Safari Time

Lion Safari Earl Plato

August 12, 2008 African Lion Safari, Cambridge, Ontario.
A great day for Elaine and me. Weather-wise perfect. Cool and sunny. Son-in-law Ken and two of our grandchildren, Ashlyn and Conlan enjoyed this unique setting. Already hundreds and hundreds of cars were in the parking lot. We were there mid morning and headed directly for the Game Reserve Drive. Old memories but now zebra-striped pick up trucks of the Reserve were every where. “Close your window tightly!” A young woman ranger from her striped truck ordered me. Slow driving - cars before us and after as we entered Simba lion country. A huge female lion sauntered past us. Windows closed she looked in at us as she passed by. Eight females were resting on the huge boulders. Time for countless snapshots.I observed our huge lioness as she paused by our van. She was a powerfully built muscular cat. Her fur was short over her body Its colour was a reddish brown but her underside was white. The tips of her ears and end of her tail were dark brown. Her weight? Guess only - 500 lbs. plus. Truly a big cat.
The lion is unusual among cat species. How? It lives in organized social group called prides, A lion pride can consist of as many as thirty to forty lions. The majority are females and young, There is only a small number of males. You know the story. The female does the hunting as a team. Once the prey (zebra, antelope, wildebeest, and deer) the males of the pride eat first. Fair? But that’s the way it goes.
We travelled he Game preserve twice. Once in the morning and again about 415 p.m. The later trip was better. Much fewer cars and a chance for better photo close-ups. Remember keep your windows closed, eh!