Hello,
It is summer and like me am sure many of us would get nostalgic about “summer times”. Time to hang around with cousins and simply have fun.
Here I am with “InFocus” to take you back in time to those terrific summer times when the family was larger and not just nuclear when life was about just having fun, no school, no homework, and no getting ready early in the morning, just getting up, hitting it out with cousins and being outdoors at all times.
Confused as to what is the correlation? Let me try and weave you into it.
We are in Ndutu - Tanzania, today.
Morning drive in the park and we came across a lioness sitting royally on the lake bed, a giraffe drinking water out of the lake, lilac rollers enjoying the cool breeze, zeal of zebras, and a confusion of wildebeests on the move (migration time).
It was a fantasy land.
Spirits up, elated at the visuals of the surroundings and soaking them in full, we came across a lion cub on fallen tree bark, trying its best to climb it further. The sheer innocence of the cub, the twinkle in its eye as it attempted the climb was something to behold.
Balance achieved the cub then did the next act. It stood up and tried walking up the bark, notwithstanding the incline. Eyes twinkling in the morning sun, curiosity in its eyes and a bit of bemusement at seeing us it kind of looked at us as if wanting us to appreciate its act.
Almost instinctively we clapped. I’m sure it knew we were appreciating and looked up, signaling it had higher ambitions and we needed to hold back our appreciation. So engrossed was I that, I almost missed another little fellow, attempting to climb the bark from behind (more cubs).
The cub got out of breath and struck a cute pose, almost making me jump out of my safari vehicle and reach out to it and hug it.
Sanity prevailed and I didn’t. Soon, there was a locomotive of them. 1-2-3-4 … more cubs arrived and joined in, bringing in a revelry, so unique in a predator-filled forest. They pulled at each other’s tails and tried to outdo one another. Few even tried to play a game of peekaboo from the front and also attempted to climb from the higher side. It was sheer fun, watching them, climb, fall, pull, and tumble. This continued for a while.
More arrived and took their liking to another part of the fallen tree. Hugging it, attempting to climb it too. Their eyes and mannerisms oozed with innocence.
Playfulness and love for each other were evident among the siblings.
A bit of aggression or love as they headbutted each other and purred at each other.
There were 8 of them. Not all of the same age. Some were a little senior. Cousins, I presumed, part of a larger lion pride.
Two supposedly senior cubs climbed higher up the tree and exhibited their lineage. “Lion Kings” in the making, as they sat atop their current throne. Displaying royal stature as well as satisfaction as they soaked in what it felt like, being at the top.
It was surely turning out to be a “Babies Day Out” not a “baby’s day out”.
Soon a mother arrived and rounded them up. They resisted, just about, and trooped ahead of her.
A long walk, taken energetically. The cubs with their little feet, maintaining the mother’s pace, at times tumbling, but never slowing, was some sight.
Undulating greens, and hilly terrain they took it all. Maintained enthusiasm, and Joie de Vivre as they kept a bit of competitive spirit alive amongst them. Watching the lioness manage them all, keeping the discipline, amidst a slew of safari vehicles, not feeling threatened, made me admire her.
The family finally arrived at their destination. A small puddle of water. The senior mother lioness was there, waiting for them. Tired and thirsty after the long walk and a more energy sapping bark climbing, the cubs refreshed by drinking the water eagerly.
A bit of breath-catching and the pride resumed their journey. Sweeping grassland, Ndutu lake bed, and a hillock ahead, the mothers guided the 8 cubs through them all, efficiently and confidently.
The cubs maintained the tempo. But it was a tempo not easy for all to maintain. Some got left behind slightly and trotted faster to catch up, others got left a little more behind and called up.
The mothers though knew how to handle this all. They maintained their pace, kept a keen watchful eye, and were fully aware of the dangers of other predators around, hyena clan or leopards. Their focus was safety and getting back to their final destination.
Stop & walk, allowing the little cubs to catch up, they reached the lake bed where they belonged. It was an ideal spot with tall grass to keep the cubs away from other predators and knowing that the cubs’ fathers, 2 male lions were not far away, to take care of the pride, if needed.
“Babies Day Out” over, it was time to provide this pride needed privacy.
We moved away in search of another adventure, knowing fully well, that the few hours we had spent with the cubs and the mother lioness were highly enriching hours and no experience could give us a “high” higher than this. I am sure you all agree.
Watching and experiencing predator fights and kills, tuskers at close range, beautiful colorful birds, etc is surely enchanting. But the “innocence” of a newly born or a young cub is unmatched and when you have 8 of them together, it becomes a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I enjoyed bringing this “Babies Day Out” to you. Hope you step out and enjoy life in the wild soon.
Till then “ciao”.
See you soon, on coming Saturday through “InFocus”.
Subscribe, comment & share. Thanks for such an encouraging response.
The first few lines made me nostalgic about the "time of our lives". The pictures are stunning. To capture such details and emotions one surely need an adept pair of skilled eyes. Indeed you are blessed with it. Loved the way how pictures has been described with a mix of emotions and sarcasm.
The cubs look so innocent and happy. Who would believe that in a couple of years time they will become the most majestic and feared predators of the jungle! Thanks for sharing sir :)