Guest blog: lion cubs in the Klaserie!

Where the magic happens! Africa on Foot.

Mike and Fiona have come to the end of their safari this time (although we know it won’t be long until we see them again!), and we’ve just read about their last few days at Africa on Foot. There couldn’t have been a more magnificent ending if we could have planned it – lion cubs belonging to the Ross Pride have been found! And that’s not all… Read Fiona’s final blog post here:

Well the last few days here at Africa on Foot have been awesome. We have been seeing tracks for the male lions all over the property, but they are being very elusive. However, the 2 females have been on show quite a lot, and we have seen them on most drives. The best sighting was when they were both resting, with full bellies, on top of one of the dam walls. They then decided to go to the water for a drink, so we followed them. As we sat watching them drink from the opposite side of the dam, two huge bull elephants came over the dam wall behind us. The lionesses took one look at them and ran off, leaving the elephants to walk straight past us and drink from the dam right in from of the vehicle. It’s breath-taking when these animals get so close to us.

Ross Pride lioness relaxing on the dam wall.

Ross Pride lioness enjoying the peace at the dam before the elephant arrived.

And they’re off! Elephant bull arrives and claims the dam for himself.

Elephant claiming the dam for a drink after chasing the lionesses off their ground.

Watching the elephants from the game viewing vehicle.

Later that evening Enoch followed tracks, from the same dam, for a male lion – would we be lucky enough to finally find one?! Luckily (well, excellent tracking skills by Enoch) we found him, resting in a mopane thicket – not the easiest place to get to in a Land Rover. We stayed with him for some time, as he moved off, growling at us as he passed close by, before he lay down in the open for great photos. We caught up with him later, in the dark, where he was calling for his brothers.

Heading out on foot.

Tracker, Enoch, and a large rhino midden.

The following morning we set off on our morning walk in the bush. Stopping along the way to look at a large white rhino midden (or toilet, to the uninitiated). Suddenly over the radio, they announced that they had found Lisa, one of the lionesses with her 3 cubs! They are only a week old, and this is the first time they have been seen. We decided to cut short the walk and make our way to the sighting. There she was, hidden by the side of the road, with her tiny cubs suckling -what a privilege to see this rare sight. Lets just hope she takes good care of them, and we get to see them grow. To help them, it was decided to not view them anymore until they are a little bigger.

What a great way to finish our stay in the Klaserie, but as usual, we will be back in January to keep you updated, especially with the ever changing dynamics of the Ross Pride of lions, and their 3 small cubs.

The newest members of the Ross Pride, estimated to be about a week old. Photos by Mike and Fiona Clarke.

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Tanya Cooper

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