LIVE Guest Blog: The Ross Pride Lion Cubs Are Out and About

And on the last day, Mike and Fiona saw the lion cubs from the Ross Pride. They had a fantastic time with all the wildlife spotting in the Klaserie.

“After watching 5 ground hornbills walking in front of the camp, we set off on evening game drive. Firstly we came across a nice bull kudu, followed by a great breeding herd of elephants with lots of calves. One was really young, about 4 months old and clung close to her mum. Around the corner, was another herd of elephants, again with many young ones – always a good sign that things are going well. We stopped for sundowners, when over the radio we heard ‘I’ve found the female lion with her 3 cubs’.

Well we packed up as quickly as possible, still hanging onto our drinks ( it’s amazing how dexterous you can be with a glass of wine on the back of a Land Rover – I didn’t spill a drop). We got there and she was hiding in a drainage line, but we were patient, and wow did it pay off. She walked out with all 3 cubs looking straight at us, one so inquisitive it came right up to the vehicle almost onto Faffa’s lap as he sat in the drivers seat.

She then moved off down the road with all 3 following closely behind, so we left her to carry on her way, not wanting to stress her out. We headed back to camp and luckily came across her agin, crossing the road into the darkness with the 3 bundles if fluff again running behind her. We carried on our way and came across an African wildcat hunting a spotted genet that climbed high in a tree. Then a bush baby in a tree and to finish off a civet just inside camp. The animals seem to be back.

Our last game drive stated well, again, with yet another herd of elephants. One had a small calf that was hiding underneath her, whilst the remainder of the young herd played around her. We also found a white backed vulture on her nest, with a chick in there with her. On our way back to camp for the final time, we came across 2 old buffalo bulls – dugger boys. They had just been wallowing in the water and were covered in mud. They posed nicely for photos, what a nice goodbye for us.

So once again its time to say good bye to Africa on Foot, nThambo and South Africa. Farewell and a huge thank to Gawie and Yolandi, and all the best for the future. Everyone else – see you all in January, we are already counting the days.”