The 2025 Botswana Journals, Ch. 32; Surrounded by Lions

I'm publishing this one ahead of my post-every-three-days because it's more interesting than the inside of a lodge room.

(Click on a photo and a film strip appears.   Then scroll through the photos full screen.)    

       

We are only fifteen minutes out of Mashatu Lodge on our afternoon game drive when our guide, Bellamy, finds this guy sleeping in what little shade a bush can provide.

       

 He seems to be perfectly content to lie there, so we move on after taking a few photos.

    Note how unconcerned the lion is.  He's actually asleep as we photograph him.   

     A short distance away, we come across a pride that consists of Grandma, Mum, three sub-adult males, and some sub-adult lionesses.     Bellamy positions us in the perfect spot for photos.

      Most lions are staring into the distance at something we cannot see.

        Something definitely has their attention.   As we watch, the youngsters move about to different positions.

            And some are sacked out in the afternoon heat.

        Mum moves to a better location right across from our vehicle.

And settles in to watch.

        Here comes the rest of our group.   Two sub-adult males are playing, but notice their arrival.

        There are more lions in another direction.

        A third sub-adult male joins his brothers.

        Then, they split up.

        All are watching whatever has caught their interest.   Perhaps it's the possibility of tonight's dinner.

        Suddenly, a male walks right past the front of our vehicle.

        He is so close, I could have leaned out and touched him.

        He lies down right beside us.

        Another male walks in the direction of the other vehicle.

        At this point, we are essentially surrounded by the pride.  

         Lions in front of us.

        Lions to the rear.

            Lions to one side.

            Lions to the other side.

        Yeah, this, too.   It's just an impressive yawn.

This Internet description says it better than I can:  

Lions generally view safari vehicles as 

large, harmless, and non-prey objects, often ignoring them due to habituation in popular parks. They perceive the car and its occupants as one singular entity rather than food, provided passengers remain inside and quiet. 

Key details on how lions perceive vehicles:

• Habituation: In areas like the Masai Mara National Reserve, lions are used to vehicles and see them as part of the natural environment.
• Perception: Lions often see the vehicle as a, "weird metal animal" not worth hunting.
• Safety Factors: Because vehicles do not act like prey, run, or show fear, lions, which are risk-averse predators, avoid challenging them.
• Exceptions: At night, lions have better vision and may distinguish humans inside, making them more likely to treat vehicles differently.
• Behavior: If a human separates from the vehicle, the illusion is broken, and a lion may perceive the person as prey.  

        Surrounded or not, we know to watch our lion manners:   Stay quiet, don't make any sudden moves, don't do anything to call attention to yourself.   Practice Zen: Be one with the vehicle.

            Because of those things, we can sit safely in the midst of a lion pride and have no fear.

        When we leave, we drive right through the middle of them and they seem like they couldn't care less.

        We see some baboons on the way back to camp.   Very young baboons are carried under their mother's chest, where they have access to her mammary glands for food.    As they grow older, they ride jockey-style on the adult's back.

        This little one is at that awkward stage,. perhaps too biog to cling to the belly and probably just big enough to ride on top.

A helmeted guineafowl for your bird fix this afternoon.

        We have sundowners near this unique tree.   Sundowners are a traditional African custom of pausing in late afternoon for drinks and snacks, perhaps much like the British have their tea time.

From the Internet, explaining traditional sundowners:

Key Aspects of the African Sundowner:

• Origin: The tradition dates back to the colonial era, when British settlers consumed gin and tonic to ingest quinine, which helped prevent malaria.
• The Experience: Guides typically select a, "picture-perfect", spot—such as overlooking a river, savannah, or waterhole—to set up a, "pop-up" bar as the sun dips below the horizon
  .
Drinks & Snacks: While gin and tonic is the traditional choice, modern sundowners often feature wine, beer, and, "bitings" (savory snacks/canapés).
Atmosphere: It is a time to toast the day’s adventures, take photos of the stunning, "golden hour", scenery, and, "embrace the, "stillness" of the African bush before night falls.