Back to Africa

WIN THIS PRINT! “A Mother’s Love”, 12″ x 15″ fine art paper print, digitally signed. Shipped for free worldwide to the winner. Winner to be announced June 1, 2020.

May 2, 2020

In these strange and difficult times, it’s always uplifting to search for a silver lining. Everyone has their own version to help raise their spirits. For me, it is the extra time in my life available to spend on my photo files, digging through the archives in search of hidden gems, in the process enjoying a vicarious repeat vacation to the many places I’ve been so fortunate to travel to over the years.

I took so many photographs during the Kenya photo safari last fall that there has been a lot of unreviewed material to keep me busy. This month I’m featuring quite a few newly discovered images that take me (and you) back to Africa. And since Mother’s Day is coming up this month, I’m especially incorporating mothers in my theme for May.

I just love this image that I’m offering for this month’s free print giveaway, titled “A Mother’s Love”. Lionesses in general are always so affectionate with their offspring, but the snuggly aspect of this portrait really tugs at my heartstrings.

Life in a pride of lions is pretty entertaining to observe. The average size of a pride is about 15, with a few males, several females, and cubs of assorted ages. They share a very communal lifestyle. Adult lions sleep as much as 20 hours each day, males more so than the working mother females, but the cubs seem to be in perpetual motion, romping with each other regardless of age and interacting playfully with all the lionesses. They flirt with the males as well, but with less predictable results!

“Don’t Mess With Me”

The lionesses are the providers, stalking and taking down game to feed the entire pride, while the males show up just in time for the meal. The males are conserving their strength and health in order to be able to defend themselves against any challenger. Young males stay with their birth pride until 2-3 years of age, after which they are forced out before they become a threat to the established males. 

“Cast Out”

I’ll be sharing many more new images from Africa on my Facebook and Instagram pages in the next few weeks so I hope you follow me there as well.

Click below to enjoy a gallery of photos of African wildlife moms and their babies. All are available for purchase over on my website if you decide you’d like to bring the outdoors into your home to brighten those four walls!

PS – Just a reminder, anyone who subscribes to this blog is automatically entered in the monthly print giveaways. If you are reading this now in your email, know that you’re already in the drawing.

For anyone else who’d like to participate, just add your first name and email to this subscription page, and you’ll be entered for this drawing and future monthly giveaways as well! Share the good news with your friends!