Caught in the spotlight…this magnificent male was lite by spotlights from several game drive vehicles all working in concert to get the best light for photographs.
Watching mating lions can often be an unnerving event. There is a lot of coquettish behaviour on the part of the lioness before consummation. However, during and directly after mating, there is a lot of growling, snarling and baring of teeth from both participants.
Although they look graceful as they stride across the African Plains, this image shows that they can look awkward when trying to stand up from a seated position. This lioness, caught in the dying afternoon sunlight was giving a practical demonstration of how to get up in an ungainly manner.
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens”? Those are two of my favourite things…but water droplets on the chin of a lion…even better.
Lunchtime? This lioness tucks into a buffalo carcass during a drought in Kruger National Park some years ago. Buffalo are water dependant and do not handle extended periods of drought well. During this tough period(for the buffalo herds), the lions literally fed like kings. There was such a surfeit of buffalo meat that the lions were literally eating a mouthful and moving onto the next carcass. In some instances, I saw them walk past the scattered corpses, seemingly on the lookout for different prey to vary their diet.
Just one of the many buffalo carcasses that I found while out on game drives. So much food for the scavengers, like jackal, hyena and vultures, but not good for the buffalo population in Kruger Park at that time.
“…When you are in Africa, you feel primordial, rocked in the cradle of the world”. Jodi Picoult
Walking side by side, these two lionesses seemed to be on a mission. As it turned out, they were part of a pride that was looking for a vantage point to hunker down for the night…or use as a staging area for their evening hunt.
“…You watch the slope lope of a lioness and forget to breathe”. Jodi Picoult
Who says that lions don’t like water? This magnificent male decided that through was shorter than going around.
This lioness decided that over was even better than through…
And the hyena laughed as it looked on…
Although ungainly looking, the speed at which giraffe can go from head down to standing upright would surprise many visitors. As a result of a series of valves in their arteries, they are able to stand up quickly without getting dizzy and perhaps falling prey to a passing predator.
“…You marvel at the tripod of a giraffe bent to water”. Jodi Picoult
This Lilac-breasted Roller was the national bird of Botswana for several years. Found in most game parks in Southern Africa, its iridescent plumage makes it an easy species to identify and their feathers are often used in cultural adornments.
“…In Africa, there are iridescent blues on the wings of birds that you do not see anywhere else in nature”. Jodi Picoult
There is certainly a no more spectacular way to end off a day in the African bush. Each sunset is unique, making every one memorable.
“You have to understand – there is a romance to Africa. You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the hand of God.” Jodi Picoult
The lines that I have chosen to feature in this posting come from Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult.(Google images) This is the entire quotation:
“You have to understand—there is a romance to Africa. You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the hand of God. You watch the slow lope of a lioness and forget to breathe. You marvel at the tripod of a giraffe bent to water. In Africa, there are iridescent blues on the wings of birds that you do not see anywhere else in nature.”
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