WILDLIFE. NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY.
Together we are Stronger
Monthly Challenge — Animal Pairs and Groups
They’ve been through a lot and while their backs might be hurting from the burdens of the past they are carrying, they know to move. They know to let go of the past and look into a brighter future.
Facing the same direction the lion king and his lioness are walking into a distant land. Towards the setting sun.
It was in 2018 when I went on a road trip together with a friend visiting me in Namibia. After staying for two days at Spitzkoppe doing some rock climbing we drove to Erindi, a private game reserve. It has the size of a national park and is home to countless animal species.
On our first morning in the camp, we went on a game drive. This was when we spotted the majestic lion. He was sitting in the tall grass not far from the dusty road.
Thanks to good eyes and a bit of luck, we did spot the animal. Soon after, the lion got up looking for something or someone in the other direction. We weren’t sure what to expect.
It was his better half.
The lioness wasn’t ready yet. She wanted to sit a bit longer before moving on. Slowly waking up with the rising sun, she was barely having her eyes open. I don’t know what they did but it might have been a long night.
However, the lion was ready for the adventure ahead and slowly got up to hit the road. While the lioness started walking in the safety of the bushes, he was walking in the middle of the sandy road.
They were clearly in for a long journey. Maybe they need to find a new territory. I’m not sure.
The pair switched sides now taking over the road. We had to stop and let them go. It was their time to move.
We turned off the main road looking for other animals and just as the sun was getting higher on the horizon, we decided to turn around and head back to camp.
That was when we passed the lion couple a second time.
They were trying to relax a bit in the shade of the bushes.
Branded with countless scars from heavy fights in the past, not only the lion but his lioness was tired too.
They decided to take a break and not move any further until the heat of the day was past. Moving further into the bushes in search of a cooler spot they disappeared.
“The strongest hearts have the most scars.” — Anonymous
This is a response to the July photography challenge:
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