The Last Minute Crazy KTP Trip!

[Richprins]

Hello, Wanda!

[Lisbeth]

Oops, I made it in time

[Wanda]

Thank you all for your replies and enthusiasm!

Here goes! (just to warn you my PC is ancient and very slow so posting could take some time).

[Wanda]

2nd October

We packed up and got into the park at 6.10am. This was the earliest that we managed to get into the park for the whole trip.

At Samevloeiing there was a SA Shelduck couple enjoying the water, but light was bad. We carried on along the Nossob road.
A beautiful morning!



The ever present Kalahari bird(Pale Chanting Goshawk) catching the early morning sun.



As we approached Leeudril, we saw a few cars ahead. We joined them and watched a spunky queen and a would-be king, a mating couple.

[Wanda]

The king was not having a good day. The lioness seemed to be teaching him a lesson - ‘Handle with Care’!When the lion finished, the lioness tried to ‘wallop’ him.



After a few minutes they mated again, and again the lion got a wallop.



(This pic is one of my favourites from our trip. Take a guess why, and no, it is not because the lion is getting walloped.)

The lion looking a bit sheepish.

[Lisbeth]

Lions right away and what a scene

[Mel]

It has started

Comparison:

Saw such a beautiful road as well - although at sunset, not in the morning.
Goshawk - tick (many...). Mating lions - tick. Blonde lion - tick (think they had moved
further to Kij Kij, but not sure ). 6.10 - not once. Shelduck - missed.

[Mel]

Maybe the action expressed in the photo?

[Lisbeth]

The double tail?

[Wanda]

They mated a third time, seemed like he tried a softer approach.



Then a display of teeth at the end.



And then no wallop, although he sure was expecting it, going by his face.



Either the soft approach or the display of teeth seemed to do the trick. Who knows!