BELOVED KALAHARI - Our Home Away From Home

[ExFmem]

Kieliekrankie is a good camp for night insect hunting with its long enclosed entryway, though this year there were not as many insects around, possibly for lack of rain yet.
The Urikaruus honeymoon cabin is also good with its enclosed downstairs parking area - (except when the Cape fox sneaks in and eats the beetles and insects before I get to photograph them... )

A few misc. bugs:









...and my favorite insects - praying mantis:

[ExFmem]

Our second lion sighting was spectacular from an intense, action-filled perspective. Everyday in the Kalahari is a fight for survival - the harsh elements, the search for food and water, and fierce predators are daily challenges.

We came across 2 huge males engaged in a battle of wills and strength (Dertiende), each holding firmly onto either end of an eland. There was only 1 other car there so we were able to get a front row seat.

[ExFmem]

Exciting start to the day!

[nan]

what carnage for so little bit of meat....

wow love the Praying Mantis... all of them

[Lisbeth]

Fabulous sighting, stupendous photos and gorgeous representation!

[GavinW]

GavinW - what's the story about the cub being injured when young? One of them looked like its eye was somewhat elongated???

The cub, I think one of the female cubs, injured her leg at the age of two months, and everyone thought that she wouldn't make it as she was always battling to keep up.

However, the lioness (super mom) kept her alive by carrying her around when she was battling, and the cub made a full recovery.
It's a miracle that she pulled through. She is in top condition!

[Pumbaa]

Thanks so much ExFmem,

what inncredible lion shots you already got WoW and then all the insects you captured especially the praying mantis

so much

[Mel]

You must be the only person to get mad at seeing Charlie Fax because she eats your insects

The praying mantisses (?) are superb captures! But me no likey roaches

Great lion sequence. Just by looking at the photos you could tell that there was lots of tension and the attempt to share as little as necessary with the other.

[Richprins]

Astounding male lion shots, Ex!

That is how they eat, I think the plan is to tear up the carcass?

Great mantis pics, I'm totally with you on the bugs!

Roaches and flies don't do it for me, they drive me up the wall here at this time of year!

[ExFmem]

nan, Sis, Pumbaa - thank you for the kind comments - it was really quite interesting with the lions. I'm just so thankful the eland had already been killed when we arrived. I don't want to watch that at all.

GavinW - thanks for the backstory of the lion cub - I guess that's why she's been dubbed Supermom on the Kgalagadi Facebook entries.

Mel - yes, Charlie Fox needs to learn the adage "first come, first served" - she needs to wait her turn until I'm done with the bugs. (Maybe she thinks I'm eating them also.)

RP - yep, roaches, no thanks -that's why I made the pics of them so small.