This morning on game drive, we came across two lionesses just off the road. Both mother and daughter seemed relaxed at first. They allowed the game drives vehicles fairly close. While watching these lionesses, the bigger of the two suddenly became alert. She had noticed some giraffe a way down the road and went straight into a crouch positions. With her ears flattened and her shoulders hunched she stared intently at potential prey. She became decidedly focused and not even the sound of the vehicles could deter her attention.

What amazed me was how when the one lioness became alert the other immediately followed her lead. She too became focused on the passing giraffe. This clearly shows a level of communication that we cannot understand. There is still much to learn about lions and the hidden means of communicating with each other through body language.

Cindy Viljoen

18/11/11