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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kitefarrago" data-source="post: 3163191" data-attributes="member: 91670">LionsThere were plenty of lions in the Mara, and I saw members of at leastfive different prides. A lot of them had cubs, but that was the luckof the draw - this can happen at any time of year.One pride had three sets of cubs of varying ages, and at some pointthey were all together, but it was much more typical to see only oneset at a time.Until the cubs get older they are kept away from the pride, with themother, and maybe another female, looking after them. Typically theyspend the day somewhere in the brush where they're not easily seen.Cubs draw an audience, of course: Typically it would be known where aparticular group had been the evening before, and if heading to thesame place first thing in the morning there was a good chance thatone might find the group again. But once the sun rose higher, and thenumber of cars at the location grew, they would typically vanish intobushes where (fortunately) they couldn't be followed. This also meantthat typically the photographic chances were when the light wasn't atits best, but it was still magical on a few mornings where we werethe first car present, to be able to watch the young play, suckle, oreven just sleep. Certainly cubs tend to be more active than theiradult counterparts, and so finding a group of those always promisessomething worth watching.Cubs do actually lead a dangerous life: Some of the cubs I saw havesince died, one trampled by buffaloes (apparently they will do thatif they get a chance), and one falling behind when following hismother and being abandoned. And, of course, if a new male coalitiontakes over then they will kill all existing cubs.Apart from cubs there were also lions involved in producing more ofthe same - one day we found not one, but two mating pairs. Lionscouple every twenty minutes or so for a whole day, so once one hasfound a pair together it's just a question of waiting.The lioness's oestrus is brought on by the coupling, and I've beentold that it's not unknown for another male to sneak in (maybeanother member of the same coalition) when the initiator is spent.At least two of the prides had two males associated with them, andfinding a male lion is always a bit special. Lions tend to hunt atnight, which means they spend most of the day sleeping, so findinglions which weren't lying flat on the ground was always appreciated.I did witness one scene which looked as if one of the lionesses wasconsidering a hunt but in the end nothing came of it. I did see somefresh kills, wildebeest and ostrich.Pictures:1. The youngest cubs I saw, just a few weeks old. On their way tolying up in the brush.2. Playing with sticks isn't something that only dogs do...3. The trio climbed on a termite mount, unfortunately in rapidlyfading light...4. ...to be joined by mum.5. Young lions tire easily.Andrea</blockquote>

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