Interesting animals sightings in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park are a matter of luck and also timing. Earlier in the day a family of lions had strolled up onto a dune overlooking the Kij Kij waterhole (see Kgalagadi map here). Settling down on the top of the dune, between some shrubs they were just furry blobs which occasionally lifted a head to yawn or flicked a tail. Not too interesting to watch, and too far away to get good photos.
Late afternoon, Willie decided to go back and see if the lions were still there. They were just waking up from their daytime sleep and starting to get more active. And what better place to scout out a potential meal than right above a waterhole?
Sitting up and paying attention. In the foreground grass are two youngsters, with two more sitting just above them on the dune. The adults are right on top of the dune amongst the bushes. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
The lions decide to take a closer look . . .
Two extremely nervous Gemsbok, looking in the direction of the lions. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
The lions have moved down off the dune. How many can you spot in the grass? [Click on photo to enlarge] ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
To give some perspective. The Gemsbok is a really large antelope. Look at the tree (with the forked trunk) to the upper right to see the an adult lioness peeking out. One only realises close up just how big adult lions are. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
Zooming in to where the lioness is sitting. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
Zooming in further even more. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
All the Gemsbok are by now facing the danger. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
Peekaboo! The lioness has moved to “hide” behind a different tree. ©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
The next four photos are of the lioness starting to do some serious stalking. Look at the intense concentration on her face.
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Unfortunately, below is as close as Willie got to witnessing a full-on chase (although there were no signs of a kill near the waterhole the next morning). The sun was setting and he needed to still drive back to the camp some distance away. In the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (as is common in most game reserves), one has to be back in camp by sunset.
©WMB/notesfromafrica.wordpress.com
The photos in this post were taken in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park during August 2014.
See the most recent Kalahari posts here.
Also see: Kalahari Series I – 2009 and Kalahari Series II – 2011.
Notes from Africa 
Oh wow! These photos are BRILLIANT! You really got close to the action with that zoom lens – is it the new 150-600 one? Well done, Willie!
Hi Reggie! As far as I know Willie was using his Tamron lens for these photos. Even with a zoom lens, it’s sometimes difficult to get good close-up shots in the Kgalagadi. There are still better photos to come! 🙂
I guess it’s not just the distances at which one has to shoot much of the time, but also because of the challenging terrain and the fact that animals are often very well camouflaged and hidden – unless you *know* they’re there and thus look more closely! What I also found difficult was that, when you’re on a game drive, the vibration of the vehicle makes it difficult to get a clean non-blurry shot. And if you’re in a group vehicle, you can’t always shout, “Hey, stop! I think there’s a small animal hiding in those bushes! Oh, and would you mind turning off the engine?” 🙂 I’m pleased to see you guys have been having fun in these beautiful wildlife parks, Lisa.
We mostly turn off the vehicle engine. Mainly because of the vibration and we tend to park in one spot for a while, but it’s also good to hear the bush noises.
Yes! I love that. Usually the official game drives only stop for a couple of minutes, and only when an animal has been sighted. I think that’s why you and Willie probably see far more wildlife.
This photo series is wonderful even if somewhat sad as the inevitability of survival of the fittest is so clearly on show . . . I know a zoom lens was in place but Willie must still have been closer to the lions than any of us would dare to go . . . thank you so much for giving us a ‘safe’ experience from our armchairs 🙂 ! How many lions were in sight on that photo ? – three in clear view but methinks that is too obvious . . .!!!!
Hi Eha! I’m glad you like the photos. Don’t worry about Willie though – he was safely in his vehicle at all times! In the harsh Kalahari conditions every day is a matter of life or death.
Yes, you’re right – there were 3 lions in the photo. They do quite a good job of blending in, don’t they?
Wonderful photo captures and what a thrill to see the start of a hunt 🙂
I got as far as Augrabies Falls NP on a very recent trip. Alas no sightings of big cats in the desert this time. Next trip will hopefully take me as far as Kgalagadi – you have me hooked!
Hi Madoqua! 🙂
Thanks for your kind comment. As I said to Reggie, there are better and more exciting photos to come, so please come back again.
Were you here for a vacation? I look forward to reading about some of your adventures on your travels through South Africa.
Those lions really disappear into the grass: I could only count three. And the gemsbok are new to me. Thanks for lovely, lovely photos:)
Hi Sweffling – We can also only see 3 lions! 🙂 Although there might have been more – it was quite a big family group.
Amazing. I will be honest. I live in Maryland and I can’t afford a vacation to anywhere and these photos make me feel as though I am right there so Thanks so much. They are Brilliant. I can’t wait to see more :0)
Fantastic Lisa. I might tag along for awhile to see more.
Cheers,
Frank
Hi Frank! Thank you for your kind comment. If you visit my homepage, you can see links to my most recent series – our trips to Namibia and the Kruger National Park.
I’ll do that Lisa.
Cheers,
Frank