After arriving in the Masai Mara we made our way to the Fig Tree Camp, our first hotel in the famous Masai Mara.  The Fig Tree Camp is located on the banks of the Talek River.  I will probably always remember hearing the hippopotumus during the night- they sure are loud.  The first night I had no idea what the noise was but it sounded like the animal was just outside my tent.   By the way Hippos leave the water at dusk and travel inland to graze on short grasses.  I honestly don't remember if there was a barrier between the river and the lodge but I'm pretty sure there would have been.   It goes without saying that I did not go to investigate any night noises.    Today's blog is actually about the lions in the Maasai Mara that we came across on our afternoon safari.  

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The lion is the tallest (at the shoulder) of all living cats, averaging approximately 5cm (2.0 in) taller than the tiger.  The lion is the second largest  living cat  in length and weight after the tiger.  

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We watched the lions for most of the afternoon at times following them in the vans.  We had a great view of the group of them.

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Lions spend much of their time resting and are inactive for about 20 hours per day.  Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socializing and grooming.  Intermittent bursts of activity follow through the night hours until dawn, when hunting most often takes place.  These lions had recently eaten so were quite content.

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Lions spend an average of two hours a day walking and 50 minutes eating. They are the most socially inclined of all wild felines, most of which remain quite solitary in nature.  

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​Some lions are residents, living in groups centring around the related lionesses, called prides.  

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The pride usually consists of five or six females, their cubs of both sexes, and one or two males who mate with the adult females.  Male cubs are excluded  from their maternal pride when they reach maturity.  

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There is also a second organizational behaviour called nomads, who range widely and move about sporadically either singularly or in pairs.  Pairs are more frequent among related males who have been excluded form their birth pride.

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The guides and rangers are on some kind of radio system so when the cats are found everyone hears about it and comes to investigate.  Often we were fortunate in that we were the ones that found the animals so we had great views.   Also, at times we were in very distant locations and no other vans were around us.   Other times we had to take our turns with everyone else and wait for a spot to open up.  Most of the time I was able to see very well.  This is one reason why it is best not to go to Kenya in the summers were there are so many tourists (many from Europe).  September was perfect although at times as  you can see from above that there were many vans jockeying for positions.    

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The younger lions started to play which was great to watch.

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The area a pride occupies is called a pride area and the nomads occupy a range.  The males associated with a pride tend to stay on the fringes patrolling their territory.  Lionesses do most of the hunting for their pride.  

20130913_Kenya_0015-4 Lionesses are more effective hunters than males as they are smaller, swifter and more agile than the males and unencumbered by the heavy and conspicuous mane which causes overheating during exertion.  However, there are times when the males have the advantage due to their weight when bringing down certain types of prey.  

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These young lions were a lot of fun to watch.  

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The best part was when they began to play.

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We were also lucky to see more Cheetahs in the same afternoon.

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Finally it was time to call it a night so we headed back to the camp.