Close to Lionesses

I’ve already had the experience of a male Lion getting uncomfortably close to me on this safari. This time it’s a Lioness which is unwittingly encroaching on my personal space.

There are controlled burns throughout the Masai Mara which seem to be designed to act as firebreaks. This Lioness is clearly on a mission through this burnt landscape.

The distinctive dark marks above the eyes give a permanently pensive expression which isn’t matched by the softness and relaxation of the mouth and nose.

There will be some fabulous discoveries about Lion social signalling using facial visual clues in the future, especially if they link it to brain activity and mood. There’s a whole world of expression there to discover.

In the meantime, I’m going to relax and enjoy them as natural art.

They truly are awe-inspiring.

At a safe distance.