Yesterday I lamented the fact that we’d be leaving the Kruger National Park today and heading back home to Pretoria. Well, as is often the case, the Kruger still had one present in store for us before we left. This morning, just a kilometer from Shingwedzi Rest Camp, that gift took the form of a buffalo carcass, two bloody lionesses and the smallest pair of lion cubs we’ve seen in a long time!
Lioness feeding on the buffalo carcass
Second lioness walking along the road, having fetched her cubs to join the feast (phot by Joubert)
Cutest, tiniest cubs (phot by Joubert)
Second lioness walking along the road, having fetched her cubs to join the feast (phot by Joubert)
Second lioness walking along the road, having fetched her cubs to join the feast (phot by Joubert)
Cutest, tiniest cubs (phot by Joubert)
The cubs playing on the sandy riverbed
The cubs playing on the sandy riverbed
The two lionesses reuniting
The cubs joining their mom and aunt
The cubs joining their mom and aunt
The first female, very bloodied, walks away for a drink of water
Here’s a little video compilation of the cubs as they walked along the road with their mother:
DeWetsWild 
Wow! Thank you so much for taking us on your journey through these wonderful captures!
Our pleasure entirely!
Joubert did a wonderful job, capturing those very very cute cubs! (Or are they called kittens?)
Thanks, Carol – Joubert will be very happy to read your comment. Cubs is the right word – these aren’t kittens the mom will allow you to play with!
Thanks for the clarification, DeWets, and for passing on my kudos to Joubert!
What amazing images. Those cubs are adorable. I love how quickly they are camouflaged when they step into the grass. Nature is amazing.
Nature is amazing indeed, Lori, and that’s probably why we can’t get enough of experiences like these!
Te dierbaar vir woorde. Mooi video. Soos Lois sê, kyk die dik pote. Interessant dat die ma nie eenkeer omkyk of wag dat die twee haar moet volg nie. Dis goed geleerde welpies, natuurlike aanvoeling van hoe en wat hul moet doen. Die ma se ore is sekerlik tog gespits om seker te maak dat hul haar volg. Die natuur is wonderlik.
Die welpies weet hulle is veilig solank Ma naby is! Sy moes gedurig sagte geluide maak om hulle weer nader te roep wanneer hulle so rondspeel.
Aha, het vergeet van haar stem om hul bymekaar te hou.
What a great and real to life experience!
One we will not soon forget!
I love the photos and video!
Thank you very much!
The videos are working out very well, Dries. Cute cubs. I wonder how old they are?
Thank you very much, Tracy! They’re probably only a month or so old.
What a marvelous last surprise, Dries! Love the photos, Joubert, and those cubs are adorable. They were a bit hesitant about going around you, weren’t they? Didn’t bother mom and with good reason.
We might well have been the first vehicle they’ve ever seen, Janet! Amazing how much confidence they have when they have their mom in sight. They just know she will look after them.
Kostelike video! Wat ‘n wonderlike totsiens het die Kruger vir julle gegee 🥰
Dankie, Tannie Frannie! Mens kan net nie van die Wildtuin af wegbly nie.
Natuurlik moet ek dit sê: “Ag moeder” 😍 … die welpies is dierbaar! En dankie vir die mooi video!
Jy moes die glimlagte in die kar gesien het, Corna!
Those cubs are adorable, but look at the paws on them! 😮
Even on the adults those massive paws are very striking (pardon the pun!)
🙄😆