Male Lion Picture - In Shade

I took this Male Lion Picture just before sunset one afternoon near Dertiende Borehole. On the afternoon we arrived in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park we noticed two male lions at a kill right next to the road. We drove on, set up camp, and then went back when the light was good. We knew they were going nowhere far from their kill. One was feasting behind a thick bush and the other one was napping. I waited for it to look up and strike a decent pose, and this is the resulting picture.

I would not rate this photograph as excellent in terms of salon standards, since the lion is in complete shade and not doing much. It is still a photo that pleases me as it shows the beauty of this magnificent cat and has a pleasing mood to it. Technically, it is pin-sharp, and I didn't need to crop it down from full-size at all.

This particular visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was in March 2006 with one of my fellow photography junkies, Johan Joubert APSSA. We had a really good time and were blessed with many opportunities to take excellent photographs. I thoroughly believe this park is one of the top four wildlife photography hotspots in Southern Africa.

Sadly, at this time (early 2006) there were many broken water pumps, and therefore some waterholes didn't offer the wildlife any water. In a wildlife reserve, the animals can't roam free and move far distances in search of water, so this is an issue that must be addressed. The roads are pretty bad as well, but it is still well worth a visit... if you're driving a 4x4 or a rental. ;-)

If you would like opportunities to take pictures like this one, scratch around in my Africa Safaris section and start planning a trip! It won't happen unless you plan for it.