Young lions in the Kgalagadi
A young lion seen at Kij Kij in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier ParkSummer isn’t here yet, but in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park things are already hotting up. You can imagine my excitement when we came across a pride of seven lions, all youngsters, doing what lions do best – very little at all.
It was around 07:30 in the morning when we drove up to Kij Kij from Twee Rivieren. We had already seen a Verreaux’s eagle-owl so our day was off to a good start. As we approached the turn-off we noticed six vehicles pulled up around the intersection. This was a promising sign!
To our left was a large tree and below it wildlife photographer Hannes Lochner was stationed. I was scanning the area around him but couldn’t see anything when my parents told me to look right. There they were: three young lions in prime condition.
As I was watching, more lions started appearing and they leisurely crossed the road around our vehicle. A couple of them must have found this exhausting because they flopped down near our car.
Lions reportedly rest for around 20 hours a day and these youngsters were fully committed to the cause of lazing about. There were several yawns, but none of the big cats nodded off. They seem content to bask in the sun – and the attention of park visitors who couldn’t believe their luck. Eventually they got up and disappeared over a red dune.
Camera equipment: Canon 30D and Sigma 50-500 lens (hardly necessary as the lions were so close)
Comments
Kate Collins says:Beautiful photos Magriet!
Posted on: October 3, 2012, 8:50 AM
Posted on: October 3, 2012, 8:50 AM
Romi Boom says:Just love that yawn!
Posted on: October 3, 2012, 11:58 AM
Posted on: October 3, 2012, 11:58 AM
Johan Barnard says:Like the photos, maybe its the same lions we saw the first time in January 2012 and in June again, much bigger now !
Posted on: October 9, 2012, 2:50 PM
Posted on: October 9, 2012, 2:50 PM
Maureen says:What awsome creatures! Very nice photo's. We would love to visit the Kalagadi again
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 12:54 PM
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 12:54 PM
Your Name Here says:We had a similar experience with 7 youngsters just outside Tweeriveren at Leeuwdril watering hole, it was very special, just out of curiosity how did you find the roads in Kgalagadi?
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 1:38 PM
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 1:38 PM
Cheryl says:We had a similar experience with 7 youngsters just outside Tweeriveren at Leeuwdril watering hole, it was very special, just out of curiosity how did you find the roads in Kgalagadi?
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 1:39 PM
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 1:39 PM
Rusty Robins says:Gorgeous sighting!
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 3:45 PM
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 3:45 PM
Shelley says:Awesome - we are planning our next park visit to This park I am so looking forward to this trip - hoping for some pics like yours :-)
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 4:15 PM
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 4:15 PM
Pieter Joubert says:Die paaie in die Kgaladi was met ons besoek in September in 'n baie swak toestand. Dit is droog en so ook die watergate . Ons het dit nietemin baie geniet. Baie leews en cheetas gesien.
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 10:05 PM
Posted on: October 11, 2012, 10:05 PM
Petra van Wyk says:Mooiste foto's.Ons was bevoorreg om tydens ons besoek in Augustus/September heelwat leeus te sien
Posted on: October 13, 2012, 7:53 PM
Posted on: October 13, 2012, 7:53 PM
Lynne H says:Are we not fortunate to be able to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat? What wonderful pics.
Posted on: October 15, 2012, 5:09 PM
Posted on: October 15, 2012, 5:09 PM
Carola, Dic and Pamela says:We had a wonderful sighting of a magnificent black maned lion and his 7 handmaidens at Rooiputs on Thursday 11th October - our last day in the Park. What a wonderful way to end a lovely trip. But Magriet's pictures take the cake - our pride was just lying down and enjoying the sun.
Posted on: October 23, 2012, 3:51 PM
Posted on: October 23, 2012, 3:51 PM
Annette & Jörn says:We had the same pack at Rooiputs on Wednesday 10th Oct around 9.30 am already ! On our way from Nossob down to Twee Rivieren to leave the park - what a wonderful surprise , a real "Good bye " from the Kalahari lions. They had killed an Eland right next to the road and nearly finished eating. Every now and then one of them went back to take another small last bite / nibble. Stunning photos shot, spent an hour there - together with a lot of other cars - fighting for prime position ;-)
Posted on: October 25, 2012, 10:29 PM
Posted on: October 25, 2012, 10:29 PM
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Posted on: November 23, 2012, 8:42 AM
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rachel says:very beautiful photos!!!!
Posted on: December 11, 2012, 2:45 PM
Posted on: December 11, 2012, 2:45 PM
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