Hi All
This week, I was privileged to come face to face with what in my mind is the ultimate 'Apex' Predator! I have always have huge respect for the White Shark, but at a game reserve in the Western Cape on Thursday, I came eyeball to eyeball with the king of beasts, and I was deeply moved by a chance encounter which left me with no doubt that I would take my chances with a shark over these 'gals' anyday.
I was moving along the perimeter fencing of the Lion area, trying to get a view of a male and female which had wandered to within view. With groups on foot, they tend to stay away, but being alone, I attracted the attention of the one female, and was suddenly approached with intent and aggression that made me extremely thankful to have a fence seperating us. The look in her eyes was something I will never forget, intense, vigilance, anger, absolute focus, it is hard to find a word that does it justice, but suddenly being face to face with a healthy, fully grown female Lioness, probably Africa's most feared hunter, was AMAZING!!!!!!
A short while after, the male came over, and after a while, both relaxed, and for a magical 30 minutes, I had the privileged company of 2 regal animals, especially after the aggression changed to them being completely wrapped up with one another!
WOW. Wish you could all have experienced it, especially those very intense seconds after the lioness intercepted me as a lone 'prey'. I would take my chances with a White Shark anyday before a lion. No doubt.
I had my small camera with me.
This week, I was privileged to come face to face with what in my mind is the ultimate 'Apex' Predator! I have always have huge respect for the White Shark, but at a game reserve in the Western Cape on Thursday, I came eyeball to eyeball with the king of beasts, and I was deeply moved by a chance encounter which left me with no doubt that I would take my chances with a shark over these 'gals' anyday.
I was moving along the perimeter fencing of the Lion area, trying to get a view of a male and female which had wandered to within view. With groups on foot, they tend to stay away, but being alone, I attracted the attention of the one female, and was suddenly approached with intent and aggression that made me extremely thankful to have a fence seperating us. The look in her eyes was something I will never forget, intense, vigilance, anger, absolute focus, it is hard to find a word that does it justice, but suddenly being face to face with a healthy, fully grown female Lioness, probably Africa's most feared hunter, was AMAZING!!!!!!
A short while after, the male came over, and after a while, both relaxed, and for a magical 30 minutes, I had the privileged company of 2 regal animals, especially after the aggression changed to them being completely wrapped up with one another!
WOW. Wish you could all have experienced it, especially those very intense seconds after the lioness intercepted me as a lone 'prey'. I would take my chances with a White Shark anyday before a lion. No doubt.
I had my small camera with me.
