Warning: Photos of lions hunting and eating a warthog follow. The circle of life isn't for everyone to see. But for a seasoned safari guide, it is one of the most special and memorable things to experience on an African safari.
Tree climbing lion of Kenya
We awoke to an incredible sunrise over the Masai Mara. After a big breakfast we jumped into our safari vehicles for a full day safari all the way to the Tanzanian border. Our goal for the day was to track down some hunting cheetah out in the savanna close to the political border. But, as usually happens here in the Mara, other animals pop up making it difficult to stick to the original plan. It is a very good problem to have...especially with what happened today.
We got word that some lions had been spotted by our other vehicle. Luckily it was in a part of the park where off roading was allowed. As we got closer we could see our other vehicle parked next to a solitary tree in the middle of the high grass. Then I was quite surprised to see a resting female lion up in the tree! Then we saw a second, young lion up in the tree as well as a few others on the ground. If the encounter would have ended there it would still have been exceptional, but it turned out that we were in the right place and the right time....for a hunt!
Communication for the hunt
People can come on multiple safaris and never witness a hunt. I've only seen it a couple of times in all of my experiences. As we were watching everything changed in a moment. The adult lion in the tree perked up all of a sudden like she saw something interesting out in the tall grass. It took us a while to see what she was looking at. It turned out to be a lone warthog, enjoying a nice meal of grass, totally unaware of the danger nearby.
Stalking so close to the warthog
Watching the communication go back and forth between the lion who saw the prey and the others as they spread out was amazing. After climbing down from the tree the adults fanned out into the tall grass. We kept our eyes on the one heading strait for the warthog. I was pretty shocked to see just how close the lion got before the warthog noticed. By then it was too late. The warthog darted off to the left, but another hidden lion was there to cut it off. The chase was over in about five seconds, with the main huntress latched onto the warthogs throat.
Let the feeding frenzy begin
Feeding is tough work
The older cubs and the adults wasted no time in pouncing on the suffocating warthog. The squeals of the warthog were emotional for all to hear, but we reminded ourselves that this is the circle of life, and wonderful to see mom providing for her family.
That used to be a warthog
Rack of Ribs for dinner
We were so close to the action that we could hear bones and sinew snapping. It was about as close as you can ever be to the action. The lions feasted furiously on the warthog. We watched for about 45 minutes, until there was almost nothing of the warthog left. One by one, the lions would get up, walk past our vehicles, and head back to the tree that was so vital in their successful quest for food.
This is how the Dillon's go on Safari
It was as raw an Africa experience as you can get. The Dillon's luck is holding strong. Not many people get see a hunt while on safari, especially from beginning to end like this. It was a magical experience that was made even more magical by the fact that we were the only two cars there. We witnessed the entire event. And Massek and Jackson lent their wonderful insight through the entire hunt.
Warthog head prize
Just under an hour after the huntress came down from the tree, the last of the lions left the kill area with its prize, the disembodied head of the warthog. It was wild to think that this warthog was leisurely chewing grass an hour earlier. With the kill zone vacated we ventured closer to glimpse what was left. A few hoofs was about all the marked the area which was once a warthog. This is the kind of wild Africa that I was hoping the group would see.
It was an incredible day in the Masai Mara here in Kenya. Now I'm wondering what will be next!
Keep traveling,
Dai Mar