Panthera leo
The lion. Such a short name for such a magnificent creature.
If there’s one animal that draws people from all over the world to our country’s wild places more than any other, it has to be the “King of the jungle”.
Lion
Lioness
Lion Kings of Addo
The King and Prime Minister of Imfolozi
Beautiful male lion (photo by Joubert)
Young male lion on the move
Male white Lion in the Johannesburg Zoo
White Lioness
The lion is Africa’s biggest cat; males weighing over 200kg and standing up to 1.2m high at the shoulder.
Mating lions
Snarling Lion (photo by Joubert)
Mating lions (photo by Joubert)
Lion (photo by Joubert)
Tawny Lion
White Lion
White Lion
Four lionesses owning the road
Lioness close-up
Mating pair of lions
Lazy lionesses
Lioness
Lion
Domestic violence, lion style…
Lioness
Angry lioness
More lions!
Proud male lion
Huge pride of lions
Lions in the dark, just outside camp
Lioness
Lionesses seeking shade
Lion cubs
Lazy lionesses
Lion cubs and one of the pride females
A lonely and scared little Lion cub
Lion brothers
Lion
Lioness
Lioness close-up
Lion
They’re very adaptable creatures, inhabiting almost any habitat where there’s enough prey to sustain them. They’ll prey on anything from insects to crocodiles, buffaloes, rhinos, hippos and even elephants, and can consume up to 40kg of meat in a single sitting. And despite their association with royalty, they’re not above stealing carcasses from other predators, or taking carrion. They’ll drink regularly if water is available, but otherwise can go without it for extended periods.
Lion Jarvis
Well-hidden lion
Lioness feeding from the carcass of a poached rhino
Young male lion at Marakele
Lioness (photo by Joubert)
The two Kings of Babalala
Getting up is hard work for this Lion (Photo by Joubert)
Watchful Lion (Photo by Joubert)
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Big male lion in the bed of the Mphongolo River
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
Beautiful male patrolling his territory at Red Rocks
It is well known that lions are the most sociable of cats, living in prides that can number over 30 animals where food is abundant. These prides are controlled by single or coalitions of up to 6 adult males, defending territories in which the core of the pride, the adult females, can safely raise their cubs. The strength of the pride lies in the defending of territory, hunting of large prey animals, and communal care of the cubs. Depending on the availability of food, the territories can cover areas as large as 2000 square kilometres, scentmarked by animals of both sexes and loudly proclaimed by their distinctive roaring. Neighbouring prides will get involved in serious fights over territory, and when new males take over a pride it is seldom a bloodless affair, more often than not killing the cubs sired by the ousted males (who themselves are lucky if they escape alive). All in all, the life of a lion is not an easy one, and their lifespan is limited to only 12 to 15 years in the wild, if they reach adulthood at all.
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Lion, Kruger National Park
Sand River Lion
Kings of Addo
Kings of Addo, seen near Addo’s new Nyathi Camp
Kings of Addo
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Lion pride with buffalo kill
Lion love at Lower Sabie
Lioness and mate
Male lion
Pride of lions at Kumana Dam
Lioness pacing the H4-1 between Skukuza and Lower Sabie
Lion with his zebra meal, just outside Satara
Lion near Skukuza
Lion
A lion in the light of early morning, searching the Nshawu Marsh for easy pickings
Today, despite all the reverence afforded to it through the ages as a symbol of nobility and bravery, the lion is a species under threat. Ever increasing human populations, and their accompanying livestock, is shrinking the habitat and prey available to these powerful cats by the day. They are being persecuted as livestock killers. They’re being poached for their skin and heads as trophies, and for their bones, used in traditional Asian “medicine”, “tiger wine” and “love potions”. There’s many so-called “captive-breeding facilities” where lions are exploited for the same purposes. To top it off, the dwindling populations are susceptible to disease and inbreeding. Though estimates range widely, there’s probably no more than 30,000 wild lions remaining in Africa (maybe as few as 10,000), and perhaps 400 in India. In South Africa, there’s sizable populations finding protection in the Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, with smaller numbers in several other reserves, including Pilanesberg, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, iSimangaliso, Tembe, Mapungubwe, Marakele, Addo, Karoo and Mountain Zebra.
Lion on a dune in the Kgalagadi
Lion watched by wildebeest
Lioness at Nossob’s fence
Lion close-up
Lioness peaking over a ridge
Lions at sunrise
Kalahari lioness
Lion pacing the Nossob
Kalahari Lioness
Kalahari lioness
Lazy lioness (photo by Joubert)
Lioness
Rietvlei’s lions live a life of leisure
Male lion at Mountain Zebra National Park
Male lion at Mountain Zebra National Park
The 10th of August has been designated World Lion Day; “An independent campaign working to highlight the importance of the lion globally and to raise lion conservation awareness worldwide“
Lions preying on buffalo in the Pilanesberg National Park
Lions preying on buffalo in the Pilanesberg National Park
Mating lions at Mankwe Hide
Mating lions at Mankwe Hide
Beautiful Pilanesberg lion (photo by Joubert)
Beautiful Pilanesberg lion
Young lioness at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Big male lion at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Feeding time at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Energetic female lions at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Feeding time at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Feeding time at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Feeding time at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Feeding time at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve
Lion at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve, April 2021
Male White Lion
Male White Lion
Lion roadblock (photo by Joubert)
Lion roadblock
Lion pride at Lubyelubye
Lionesses and cubs laying claim to a Sand Bank in the Sabie River
Young male lion
Lion just outside Pretoriuskop
Lioness in the minutes before dawn (photo by Joubert)
Pregnant Lioness
Lion (photo by Joubert)
Lion (photo by Erlo van Aswegen)
Pingback: Autumn Adventure – Boys will be boys, even if they’re lions | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Satara Summer 2021 – Big Cat Royalty: Lions! | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Waiting hours for a glimpse at a White Lion | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Black-backed Jackal | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Hippopotamus | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Alone time with the King of Beasts | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Pilanesberg National Park: 10 – 13 May 2012 | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Leopard | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Spotted Hyena | de Wets Wild
Pingback: African Wild Dog | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Dinokeng Game Reserve | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Common Ostrich | de Wets Wild
Pingback: A dry Kruger is a predator’s paradise | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Beautiful Bontle | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Cheetah | de Wets Wild
Excellent post with fantastic photos. Abhorrent practice is poaching for whatever reason hunters do it. That disgusting American dentist that shot that beautiful lion for ‘fun’ was dreadful.
LikeLike
Infuriating just how little regard humans have for nature’s treasures, isn’t it Sue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes 100% correct.
LikeLike
Pingback: Sweni Wilderness Trail | de Wets Wild
Pingback: World Lion Day | de Wets Wild
Pingback: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi’s tree climbing lions | de Wets Wild
Enjoyed your post. Excellent pictures!
LikeLike
Thank you Kathy, and welcome to de Wets Wild!
LikeLike
Mens raak sommer siek om te dink dat daar nog mense is wat glo dat leeubene medisyne is.Dis die probleem met meeste bedreigde diere…die mens se stommiteit oor onwetenskaplike snert!Jou foto’s is besonders!
LikeLike
Ja nee, dis absoluut verbysterend dat in die 21ste eeu daar nog mense rondloop, in hul honderde miljoene, vir wie dit niks vreemds is om ons wildlewe vir sulke strooi uit te buit nie.
Dankie nogmaals vir die gawe kompliment op ons fotos, Dina!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing photos! I hope we wake up before it’s too late and they are no more.
LikeLike
We agree Linda. Don’t humans ever learn?
LikeLike
Love the photos. I will be on a walking safari in Kruger shortly so this serves as a good source of inspiration.
LikeLike
Now that’s something to look forward to! Which trail will you be participating on Rob?
LikeLike
Happy World Lion Day 🙂 I commemorated it too 😀
LikeLike
They’re special creatures, hey Paula?
LikeLike
It’s great to see the close-up details in your pix, they are truly magnificent creatures; and also for raising awareness to their dwindling numbers. The figures are alarming! One wonders what it will take to force the countries driving the demand to stop the trade before they drive species into total extinction? While designating a world day to highlight their plight, I can’t but help wondering whether the target countries even pay heed to such a campaign?
LikeLike
We certainly share your sentiments! What would it take to bring an end to the centuries-old traditions and beliefs of over a billion people, threatening our wildlife in so many ways…
LikeLike
nice kitteh
LikeLike
That they are, but these kitties don’t like being stroked 😀
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
I just love the Lions, I showed them to my hubby and he said you guys cheat! (because you have such the array of neat animals!) he says this even when he gets to see Black Bears on the shore of the river and running across the road to the corn field almost every evening comming home from work! but he never get’s a picture!!
Keep up the Good Work!!
LikeLike
Thank you so much! And how lucky he is to see bears on his commute from work to home!
LikeLike
Pingback: World Lion Day | MARGARET-ROSE STRINGER
I shall do a referral post to this one, guys – I’m horrified to learn that the King of Beasts is endangered – but one can scarcely be surprised.
If there’s one thing I would like to have NEVER OCCURRED it is Chinese medicine.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing our post with your friends and followers Margaret-Rose; spreading the word about the plight of the lion might just make one or two people change their mind about further exploiting these beautiful animals.
LikeLike
I think it’s a case of preaching to the converted, in terms of our group … 🙂
LikeLike
Let’s hope, just maybe, that Google dishes up our posts to someone out there to who it may make a difference.
LikeLike
And of course, you are right: we never know all the places our posts end up ! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
As has already been said, very informative article. I love all the photos, but especially the last close-up of the male’s eyes. Quite breathtaking.
LikeLike
Thank you very much 🙂
LikeLike
Amazing captures. How did you take these shots, in a car?
Thank you for sharing the information.
LikeLike
Thanks Amy! Yes, these were all taken from the safety of a vehicle.
LikeLike
What a great article and many wonderful photos! Did you really shoot those lion photos? 😉 Just kidding. Were you safe – I guess that was my question? I have never been to Africa. I can’t even imagine. Helen
LikeLike
Thanks Helen! Perfectly safe in our vehicle at all times 😉
LikeLike
such beautiful photos. somehow even if I took the perfect photo of a squirrel (abundant in my backyard), it just can’t compare to a lion. 🙂
LikeLike
They are powerful, majestic animals for sure!
LikeLike
I came over to comment almost exactly what Loisajay said. So consider it said!
LikeLike
🙂 Thanks Barbara!
LikeLike
“..if they reach adulthood at all…” I had no idea. They are magnificent creatures and your photos, as always, are beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lois!
LikeLike
Thanks for the great photos and all the information. Awareness is the first step to making changes. I would have guessed their numbers were dwindling but I did not not have any specifics. Such a tragedy that these majestic cats are in danger.
LikeLike
Terribly sad Patti, and as always only due to pressure humans are placing on them.
LikeLike