Mara Valley - Day 2 AM (Lion Special)

Okay, so it's very early in the morning and the sun has barely crept over the horizon so these photos are extremely noisy and running them through the denoise programme sometimes only serves to make areas like the nose look very plasticky - sorry.

This is the sight that greeted us - over 15 lions just sitting around.

I know some people think that all lions do during the day is laze around but sometimes, if you have the time to just sit with them and watch their behaviour, they can be quite energetic and very amusing.

This poor lioness was very long suffering.  

Poor cub was being attached from both ends.

This one decided to grab Mum the by head, but she wasn't having any of it.

Even though a couple more joined in the fun, she simply raised her head and lifted the little one clean off the ground.

Even the older ones were play fighting.

This little hooligan really was having a good go.

Just look at his paw - claws out!

I think this one is so funny - these two were totally ignoring what was going on around them and just sitting quietly, minding their own business.

We do "cat stretches" in Pilates, now I know what they're supposed to look like.

If the other cub hadn't been in the frame, this would be up there in my all time top 10 favourite shots. 

We stayed about 1 1/2 hours just watching - it was fabulous, the entertainment went on and on.

I feel just as exhausted as this little one looks - it's hard work concentrating for so long and having so many animals to choose from.

Finally, just about when we'd decided it was time to leave them alone, this handsome male appeared from the undergrowth.

That was just amazing!!!!!