Aat & Elly -07- A Special Cheetah Sighting (1 & 2)

[Flutterby]

Great sightings Aat!

[Pumbaa]

WoW Aat,

two dream sightings and you had in fact incredible luck and took awesome shots

[aat]

Many thanks for all comments. !!

*** Travel Tales ***
Trip to Kruger NP 2018 (March 28th > April 19th) New series of Stories

06 - Kings in unexpected places (1)

Another story and this time about the Kings, not rare but in very (for us) unexpected places.

Part 1:
We were staying in Mopani and like many other times we were driving along the S50 trying to find a tusker. Many elephants and buffalo but no tusker. Just before the turn-off to the Capricorn Loop a male lion crossed the road quickly.

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I think we have been driving these roads 1000 times (as expression) but never seen a lion here ,coming from the Nshawu area.
He was walking away but talking nicely to him he stopped and looked.

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He was not really interested and he moved on a bit… but curious as he was he stopped again showing himself from the other side.

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Probably he did not really like my camera zooming in so he gave me a last look and walked away.

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After saying thank you we also moved on.

Part 2:

We were staying in Shingwedzi and we decided to go for having breakfast at Pafuri picnick place. Driving around that area was beautiful, flowers everywhere. It really looked like paradise. After breakfast we were slowly driving back and about 5K from the junction from Pafuri to Punda Maria I suddenly saw something in my mirror.

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I turned the car quickly as possible to get some shots.

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This was a “special one”, after this shot he disappeared suddenly. We waited and looked but could not see him. Then….. about 50 meters ahead he suddenly was walking on the road again, but at the other side …????
(a bit later we found a kind of a tunnel under the road)

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We tried to get closer but he already left the road so searching again through the thick bush …waiting a finally yes… there he was again.

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He was shy or just did like company but following him for a few minutes before he really disappeared.
We found our most northern lion …smile…

Part 3 will be posted separately

[aat]

Kings in unexpected places (2)

Part 3:

Driving back to Mopani , coming from Shingwedzi region, we just passed the 1st turn-off to the Old Main Road.
This big boy just approached the road and crossed it just in front of us without looking right-left-right

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First impression was… wowww what a big guy and mhhhh…crossing the road and gone…but no… he just started to give us a great show, a one-male-show !
I can’t post all pictures here , juts too many but will post a nice selection.

He was walking to the other side of the road… checking the bush , sniffling around and crossed the road again. He did this kind of actions several times.

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As you can see he was very close-by. Elly was jumping in the car… she loves male lions.
What are you “smelling” ??

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He had to “sit-down” and gave us a good look. It took some time before he did not move like he was doing all the time.

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Near the road again and I almost could give him a hug…. Impressive…what a boy !

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Tired after all this moving around he was sitting and later on laying down, giving us a chance to look at him, his face, his legs and claws…
Without too many words… enjoy

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And
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Looking at you this way, from short distance, gives a thrill… pffffttt

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Sitting and then… laying down for a short nap…

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This allows us to make some shots of his claws (front and back) and yes… from this distance , very impressive !

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and

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After a while he was sitting again with a arrogant expression …

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A coca-cola truck, driving very fast , saw the lion, did not stop but passed the lion at just a few meters …and chased him away…. End of sighting.

Well, this were the Kings in unexpected places , hope you liked it

Much more to come… sure

Greetzzz Aat and Elly

[harrys]

Wow just beautiful Lions

[Lisbeth]

The first lion looks kind of strange, maybe because he has no mane on top of his head

Great lion sightings! Especially the last one

I wish that the delivery cars would drive a bit slower

[Flutterby]

Great sightings. The last one really looked like he enjoyed your company.

[Pumbaa]

Awesome shots, Aat,

and for sure those Lion sightings at unexpected places are the best

[RogerFraser]

Just catching up a bit Aat Lovely shots of the rare buck and also good to see the kings

[Richprins]

Well done, aat! Looks like the more north one goes the balder the lions get!