In June, my husband and I had the privilege Susan Dawson of traveling to South Africa and I’d like to take you on a lion photo safari adventure. Join us at Mala Mala Game Reserve, 32,000 acres in the South African bush. Upon arrival, we meet the camp manager, Loraine, and Adam, our safari guide for the next four days. Adam appears to be in his 30s yet very capable of guiding an inexperienced group of Americans on a photo safari. We began to comprehend the close encounters we were about to have with wildlife. He explained the animals are not afraid of vehicles, even giant Range Rovers. For several hundred years, this camp has been a no-hunt camp, so the native animals no longer perceive a vehicle as a threat. We would drive within a few yards of many of the animals we encountered. It is simply We revisited this same pride that evening after amazing. dark before they began to hunt for food. Our rover was parked in the middle of the pride when one lioness began to roar. A signal to other prides that this is their territory. As she roared the other two Our first lion adventure begins on our first-morning game drive beginning at 7:00 am. The early morning fog is lying low lionesses and lions joined the call. It was a little on the ground, but on the Sand Riverbed, guides have spotted one of the lionesses relaxing with her three 7-month-old frightening and exhilarating to be part of this cubs. We head that way and are the second rover to arrive. Guides here are very sensitive to the delicate balance of mom pride’s call of territory. The volume was high, and and cubs and have strict rules regarding the number of vehicles and time spent observing. This foursome seems you could feel the vibration deep in your chest. completely at ease, and we’re able to watch them groom and play for 20 minutes or more while the sun rises over the There is no doubt that this is their world, and they horizon. will protect it at any cost. The following evening (yes, after dark) one of the males in the pride is spotted resting in some tall grass. We follow the directions and interrupt what seems like a really great nap under the stars. He pays little attention and goes back to sleep This is one of those trips you dream of but aren’t as we leave. sure it will ever happen. After careful planning On day three, a larger group of our pride, including two males (brothers), three females, and several cubs, is spotted and budgeting for over 18 months, it happened, lounging in a long grassy meadow. We visit and observe them, marveling at how close we can be without them showing and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. any signs of distress. This pride is one of over ten tracked daily and observed by the Mala Mala camp guides. They record On our 12-day excursion, we traveled to four significant sightings and log everything monthly, keeping the animal's well-being at the forefront of their minds. No countries, and every place we visited was special human intervention is allowed as they go through their natural behaviors, including driving the 2-year-old male cubs out in its own way. The people were warm and of their pride to fend for themselves once the dominant male perceives these little ones as a threat. The outcasts must welcoming, and the service was exceptional. then go out and establish their own territory away from their family and begin to build their own pride if they survive. It is one of the harsh realities of wild animals. Truly, the strong survive.