what happened and happens… his tusks are growing fast. Also “whispered” with and to him for some time before he came out of the bush (I waited for almost an hour)
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He came on the road, took his time for posing for his new pictures.

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I realized that this was the 3rd time I met him after 2009 and May 2011.

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Very nice to see him crossing the road in front of me and starting to eat again at the other side of the road.
Also funny… I told some other people (a few cars stopped for him) that they were looking at a named Tusker and suddenly I saw camera’s for making pictures… and with a smile I counted 3 more tusker-friends

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After a while he disappeared again into the bush….

Next day, almost same time and place…. I saw him again

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Near Letaba, main road along the Letaba riverbed I found this nice tusker HLAHLENI
A beautiful tusker with classic shaped tusks and also a potential Big Tusker

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Coming out of the bush and ready to go to the riverbed he was posing nicely on the road in front of me… could it be better ?

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Next, number 4 …. We go to the homeland for several tuskers…. Mopani (Mooiplaas waterhole)
Some tuskers do travel a lot , some tuskers do have a kind of area they almost never leave… an interesting fact to keep in mind.
One of the tuskers who does not travel a lot is KALEKA.
I met a few times before and again I found him in “his” area , near Mooiplaas waterhole.

At a distance I saw a bull eating grass, using my binoc’s I recognized him as Kaleka and “asked” him to come closer.

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And friendly as most of them are…he started to move… to my direction…

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As you can see on the pictures he used his trunk to recognize me…. And saying “Hello” by some rumbling…. What a sound that is…..

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After saying hello he continued with eating (what else..?)

Next day, late afternoon again I saw him again and with the nice sunlight I made a few extra pictures.

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And finally number 5 , close to Satara camp I found KUMANA.
Special for me since I never saw this one before.

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Wide splayed tusks and as you can see he was not really taking care of his ears… ragged and notches and holes….

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Well…. Probably more to come about the tuskers… but checking so many photo’s does cost time.
After the Birth story I hope you liked this one too…. Promising that next story will be about ehhhh Cats???

Aat & Elly


Many other pictures of last en other trips:
My Wildlife Photography Site
http://www.awv-photography.com

Hi RP,
Thanks and yes I know you have difficulty with Riceho.... named after a little "river" and I guess this was named after or by people from Mozambique. Also think of this ... one of the Magnificent 7 was also carrying a portuguese name Joao
I really think that Riceho can become one of the real big tuskers is future... his tusks are really thick and growing well.

Richprins wrote:Hello, aat!

Well done!

I still think Riceho is an absurd Portuguese name! -O

Hlahleni looks like another undersized male with big tusks, like Machuchule!

You are very lucky!

*** 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 03 – BC Diaries Cheetah (part I)

Hi all,
It’s time again for a new story. I think I said some time ago we have seen a lot of Big Cats so time to start off with let’s say a Big Cats Diary.

We were staying in Mopani, always been a special place for us because of all the great sightings we have had in this area. It was very early when we left the gate and like always the decision “where to go”. Let’s go to Mooiplaas waterhole first, may be we see a tusker ?
Still waking up in the car, a bit yawning and nothing near the waterhole. So let’s move on to Tihongonyeni. Following the road for a few minutes and huhhhhh…. Still sleeping or is it real…. A cheetah just near the road

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A male cheetah and just in front of us… deciding to get on the road.

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Well, nothing better to do so let’s follow this guy and see what he is going to do
With open windows we could hear him calling… another cheetah around ?
I remember that I have seen two of them in that same area more then a year ago so what happened…
He went to a roadsign and was sniffing around.

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Always nice to see him on the roadsign

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Sniffing and looking around and calling…. We really got the impression he lost his friend / brother

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and more close up

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Off the roadsign and walking on the road again… such a wonderful sighting just for our eyes..
I was just thinking… such a sighting in the south and many cars around you.. this is what I like in the north …

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On his was to another roadsign

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Mhhhh sniffing… was my friend here ?

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No…no sign of him so what to do…. I have to think about the situation

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and searching for a place to think…..

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As a good cat the best way to think is laying down

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Yawning is good for activating my brains….


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and again….

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Let me roll on my back … maybe I can think even better this way….
** I must say we have seen cheetah’s many times but never seen one posing this way… we had to laugh thinking about our cats at home doing this almost daily. One of the funniest cheetah pictures I could make so far**

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After some thinking I know where to go so time to stand up again and going to the place my friend might be…I hope…

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Well… after a long time following this beautiful Cheetah he went into the bush. What a start of the day in Mopani. Not a sighting you normally expect in this area.

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As said… this is part I of the Big Cats (Cheetah). This story about this Cheetah will be continued later on….

Preparing these pictures I still have to think about his calling for his friend… I am curious if he found him again.

Hope you liked it… and till next story


Aat & Elly


Many other pictures of last en other trips:
My Wildlife Photography Site
http://www.awv-photography.com

Hi RP
Hope you are doing well
It was special with this Cheetah... I saw him again the other day and all the time calling...calling en walking around restless... he was searching for his mate / brother... I think the other one was going after a "lady" so hope they are re-united again.

Richprins wrote:Nice cheetah, aat!

And an unusual location!

Predators often "yawn" to show teeth and make a statement regarding their space being invaded or whatever. (even hippos and baboons)

Never seen it with cheetahs, though! maybe just tired!? -O

Penga should be able to give info!

*** 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 04 – BC Diaries Cheetah (part II)

Hi and welcome for part II of one of the Cheetah stories
In story 03 I left you with a searching cheetah. Searching for his brother / friend. Let’s see what happened since the other day I met the cheetah again. Was he still searching and did he find his brother / friend?

I left Mopani camp and always curious about what to find at the Mooiplaas waterhole I took this little road towards the waterhole.
I could not believe it but after 400 meters I saw something at the right side of the road…. And guess… who was walking there ?

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Was this the same cheetah or the friend / brother ? I was almost sure it was the same one.
I followed him and after some time he crossed the road in front of me

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I could hear him calling … that special cheetah call so still searching….
And like the other day walking towards a roadsign to check….

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While checking and sniffeling ..he was looking around to all directions and thanks for looking at me too

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He really took his time to check the signpost

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and

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Sitting, standing up , turning…. Restless … “Where is my friend / brother ??”

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Time to get a nice close up of this beautiful cheetah

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Moment of thinking…. Sitting and thinking… where …where…where is he

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Could not resist to make another close up… It doesn’t happen every day a cheetah is so close to you and posing

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Enough of checking… so he left the signpost to continue his search…

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In the big field again but where to go…?

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Break…..
I lost him in the bush and continued my trip to Tihongonyeni and stayed there for some time. After a few hours I returned to Mooiplaas and ………….


A very big smile on my face.
You always hope for a happy end and yessss…. There they are together again
Just in front of the Mooiplaas waterhole … I must say there were some tears in my eyes

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A happy end of a search … I never forget this and the calls of the cheetah… desperate calls

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A last view before they moved on into the bush

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Thanks for being part of these stories.
The BC diary will continue for some time including the other big cats….


Hope you liked it… and till next story


Aat & Elly


Many other pictures of last en other trips:
My Wildlife Photography Site
http://www.awv-photography.com

*** 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

What does Elly say about your singing?


Vey lucky, aat!

There is a superpride in the area, and who knows if this is a part...although a lot of youngsters!

Strange to see a male bothering to walk with the pride...they are normally sleeping, patrolling, or mating! -O