Lions - II (Sasan Gir, Gujarat, India)

During our approx 36 hours on the preserve, we went out on four "sessions".

Sessions are 06:00-09:00, 09:00-noon, and 15:00-18:00.

This little green fellow is a Bee Eater, sitting on a limb, about 2m away. 

For the morning session, you meet at the entrance center about an hour before sunrise.

Several jeeps reach the inner gate.  There were lion tracks just 10 feet inside this gate.

Really cool, we parked alongside a lake as the sky brightened.  The dam was built many years ago to help provide water for people and livestock in this area which is very dry during the 6-month Dry Season.

Avi and Shardul enjoy the quiet of the dawn.
A beautiful, peaceful lake, with an 8 ft (2.4m) crocodile gliding silently on the surface.

 The sun creeps ever higher, almost reaching the horizon.

 Roaming around...looking for lions.

 Two females came up to a watering hole.

A crowd favorite, a lioness came up and flopped down, 
like a (very) big kitty, only about 25m in front of us.  

And then, her cub came walking up after her, and prepared to exchange greetings with mom.

"Ah geez, Mom !"

My favorite pic of the trip.

Y'all take care,
-Mark