Lions and cheetahs often hide their young cubs on the Serengeti in what are known as Kopjes, pronounced “copies”, they are ancient rock islands in the sea of savannah grasses that make up most of this National Park located in northern Tanzania.
While on a photo safari gathering images for a client my driver and I ventured out along the eastern border of the Park in search of the big cats. We had heard on the radio that a large male lion had been sighted near the Barafu kopje.
Kopjes on the Serengeti Savannah
Having secured an off road permit we headed toward a series of boulder outcrops that were formed by liquid granite bubbles in the Precambrian lava flows. Softer rock wore away over the years and left these special rocky habitats that rose from the plain of grasses.
As it turns out they are ideal locations to gather for many hunters of the vast savannah, especially cats. We traveled toward the horizon circling several outcrops, each distinctive in their own way with rounded boulders forming hidden caves and protective shelters.
These high points are lookouts where the big cats can survey the plains all around prior to a hunt. The rocks also provide sunny defensive platforms where they can just relax and sleep during the heat of the day.
Lion cubs play on kopjes in Serengeti
My driver pulled our Land Rover right up to some small boulders that cushioned one such rock castle. Instantly, a large male lion rose to his feet to check us out. A good three hundred plus pounds of fur and muscle glared down at us.
I felt small but there was no fear just a sense of awe realizing where in the world I was at this moment. After a series of exposures I stopped to change lenses as quickly as I could. By the time I raised my camera again he was gone, vanishing into the scrub brush that formed his sheltered backdrop.
Nuzzling lions on Serengeti savannah
On the backside of the kopje several lion cubs were playing in what looked like a nursery den. They were guarded by three females lounging in the shaded rocks. We moved in closer, just thirty feet away and I continued to photograph them.
Two young cubs in particular seemed to be playing for my camera. They nuzzled, bumped and licked each other like small domestic kittens but with huge paws. They growled, moaned and danced about the rocks before settling down for a portrait or two.
It only lasted a minute or two before one of the females called them over for a cleaning and the show was over. We drove further around the kopje.
Just at the parameter of granite in the tall dried grass was a pair of adult lions grooming. The female nestled and let out a guttural purring sound so loud we could hear it from the Rover. We were observers in moments of lion privacy it does not get better than that.
Related Posts:
http://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/tree-climbing-lions
http://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/tracking-lions
http://myphotovisions.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/elephant-brothers
Photographs used in this post are copyrighted by Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography, 2010, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited without the written permission of Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography. My image catalog can be viewed at http://www.rangeofvisionphotos.com. You can contact me through this blog or through email at: wayne@rangeofvisionphotos.com
