Lions in Trees

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• Entry from Ulusaba Private Game Reserve

Trip Start Nov 26, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Dec 30, 2008

  Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
Saturday, December 27, 2008

our safari keeps getting better with each drive. 2 nights ago, we were parked in front of 2 male lions (the oldest/biggest in the pride with big, bushy manes). they were both sitting on the land rover path, probably 20 meters from each other. we spotted them around dusk which meant we were probably going to get the chance to hear them roar/call. it was the most amazing sight/sound. the one on the right of the land rover started calling/roaring, then the one on the left of the land rover joined. both of them at the same time....it shook us to our core. i was able to get it on film. it was 50 times louder and more magnificent in person. kent was happy because that was the one thing he definitely wanted to see/hear on this trip. and we go to see two of them do it at the same time. i was also able to get some great shots of the lions yawning with their jaws wide open.

so we went back to the lodge that night feeling like it couldn't get better. it did. last night we had a rare sighting and were able to witness it all by ourselves (meaning, our land rover was the only one there). our ranger heard that a female leopard had killed 2 baby impalas and took them up a tree with her. on our way to see her, we passed a pride of lions (mostly females and one male) about 100 meters away from the leopard in the tree. our ranger had enough foresight to predict what was going to happen, so he encouraged us to wait by the leopard instead of going back to the lions. what happened was as we were watching the leopard, the lions (unbeknownst to us) were stalking the kill in the tree...basically sneaking up on us. within seconds (literally seconds) we saw the leopard grab one of the impala kills and climb further up the tree, while one lioness climbed to the limb where the leopard was sitting and stole the other kill. meanwhile, the rest of the pride was circling the tree below. as she tried to get down, the male lion on the ground decided to climb the tree to fight her for the kill in her mouth. as they were fighting on the limb above, she dropped the impala to the ground and they fought for a few seconds in the tree. 2 lions at that size couldn't keep fighting on a limb, so they started to fall and as they did, they both grabbed the limb with their front two feet. basically hugging the limb side-by-side while the rest of their body dangled underneath. it was unbelievable. they probably held onto the limb for about 20 seconds and then the female lion actually tried to hug/hold onto the male lion as she lost her grip. that made them fall to the ground below where they continued their fight. one of the lions at the bottom of the tree had grabbed the fallen impala kill and raced off with it, so the two lions fighting didn't have anything in the end, but they gave us a show that is highly, highly rare. even our ranger was beside himself and couldn't believe it. i got it all on film and showed it proudly back at the lodge. the head ranger of the lodge said i need to put it on youtube because he's never seen anything like it. and we were so close to the action. hearing them snarl, and roar and fight sent chills through our entire body. the land rover didn't even phase them, they fought right next to it.

even though it was an astonishing sight, it was also very scary (i must admit). the lions were all over the place fighting like crazy cats. we gave major kudos to our ranger because he thought there was a good chance the lions were going to try and take the kill, and they did. so while the other rangers were taking their guests over to see the lions, we waited and waited by the leopard and sure enough it happened just as he said.

today is our last full day. we've already had one game drive this morning and will have another one this afternoon. our final drive will be tomorrow morning (sunday) and then we'll fly back to joberg.
we've done some amazing things on this trip but the last few days have been incredible. hard to beat. if i had all the money in the world, i would treat everyone i know a safari trip. it really is one of the most amazing things you can experience.

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