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: