February 11, 2012: LIONS. We went back to where we spotted the cubs last night, and sure enough they were there! 3 cubs + 1 juveniles + 2 lionesses. No males. We watched them for nearly an hour, from about 20 feet. The cubs would play, then come nurse, and the mothers would just walk around their den area on the river bank.
Then we get a call on the radio. After some Swahili + translation, we find out that there are 3 lions on a recent kill. So we head that way, and pull up to see the scene…. Wildebeest, half gone. 3 lions, bloody faced and resting. Crocodile… hungry too. Vultures.. swarming the sky. The croc is trying to get to the wildebeest, the lions aren’t ready to give it up, and the vultures want some too. I’m ready for some Battle at Kruger stuff to break out. The lion + croc are laying within feet of each other, because the lions are thirsty and want a drink. Get a drink = croc bite. Go elsewhere for drink = croc takes carcass. After a staredown, the lion roared and chased the croc back into the water.
THEN…..
Here comes a herd of 30-40 elephants, heading for their favorite water hole. Believe it or not, Elephants > Lions. The 3 cats retreated to the bush as the elephants stomped down for a drink. When they were done, the lions rushed back, swatted off the vultures, and rested some more, waiting for the males to come get their share.
We had to go at this point, and when we came back that evening the carcass was entirely gone from the site. The lions were about 40 yards away, resting in the shade after a long day.
After that we parked for our sundown drink and watched 2 male elephants fight on the horizon line while a big, bold sun set behind them. You can’t even script this stuff.
This place is awesome.
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