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So we are back from yet another absolute wonderful KTP trip.
It is only two weeks now, but it feels like months already....
We decided to start an extra thread here at Arid Parks to tell you about a really breathtaking adventure we had at Grootkolk during our stay.

Well we arrived at Grootkolk on the 13th of November full of anticipation, happy and excited like children waiting for birthday or christmas.
Franco greeted us very friendly with the words :" Welcome to the Lons of Grootkolk"
And indeed there were 5 Lions resting right underneath the tree by the waterhole.

Larger View

They observed us while we unloaded the car and I can tell you we never unpacked the car as quick as on that specific afternoon.
We moved into our home for the next three nights, cabin #4 the one the furthest to the right.

Seeing the Lions under the tree and enjoying the supeb view, we decided to stay in camp on that afternoon rather than driving to one of the waterholes to the north or south of camp.
We could have a coffee while watching the Lions, what more could we possibly ask for....
Later that afternoon one of the adult Lionesses got up and walked away. While all the others stayed at the waterhole and just watched where she was going.
We were suprised to say the least .

Quite a while later she returned back to the waterhole only to greet the three subadults of the pride which then in turn got up and started to walk away ......
A little later she went to one of the smaller trees and bushes close by and returned with 4 of the most adorable cubs
She greeted the second Lioness that was still lying close to the waterhole and the cubs started to play.



Well this is just one of the many video footage we took of the cubs, more will follow later in the trip report....

We spend the whole afternoon watching the little ones play. They were in really good mood and had a lot of fun (like all the people in the camp as well ).

Later that evening we had a braai checking the Lions, which were still under that tree, from time to time.
We were even a bit worried that the cubs were lying there as well.
What will happen when some Hyenas were coming to have a drink ?!
It was around 9.30 pm when we went to bed, not having the faintest idea what was going to happen later that night......
Only thing I tell you now is, that is was a rather short night's rest.....

.......to be continued

C"mon KDU..this is not fair..out with it !!!!!!

Welcome back, Katy and Francolin!

And then words fail me... This is just an incredible video footage and I would have to lie if I said, I wasn't the least about those ever so sweet little cubs!

What a way to be welcomed at GK. WOW! And the title of your thread is promising in terms of what happened throughout the night. Seeing your pics and the vid I'm really glad I booked us three nights at GK in October next year.

I'm really looking forward to see what exactly was going on. And I'm even more curious to read your TR. It sounds like you had an amazing time again.

Oh, and did I count that right - 5 jackals around as well?

Thank you for sharing, what a special sighting!!

Looking forward to seeing your pics

Katy,
These cubs are really adorable
Please, don't keep us sitting on the edge What happened during the night?
Waiting for more
Nina

Ok,ok....
Well now we are back from shopping I will continue asap

@ Lionspoon
At some stage there were even more of them around.
They were some kind of circling the Lions.

Well at almost excatly 3 am we heard a kind of a metal clash.
At first I thought that Hyenas might have come up to the cabin and were now busy with the dustbin.
But then a noise started that we never ever heard before, but instantly we knew what was happening outside.

The Lions had made a kill.....
But they not only had made a kill they had done so right in front of our cabin.
The upper flap on the door was open and so I shone through the mesh to have a closer look what was happening outside.
5 Lions were lying on the other side of the little fence, close to our braai and devouring some kind of animal that was (when I first had a look at the scene) still kicking.
Adrenline levels inside the cabin were probably as high as outside....

As the Lions were lying really close to the fence it was hard to see without the fence reflecting the light of the torch.

Larger View

So we tried to capture the whole scene with the camcorder.
No brilliant pics, but turn up the volume and I think the sounds will give you goosebumps....



It was plain unbelievable.

In the meantime we had discovered that it was an unfortunate Hartebeest that they had killed.
One of the females then grabbed the skull, still the spine was attached and carried it over to a small tree to the right of our cabin.
Now as she started to chew on the Hartebeest we had a really good view when kneeing on our beds.
Every now and then the others came to the front of the chalet where they had killed the animal to check for some bits and pieces that were still left.
So I was constant movement for us from the side where we could observe the Lioness to the side where we were able to see the other Lions...



By the way all the movies are best at 480p, if you watch them larger on the YouTube page, it's 720p HD.

Still a lot more to come ......

Unique.
Got any sleep that night

what a fantastic experience!!!! I can only dream of such for our time at Grootkolk ... thnaks so much for sharing it Katie

Fantastic sighting!
I am looking forward to the next part of your story, especially how long the lions stayed and when you were able to leave your cabin again...

WOW!!! what came after the lions

A sighting everyone dream to witness, and you didn't even have go out and search for it

Katy
It was the local Hartebeest

Thanx a lot forumites

@ bert
Well we did not sleep after 3 am....

@ icurrie
Grootkolk is such a special camp, I think it provides something special each and everytime you stay there.

@ Katja
Well they stayed for a very long time. ...

@mattib
Definiely more Lions

@ Boorgatspook
Spot on

@ anne-marie
So you know him/her as well ?!
FRanco thought as well that it was the lonely Hartebeest that often visited the waterhole...

Woooow!! one in a lifetime sightings!! and from your room!!!!