TREE LIONS - A SHORT STORY

Lions relaxing up in trees could be seen quite often when you visit the Serengeti and other vast open spaces, using it as a vantage point to scan for prey in the distance.

At Phinda we don’t see this every day, not to mention four times in three days…with a bit of variety of intentions to it. The pride consists of two lionesses and four cubs, thirteen months old. For the past while they have been roaming around in the mountains close to Zuka Lodge, where the first tree climbing incident was seen.

Long after sunset the lions where all bundling up on a branch three metres off the ground. Not for any particular reason – maybe just pure enjoyment? The next night however, this tree climbing was initiated by a chase to catch a bushbaby. Sibusiso Nsele, ranger at Mountain Lodge, reported that the bushbaby was caught by the lions, but managed to escape through a grass field and up into a Marula tree again – a lioness and one of the cubs in hot pursuit after it. The bushbabies are excellent tree acrobats and jumped to another tree for safety.

The third incident happen this morning after watching the same pride walking steadily as if looking for food – this time in broad daylight and some even choosing their own tree for the luxury of more space. Sharpening the nails against the trunk was combined here by scanning the open areas for prey. On the afternoon game drive we tracked the same pride again, just to find them in a Marula tree again, joined by a spectacular african sunset. This is Africa – TIA. Nobody can tell me again that lions climb trees only to escape the irritation of flies at ground level.

Posted: Phinda by Eduard de Waal, Date: 27 December 2011