The Cubs

And this cub …

He also had a twin. They were older than the first set but still cute.

The older set of lion cubs were ready for more socializing and pretend hunting. Both lionesses kept their young close by their sides. Sometimes we saw the family together though the adults were just supervising or tolerating the cubs. One lioness had the assistance of her sister for cub-sitting when she went hunting.

This adult pair were getting ready to make cubs. The female was coming into heat and they were waiting for the right time. Maino said that the two of them might hang out for as long as a week, and they would not hunt while they gazed into each other’s eyes.

We went back to check on the little ones a couple of times – they were too cute not to. No matter which baby animals we saw, all of them had so much energy and just wanted to run and tumble and play. It seemed to me that all the adults just looked at them as if to say, “would you kindly not disturb my nap?”

The smaller territories the lions held in the Mara meant we saw more lion prides and different configurations of lions.

Currently cubless. One of four females in a pride, all of whom had cubs who did not survive.

A nomadic male new to the area, possibly checking out his mating options.

No one objected to watching lions – they were just magnificent every time we saw them!