Ben's News: A beautiful sunrise greeted us again this morning with the different waking animals dotted around the Plains. A pod of around 45 hippos had crowded into a very small pond - it was not large enough to be named anything other than a pond - and we sat an watched them for almost an hour as they jostled one another for space, moved around a little irritably, yawned, shoved each other, and generally kept themselves and their companions on the go all the time. We were diverted now and then as different birds flew over, capturing images against the beautiful sky. While watching the birds and the hippos we heard lions calling from an area we have not encountered lions before. We headed in that direction and met up...
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Blog posts tagged in Lionesses
Ben's News: A beautiful sunrise greeted us again this morning with the different waking animals dotted around the Plains. A pod of around 45 hippos had crowded into a very small pond - it was not large enough to be named anything other than a pond - and we sat an watched them for almost an hour as they jostled one another for space, moved around a little irritably, yawned, shoved each other, and generally kept themselves and their companions on the go all the time. We were diverted now and then as different birds flew over, capturing images against the beautiful sky. While watching the birds and the hippos we heard lions calling from an area we have not encountered lions before. We headed in that direction and met up...
From Wim: Today was one of the most eventful and emotional days that I have experienced in my years in the bush.It all started with a magnificent dawn and a Serval hunting in the glorious light giving us a chance for some really successful photographs.The pride of lions from last night were less than 300 meters away from the serval and were within a short walk from the buffalo.As the sun rose the lions were right in amongst the buffalo. The lions were beside themselves with hunger and the next few hours showed their desperation.First they caused some confusion by chasing the buffalos in all directions. The frenzied buffalo were chased again and again - across open plains, through shallow water, and then we realised that there was a plan developing. The buffalo were being chased gradually but very firmly toward a water channel which would slow down their escape.The lions harried...
From Brendon:When we met at Maun airport this afternoon our short flight to Duba Plains was delayed as we waited for luggage to be located. This meant that our flight was later than usual and gave us a beautiful, long shadowed, and warm coloured perspective of the magnificent terrain as we flew over.We rushed out after a quick snack and briefing. Most of the guests have visited the area with us in the past and were clamouring to get going.The good news for us is that there have been no lion kills in the area for many days, leaving all the lions quite hungry and sure to hunt in the next few days.Because the buffalo are currently a distance away in Silver - Eye's territory ... at Leopard Point, it was not possible to head that way this afternoon, so we meandered around fairly close to the lodge.The afternoon light was...
Brendon reports:We found buffalo tracks soon after leaving the camp in the pre-dawn darkness. We tracked these and found the herd of buffalo all fast asleep. After scouting around to see if any lions were present (lots of excitement but no nearby lions) we returned to the now awakening buffalo. We captured some wonderful shots of the buffalo as they started to stir and move around on the wide open plains. The light as always at that time of morning was quite indescribably gorgeous, and the sleepy buffalo created perfect shots for us.We heard lions calling during last night and wondered if maybe one of the prides had joined the pride at the buffalo kill. We headed in that direction and found that we were quite correct ... the two prides were feeding on the remains of the buffalo - and when I say remains, all that remained were a few...
From Brendon:Sometimes when we go on a safari we encounter those wonderful days when nature seems to conspire to provide the most beautiful experiences for us. Today was one of those days. There has been very little rain here in the Delta, so the water levels are quite low. This enhances visibility and the surrounding vegetation somehow seems greener and lovelier than ever, and getting around is very easy.We landed at Duba at around 1500. The flight was beautiful, giving us our first glimpses of the scenic area and we captured some lovely shots on the way in. Then after a light meal and a quick briefing we set out on our first game drive.We were informed that one of the three local prides of lions had captured a buffalo this morning. The other two prides are quite hungry and have reportedly not eaten for quite a few days.We headed straight...
Ben's Update:We started again this morning with an incredibly beautiful sunrise. Beautiful flat topped trees with the golden rays of the sun creating shards through them proved to be a lovely backdrop for a pride of lions resting peacefully in the foreground.Many of the Topis have given birth in the past few days and when we stopped to photograph some of the little ones, their curiosity brought them right up to our vehicles. A little further on a herd of wildebeest next to the road again provided foreground a stark contrast to the dramatic, fluffy white clouds billowing above, while a herd of waterbuck also posed regally with that beautiful sky above.After coffee we checked the river for any sign of a crossing buildup but although we could certainly see thousands of wildebeest on the opposite side of the river, they were roaming around aimlessly and there were no signs that...
Wim describes another full day at Masai Mara:The is a special area at Masai Mara named Out Of Africa, because scenes from the movie were shot there. The area is up on the escarpment with lovely views and plentiful wildlife.We headed there this morning hearing that lion were in that area. As we arrived a large male lion walked directly past us, toward a lioness we had only sent now. As he approached, she moved cautiously to the side and we realised that she was hunting. As we tried to manoeuvre our vehicles for a good view she disappeared behind a bush. Because of the terrain we were unable to get closer than about 50 meters, but within moments a wildebeest ran out from behind the bush with the lioness in hot pursuit behind it.The wildebeest hightailed it down the outta inside with the lioness hot on its heels. Seconds later...
Masai Mara Update from Ben: Being in the bush is always magical - and then you get those days that are almost too beautiful to describe. We were up and out just before sunrise and were in time to see those first early ethereal looking rays creep through the heavy, puffy, grand cloud formations. We stopped to take photographs until the sun was well above the horizon, with the flat-topped acacias creating beautiful scenery for us. Driving on we encountered a tiny Topi – with the umbilical cord still attached, and practicing its first steps into its beautiful new world. A large matriarchal elephant herd was next. They were in longish grass and with that beautiful, dramatic sky behind them, the scene was set again for more and more photography. A very restless lioness with cubs was close by. The remains of a kill were not far...
Brendon's Report: After seeing so many lions yesterday we were quite fired up to get out and try to track a leopard. So we set out with this aim, but before we could even start a good search for a leopard we caught up with the four lionesses from the Tsalala Pride. It was very clear to us that the lionesses were not only restless but also possibly hungry and starting to hunt.We spent the remainder of the morning with them as they first stalked then chased some giraffe and then tried half heartedly to go after some zebra.Eventually they gave up the idea of hunting and sauntered down to a nearby dam where we managed some very good shots of them drinking. Suddenly as the lions finished drinking a large herd of buffalo arrived at the dam, oblivious of the predators lying nearby...
Brendon's News: Having been so very lucky with leopard sightings yesterday we were really keen to get out early today for more. As we left the Lodge this morning we came across two of the lionesses from the Tsalala Pride busily finishing off the remains of an impala kill. We had heard some altercations between lions in the night and decided to follow these two when they had finished their meal. Going through the bush and occasionally calling, they met up with two young subadults, and after greetings consisting of sniffs and rubs the four set off together. They moved through the bush checking areas and searching around, ensuring that their territory is safe from intruders. And suddenly when we looked again there were six lionesses. The four were joined by two more adult lionesses. The group continued their mission together, searching, checking and sniffing bushes and rocks and when...
