Into the Lions den, ........two 7 day old cubs w/nursing mum.

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marc

marc

Well-known member
Member's gallery
6.35pm.
Very privileged to have found this lioness and her two 7 day old cubs, their blue eyes have only just opened which occurs any time between 6 to 10 days. The second is lying across the lap of the visible one.
Lions often use a secluded marsh such as this to hide their cubs for their first few weeks of life. Just metres away was her sister who was also nursing 2 cubs of around 4 weeks of age.
Very rarely does one achieve any sort of clear view with cubs this young, mum will always take advantage of heavy cover to hide them until she moves them again within a few weeks.

Namiri Plains, Serengeti-TZ.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/4
1/500s
ISO2000@ 370mm.

D05_6077BPN.jpg
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7.00am next day.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/6.3
1/1600s
ISO900@ 390mm.

D05_7017BPN.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.





Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4 +1.4tc
f/6.3
-0.33EV
1/1600s
ISO900@ 560mm.

D05_7020bBPN.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.





Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/6.3
1/1600s
ISO720@ 370mm.


D05_7028BPNjpg.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.



Cheers
Marc
 
Last edited:
Member's gallery
marc said:
6.35pm.
Very privileged to have found this lioness and her two 7 day old cubs, their blue eyes have only just opened which occurs any time between 6 to 10 days. The second is lying across the lap of the visible one.
Lions often use a secluded marsh such as this to hide their cubs for their first few weeks of life. Just metres away was her sister who was also nursing 2 cubs of around 4 weeks of age.
Very rarely does one achieve any sort of clear view with cubs this young, mum will always take advantage of heavy cover to hide them until she moves them again within a few weeks.

Namiri Plains, Serengeti-TZ.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/4
1/500s
ISO2000@ 370mm.

View attachment 7728




7.00am next day.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/6.3
1/1600s
ISO900@ 390mm.

View attachment 7729




Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4 +1.4tc
f/6.3
-0.33EV
1/1600s
ISO900@ 560mm.

View attachment 7734




Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/6.3
1/1600s
ISO900@ 370mm.

View attachment 7736

Cheers
Marc
Click to expand...
A glorious series of very intimate and rarely seen images, Marc ---you must have been delighted. A wonderful experience to treasure !
 
Member's gallery
marc said:
6.35pm.
Very privileged to have found this lioness and her two 7 day old cubs, their blue eyes have only just opened which occurs any time between 6 to 10 days. The second is lying across the lap of the visible one.
Lions often use a secluded marsh such as this to hide their cubs for their first few weeks of life. Just metres away was her sister who was also nursing 2 cubs of around 4 weeks of age.
Very rarely does one achieve any sort of clear view with cubs this young, mum will always take advantage of heavy cover to hide them until she moves them again within a few weeks.

Namiri Plains, Serengeti-TZ.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/4
1/500s
ISO2000@ 370mm.

View attachment 7728




7.00am next day.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/6.3
1/1600s
ISO900@ 390mm.

View attachment 7729




Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4 +1.4tc
f/6.3
-0.33EV
1/1600s
ISO900@ 560mm.

View attachment 7734




Nikon D5
Nikkor 180-400E PF FL VR f/4
f/6.3
1/1600s
ISO900@ 370mm.

View attachment 7736

Cheers
Marc
Click to expand...

That is one set of special Very Special images Marc " OUTSTANDING " 👏👏 .....

How in hell were you able to get that close "370mm/390mm" to a Lioness with such young cubs ? a male lion couldn`t to get within 500 meters without all hell breaking out


Harry.G
 
Member's gallery
This sets the heart beating faster and the smile stretching form ear to ear, Marc! Just gorgeous little guys and I love the POV/framing!
 
Member's gallery
Many thanks Harry

Harry.G said:
How in hell were you able to get that close "370mm/390mm" to a Lioness with such young cubs ? a male lion couldn`t to get within 500 meters without all hell breaking out
Click to expand...

@Harry.G , this pair of mum's were very close to camp, so close in fact that one of them had given birth to cubs right behind one of the guides tent 2 years previous,
and were very much used to humans at close quarters, provided one is very quiet and calm. (I always have my own private vehicle).
Visits were limited to just 1* vehicle and only vehicles from our camp were allowed access.

*Have seen instances of tiny lion cubs in the Masai Mara just days old with stressed mothers hunkered down in thickets surrounded by 20+ vehicles :mad: all crowding in trying to get shots (mostly with iPhones :rolleyes:) through thick vegetation..........just horrendous! Not my idea of fun at all.
 
Member's gallery
marc said:
Many thanks Harry

*Have seen instances of tiny lion cubs in the Masai Mara just days old with stressed mothers hunkered down in thickets surrounded by 20+ vehicles :mad: all crowding in trying to get shots (mostly with iPhones :rolleyes:) through thick vegetation..........just horrendous! Not my idea of fun at all.
Click to expand...

Waaaoooo I am shocked that something like that would be allowed and all for a photo - surely those guiding company`s that take tourists out for photos should be reprimanded ...


Harry.G
 
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