Digital Safari-Lions and Foxes

We arrived back at Chitabe Camp, the fourth camp on our Digital Safari Workshop, and headed out on our first afternoon game drive to find two male lions who were resting.  We waited for them to wake up and luckily for us, they did just that whilst the late afternoon sun was still shining strongly and we managed to take some portrait images of the pair.

Adult male lions typically live in coalitions, which can range in size from 1-7 lions, but the average size in southern Africa is 2 males.  This pair are actually part of a 3-male coalition, but one of their number was not with them.  Males in coalitions often move on their own for days at a time, either marking territory or when seeking females.  We actually found the 3rd male on his own some days later.

We also had a good sighting of some bat-eared foxes, interesting little carnivores that feed on insects.  Their huge ears help them precisely locate insects and their larva moving under the ground.  The foxes listen with heads cocked to the side until they locate an insect and then they dig furiously to find and gobble up the tasty morsel.

On our next morning we once again had a quality lion sighting, this time with a pride of four cats.  The pride includes an adult female, another very young adult female, and two near-grown offspring, one male and one female, both belonging to the older female.

They provided us with some exciting photographic opportunities when they took to play fighting with one another.  Later, they lay up on a termite mound to enjoy the warm winter sun.

The next and final stop on our safari will be at Mombo Camp… stay tuned.