Oldies but goodies – one of my favourite Lion images ever 🙂
Ignore the car!
Lions normally ignore game drive vehicles, especially when the encounter is on their terms. The Thanda dominant male was passing within touching distance of the vehicle, undisturbed by the humans within the car.
It was not necessary to tell any of the Thanda guests to sit very still and be quiet during this sighting, that was done quite naturally 🙂
What a morning!
And the difference is …
Well, they are of different age and the pictures were taken in different light (therefore the colour difference). But here is the major difference:
The little Lion on the left lives with his family (The North Pride) at Thanda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The small one on the right lives with his family at the Zoo in Basel, Switzerland. The one lives in the wild with all its dangerous and its beauty, the other one lives in captivity, at full board and with a health care plan 🙂
Congratulations to Peter Mettler, who got the correct answer!
… and now the bonus question, what is so special about this one?
What’s the difference?
What is the difference between these two Lion cubs?
A hint: it is not their looks alone!
I will blog the answer tomorrow afternoon 🙂
Have a good week.
Airborne
No words – just enjoy the images 🙂
Just right!
Sometimes an image is just right!
I titled this one: Give me patience …
It is one of my favourite 2014 images.
Imagine …
… you are sitting quietly in the bush and watching six little Lion cubs playing all around you. Well that is the experience we had on today’s evening game drive. While the adult Lions were sleeping soundly in the thick bush little ones moved about, climbed trees, stalked one another and ran around like all small kittens do.
This picture is my favourite shot from this magic encounter! The little Lion on the left got interested in the clicking of my camera and posed for a portrait.
Aggression and Family Life!
What a sighting!
This afternoon the Thanda guests got a great display of Lion family life combined with signs of aggression!
When Thanda’s dominant male and his family (two adult females and six cubs) walked out onto a savanna area they were greeted by the presence of another adult male Lion.
The older female showed immediate signs of aggression towards the second male. A growling match followed. Thanda’s dominant male just observed the situation and placed himself between the second male and his pride.
They all settled on the side of a road and they remained there for a long time. While the adults had their shouting match the little ones grouped around one of the females, played a bit and had a little snooze 🙂
An exciting day for Thanda’s young Lions and for our guests!
Lion Family Life – A short video :-)
Lion Family Life!
During this morning’s drive we spotted a Lioness with her small cubs along the road. She was leading us directly to a Wildebeest kill. The Lions had taken down the antelope only a few minutes before we arrived.
We observed the two Lionesses and their six cubs (three cubs approx 1.5 month old and three cubs approx 2.5 month old) while they had their relaxed meal. The little ones were eating and playing at the same time.
The cubs’ dad, Thanda’s dominant male, had obviously eaten before. He had a full belly and just watched his family having their feast. After a while he joined them without feeding, just to play with the kids 🙂
Warren Beets – Thanda’s Reserve Manager – was with me on the vehicle and as he had the better view from his position he operated the camera from time to time – Great job!
Lion Family Life – Enjoy the pictures!
Mum and her three cubs
An anxious look
The signs of a good meal
Resting on the kill
It is all mine 🙂
Cubs (2.5 month old and 1.5 month old)
Dad watching the scene
A bloody affair
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 