Africa Wild

Visits to Addo seem a bit scarce at the start of the year as we always seem to be incredibly busy. However, we managed a quick afternoon excursion and it turned out to be a good decision to go.

Driving along Ngulube loop there were a number of vehicles parked up in the distance, when off to our left we spotted a lioness moving stealthily along a hillside with some buffalo firmly in her sights



A slightly smaller buffalo appeared and this got the lioness into ready-to-pounce mode.



As soon as the buffalo turned around the lioness sprung into action and the small herd took off along the hillside in the direction of the other parked-up vehicles.
We scrambled along trying to keep up with the action - photos were impossible due to the thick vegetation - but every so often there was a glimpse of lionesses chasing and climbing on the back of the smaller buffalo

The people in the parked cars seemed very confused as we came trundling through... they were sitting watching some of the other lions that had been sleeping by a kill and were now getting woken up to the sound of the buffalo stampede. Fairly soon the buffalo came out of the thicker bush but the bigger buffalos turned to face the lionesses who decided not to chase any further!





After finalising who was the winner in this particular skirmish, the buffalo continued on its way.



If only the male lions had joined in there might have been some further buffalo steaks on the menu. Nomad was sat on the hillside watching the proceedings.



For a moment it looked like he might give chase, but his full tummy told him this wasn't the time to exercise

Hey, Peej...Addo was pretty boring before the lions came, hey?

Ja, lion are instinctive hunters, well the females, so will attack something even if they are full and at a kill!

Saw this once at Shiloweni...they killed TWO zebra and then all paused while making their usual racket at the carcasses while a lioness or two tried to stalk a passing waterbuck...then went back to feeding after this missed!

Ja, he certainly didn't not look hungry at all

Quite some action though! Not only the males near the kill but also the girl giving chase

Lovely sighting!

Once the buffalo and lions had come to some kind of peace deal, the activity was centred around the kill that had been made earlier in the day. It took a while to get through the melee of cars, but once we had a decent view the young girls Dawn & Duffy came in to eat. Dawn is often quite inquisitive and kept checking us out



Roy was already passed behind some bushes, but Nomad came wandering down. He had obviously eaten his fill as he just stood around watching proceedings



The buffalo then decided that the peace deal wasn't intact and promptly charged through where the girls were eating, scattering lions in all directions. Duffy ended up finding a nice vantage point



Fairly quickly the girls were back at the kill and we got to enjoy the sounds of crunching and tearing as they tucked into what was left.







They even stuck their tongues out at the vehicles to see if they would leave them in peace



Finally Josie made an appearance



Apparently she has a sight impediment so perhaps only 30% vision... maybe that's why she was using the flehmen response to check the smells in the area

Your pics are just stunning!!

Thanks Flutts
It was a real treat having so many lion in one place

Brilliant!

Nice that most don't have collars anymore, PJL?

Are there termite mounds there?

Duffy and Dawn are really pretty young ladies! And the names seem to stick with the Addo regulars, judging by what I read on Facebook
Not much chance for the officials to decide on different names here, I guess

Stunning photos (although there is one that looks a bit gooey )

Richprins wrote:Brilliant!

Nice that most don't have collars anymore, PJL?

Are there termite mounds there?

Only Dawn & Duffy aren't fitted with collars. Plenty of termite mounds around - good pickings for aardvark