September 29, 2016
Leopard Tortoise, Lions Mating, and Five Cheetah Cubs in Kruger National Park, South Africa

I've finished the first part of my stay in the southern part of Kruger National Park, South Africa, having spent four nights at Lower Sabie. On the way to camp from Satara, I stopped to photograph this Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) in a great location. First, it was near the crest of a small hill so I could shoot from a beanbag on the ground to get a great below-eye-level perspective. Second, it was in area with no lions so I could get out of my vehicle with no fear of being eaten and there were no other vehicles so I wouldn't be harassed by humans concerned about my safety. :) On the afternoon of my first full day at Lower Sabie, I came across this pair of Lion (Panthera leo) pair mating. The first few times they copulated, they were done in a rather quick 5-10 seconds and I couldn't get into position to photograph them in time because of the brush. I was finally able to get nice shot of them right before I had to return to camp. Lower Sabie is a great area to see Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). I had three different sightings, but the best by far was a mother with her five three- to four-week old cubs.