Travelogue Tanzania 2009
The best pictures – Lions

We surely did not expect our encounter with lions to be so intensive, we saw more lions than we ever expected and they were much closer than we would have imagined. Some of them were directly next to our jeep. When one lion sniffed at our spare tire and I watched her from only a meter I did not take a picture. I had to much respect of the big cat.

Tanzania - lioness under a tree
Encounter in Trangire National Park. Our first lion, lying lazily in the shadow of a tree. She seemed to ask herself what we were doing.

Right after entering Serengeti National Park a real exciting hunting scene. Lions trying to catch zebra.

Tanzania - Three lions approach one after the other.
Here they come.
Tanzania - A lion looks intently at prey in the distance.
typical hunting gaze
Tanzania - concentrated gaze of a lion on the hunt
pure concentration
Tanzania - front paws of a lion
killing weapons
Tanzania - Lions ambush a group of approaching zebras.
The hunters position themselves.

But the lions weren’t successful, the zebras paid enough attention. One of them was scouting, quite in front of the rest of the herd. The scout was moving slowly and cautiously and it spotted the lions. They did not even try to go after the zebras. Boy, I had a lot of adrenalin in my blood just watching the scene.

Soon after that we saw lions up in a tree. Very nice. Luckily we had a jeep not with a removable roof but an elevating roof. Thus we were not only protect from sun but also from lions jumping into the car. We are no “meals on wheels”!

Tanzania - two lions on a tree
what a comfy tree
Tanzania - A lion thinks about how to get back down from the tree he's on.
But how to get back down? In Germany we would have called the fire department to get the kittens.
Tanzania - A lion climbs down a tree a little awkwardly.
“No helping fire men available – I have to get down myself. Somehow.
Tanzania - A lion drinks from a puddle.
One would not need to photoshop a lot. Imagine removing the paddle, adding a bowl of milk and you have turned a lion into grand ma’s kitty.
Tanzania - A male lion in the tall grass lets the sun shine on his stomach.
This is one of the two adult males that we saw. And we did not see a lot of him. However, when did you enjoy something as much the last time as this lion obviously enjoys his nap in the sun?

Two days later we meet a couple of lion mothers with their numerous offspring. At first there was nothing to be seen in the tall grass.

Tanzania - A young lion walks through tall grass.
What’s coming there?
Tanzania - A young lion sits in the street and looks over at our jeep.
Take a break and watch the tourists.
Tanzania - A lioness with two cubs in the tall grass.
Mama is less cute.
Tanzania - Two lion cubs play with each other.
It’s so boring to lie in the shadow.

We do not see lions kill, but we see them with freshly hunted prey.

Tanzania - a wildebeest torn by lions
hunted gnu
Tanzania - A lioness has blood around her snout and lots of flies on her face.
The lioness still has blood around her mouth, flies in her face
Tanzania - Two baby lions come from eating.
And even the babies have blood on their noses.

For the big final we see an impressive male lion.

Tanzania - head of a large male lion
A giant head appears from the grass.
Tanzania - A large male lion rises from the grass.
Then the rest of him appears.
Tanzania - A large male lion is interested in a lioness.
A female came back from a walk and he can think of only one thing.
Tanzania - A lioness and a lion on a rock. She drinks.
… but she wasn’t in the mood. What a bummer!
Tanzania - A large lion presents itself on a rock.
Then let’s show off a bit, play the king of the animals. Maybe there’s another female around.

continue to monkeys

back to section best pictures