H3_W2_009

Date: 2016

Location: Masai Mara, Kenya

Did you know?

The Maasai Mara, also sometimes spelled Masai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Kenya. It continues into Tanzania as the Serengeti National Park. It is named in honour of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, who migrated to the area from the Nile Basin.

About the picture

This photo was taken in Masai Mara in 2016. This huge male lion was resting with the rest of his pride when this young cub wanted to play. Male lions are protective of their offspring and can sometimes exhibit great patience with them. Seen here, the cub is nuzzling its father’s face affectionately. I was lucky to capture this rare moment of gentle intimacy between a father and his child.

Fun Fact

The Lions are the only known cat species where individuals roar together - with even young cubs joining in with their mews.