Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Lions up close

Every so often I get to go walk about in the bush and take "official photos" for use on my website (really just an excuse to get out). A few weeks back a colleague and I went out to get a variety of Lion photos and, well, to cut a long story short, much fun was had and the adrenalin got flowing at times given the proximity of the Lions and the nature of the terrain and that all photos were taken on foot (actually knees at times).

I have put a few of the ones taken up close at the link below - trust folk here may enjoy them..

http://www.pureafrica.com/pics/Default.htm

PS - some of our better efforts are in our galleries here:

http://www.pureafrica.com/pure_display.aspx?pid=80

As an after thought - any views on how many lions are in the 1st pic?

5 or maybe 6....the pic of the male with the ginger-colored mane is super. How old do you think he was?

PeterV
Great pictures. With repect to picture 2, now I know how a steak feels, looking up at me from the plate ie about like you must have felt with the way the lion is looking at you.
t <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

DB Bill,

The ginger male is getting into his prime - I'd age him at 6-7 years old.

As for the number of lions in the pic - there were 5 lions in my line of sight - what I only noticed afterwards was that there was another circling around to my right - look for the eye's reflecting in right hand side of pic - about 1/4 way down. Gave me the "heebie jeebies" ...

Totlecgriz,

Must admit I too had feeling similar to "steak on a plate" at times - nothing like a top predator's stare to get the neck hairs rising!

By the way, the lioness in the very last pic was really p'dd off and on the edge with regard to charging - her body language says it all.

So Peter V:

What's the best price a poor slob could get for a reasonably mature male lion?

I would like to kill one for the excitement, but I don't think they make very good trophies (only my opinion of course).

My latest attempts at pricing come out to about:
1 small-maned lion = 1 leopard + 1 40" buff.

This with the chance of getting a shootable lion rather iffy, the leopard somewhat less iffy and the buff almost a sure thing.

What's your thoughts?

Peter V - Very nice pictures! Glad you took them cuz if that was me you'd have never gotten the rifle out of my hands to use the camera! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> CEJ...

Thanks for posting the pics! I really enjoyed studying them.

I thought I saw six lions in the first pic, and the lioness in the last one looks like she is an eyelash from coming after you.

The expressions of the lions in the pictures are really fascinating.

Thanks,

DJ

Thanks for the great pictures. I go into a prison each day with high level offenders... no weapons. But your pictures tell it all, you have some real fortitude (round things) and knowledge of the game. Send us a few more on occasion please. Rusty Zipper

Looks like 4 to me

Hi Buffhunter,

Fair chase Lion hunting is getting more and more expensive and one can assume that the prices at the 2007 safari conventions are going to be on the high side.

Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia produce some excellent maned lions each year, Trophy quality and fees will vary depending on area / concession and outfitter e.g. trophy fees have ranged from $2750 to $ 3250, while day fees have ranged from $750 to $1250 per day, most lion hunts are booked on a 14 day minimum. Like with any form of hunting, there are no guarentees and trophies have to be worked for.

Buffalo hunts by comparison are easier on the budget, buffalo are obviously a lot more prolific and the chances of taking a decent trophy are so much higher. Typically, a basic 10 day buffalo deal should be in the region of $8500 to $10000 for a 1x1 hunt � again the prices may vary from region to region and outfitter � most often as a by product of the cost of operations in remote areas and govt fees.

Thanks for the "up-to-date" information, Peter.

Too bad lions can't look more like tigers. Then not only would you have the excitement of the hunt, but you would have a beautiful trophy as well. (Although I'm sure some people think a lion makes every bit a beautiful trophy as a tiger, "Degustibus, non-disputandem" or "A matter of taste, not judgement".)


Guess, I need to think some more over the next few months and decide what to do.

Best regards.

I thought I saw five... so, how many were there? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Frans

Hi Frans,

Had posted this earlier ... "as for the number of lions in the pic - there were 5 lions in my line of sight - what I only noticed afterwards was that there was another circling around to my right - look for the eye's reflecting in right hand side of pic - about 1/4 way down. Gave me the "heebie jeebies" ...

I had 5 Lions that I could see, there was however an "extra" Lion in the background to my right ... the eyes show up on the pic -- I was sure that there were a few additional Lions that I could not see in the bush ... the camera's flash caught one such individiual.

Regads

Peter,

Hope you don't mind my adding a few of my own for the guys to enjoy.....











And yes, I did actually have the lens in his mouth for this one!

Cool... Here's one of mine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> This was the first 10 min in Kruger. A pride had killed this buff not 2 hours before. The lioness' had departed and he stayed to guard the kill. He was so full you could hear him grown about every 30 seconds.