The Lions Eat Tonight – Serengeti

by 100 Country Trek

Our day was almost over on our safari in the Serengeti and we came upon our grand finale! Near the road was a pride of female lions, 12 in all, enjoying their freshly killed zebra. It was a thrilling and somewhat chilling to see them tearing into the still warm flesh, devouring the meat and grinding the bones. There would be nothing left when they were finished feasting. They didn’t pay us any mind as we hovered over them taking photos only a mere 10 feet away.

The lady in the middle is smiling and the man on the right looks hungry watching his kids eating their dinner.

There were two sets of 3 cubs of different ages in the group. They seemed to be chowing down in perfect harmony, until the food got in a shorter supply. Soon there were lots of snarls and gnashing of teeth. The young cubs were kicked away at one point and ran to their Mom, as kids do, for comfort and protection.

As we near our lodge we had a chance to take a better look at some Warthogs. These strange animals are members of the pig family. They are fast runners and  are strange  comical looking animals. They have two sets of sharp tusks however and can be aggressive.  It has been reported that warthogs have given lions deep, serious, deadly wounds, which sometimes end with the lion bleeding to death.

This is our last evening on the Serengeti. As I watch the sunset, I try to take it into my minds eye. I see the vast plains that seem to stretch to the sky and the golden short grass on this September day, with large patches of black burn, that will give to new green in the weeks to come. Here and there groups of animals break the pattern. Animals living each day as nature intended in balanced harmony. Killing to live. I know I won’t return, as my quest to see new places will keep me away but I will draw upon my memories of the Serengeti for many years to come. It fills me with a sense of hope and a belief in the world and the continuation of life as we know it.

42 Comments

  2. Beautiful photos and thank you for sharing your memories of this beautiful National Park. Lions certainly do not like sharing their food. I am glad you had an incredible time.

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  14. Such amazing photo’s! Yes, it’s so true … one almost like to take a permanent picture with your mind – surroundings and smell – anything, just to remember this moment for a lifetime.
    That last photo of the sunset, is really stunning – it almost make me feel as if I’m in the Serengeti 💌.

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    2. I’ve always been told that as long as people stay in the vehicles the lions and other animals don’t register them as living species so they have minimal impact. But yes – put an arm outside or any other part of the body, and that will change …

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