Lions are not generally known for their tree-climbing abilities, and there’s only a handful of prides on the African continent that seem to have this skill and regularly use it. We’ve often heard of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi‘s lions‘ tree-climbing tendencies, but we never saw this for ourselves, despite visiting the Park frequently and enjoying many sightings of these regal cats there.
That is until early morning on Boxing Day 2014, and what an unbelievable sight! We found a lioness (on the ground) with two rather large cubs in a small thorn tree. I did not think that something as big as a lion could get so high up in a flimsy-looking thorn tree, and then be so well camouflaged at that!
Mom resting on the ground
Not scared of heights!
Not scared of heights!
Not scared of heights!
Cubs in the tree
Cubs in the tree
Cubs in the tree (Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 26122014)
Yawn!
Yes, that’s lions hiding in a tree-top!
DeWetsWild 
Had a fabulous sighting today. 9 lions in a tree in umfalozi. Just amazing 2 large males 2 cubs and 5 females. Just near nyalazi gate
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Wow Carocat, what a sighting!
And lucky you being in the Park while we’re stuck in the city 😉
Enjoy the rest of your visit!
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Sjoe – pragtige reeks. Snaaks, leeus laat mens maar atlyd 2x kyk na enige foto.
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Dit is so Spokie! Dankie vir nog n gawe kompliment.
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I confess to a love of cats both big and small. The photo with the lion draped so casually over the branch is my favourite 🙂
Cats seem to have perfected the art of looking gracefully bored 🙂
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“Gracefully bored” I like that! Seems like such a “royal” character trait 😉
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I hadn’t thought of it in terms of regal behaviour, but cats really do act like royalty, don’t they? 🙂
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That’s one thing they all have in common, from the smallest to the biggest, the tamest to the wildest…
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Oh my!!! Such an incredible sight!!!! I could never think about this possibility…When I was in Botswana I saw leopards…But lions, cubs and mums were always lying on the floor…And you are right…I imagine they must be very careful, bacause those thorns look dangerous!!! Thanks a lot for sharing this with us!!!
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Thanks for spending some of your time with us Ilargia, to marvel at the fact that there’s always something new to learn about nature
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Bang goes the theory you can escape a miffed lion by climbing a tree!
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You first just have to enquire whether he or she has any roots in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 😉
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Gee wizz die leeu het hoog ingeklim. As jy se dis nog jongeres, miskien het hul gespeel en die het net opgeklim en geklim tot bo! Dorings moes seker ook maar gesteek het. Regte twee stouters.
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In hierdie geval was dit weliswaar twee jonger leeus Ineke, maar selfs die grootste maanhare in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi word gereeld in die bome gesien (net nie deur ons nie 😉 )
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Ha ha ook maar slim . Hul weet van hoe om mens te frustreer
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Apologies to chickens crossing roads…but why did the lion climb the tree?
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I don’t think that has been established with any degree of certainty yet; theories range from escaping the heat to avoiding biting insects, but these factors also occur in most other places in Africa where the lions are far less inclined to climb trees.
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Is it possible the answer is, “because it’s there?” 🙂 We have zero lion experience. But thinking back on friends’ house cats…the whole carpet-padded tree thing?
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That may well be guys, maybe this is learned behaviour and it took just one lion who “knew he could” to show all the others how it is done 😉
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these are amazing.
big kittens up a tree.
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And the fire brigade won’t help to get them out 😉
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OOOOOO I just love these pictures.
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Thank you Kanzen!
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Wow! So glad you were able to capture that activity, and thanks for sharing with the rest of us! 🙂
Lindy
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We’re glad to know you found it as interesting as we did, thanks Lindy!
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Amazing photos! That beats my Opossum in a palm tree. 🙂
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I don’t know about that, to us an opossum is just as unfamiliar as a tree-climbing lion 😉
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How incredible and what an amazing experience!!! I’ve only seen lion on the ground and for them to be in a thorn tree is just unbelievable. The tree looks like it’s hardly going to support their weight but obviously does. Thanks so much for sharing this. Too cool 😉 🙂 🙂
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Thanks Joey! We were also astounded by just how flimsy the branches they were getting into were. Obviously one shouldn’t underestimate Hluhluwe-Imfolozi’s lions or acacias 😉
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Very interesting. So… playing dead is the only thing to do when facing one of those lions? 😉
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I think playing dead would just make it even easier for them Helen :-D.
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they look pretty comfortable, too, don’t they?
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Just amazingly Lois, so comfortable among those long thorns!
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