When they're sleeping, they sure don't look very ferocious...

Don't you just want to scratch that tummy?

Ahhh....as the temperatures began to cool down in the late afternoon, it's time for the kitty cats to wake up....

Hello, big boy!

Several big yawns...

...some grooming....

BIG stretch!!!

Yoga pose in the bush...this one is called Downward Dog.  Oh wait....Downward CAT!

After several minutes of yawning, stretching, and preening, these majestic 7-8 year old male lions (probably brothers or cousins born about the same time) decided to take an evening stroll.

And we followed them.  In the Land Cruiser, of course....

Brooks suspected they would head toward the river for a drink, and that's exactly what they did.

He looked a little grumpy.  Must've woken up on the wrong side of his bush-bed....

Brooks is an excellent photographer, so he was getting some shots also...

Brooks was usually the first guide at our sightings, and as good guides do he would radio other Duma Tau guides the location of interesting stuff so all the Duma Tau guests would have opportunities to see them.  This group of Canadians came on the scene to see the lions too.  As you can see, the lions are not bothered at all by the vehicles and saunter very closely past.

Brooks was right (as is usually the case when it comes to wildlife)...time for a drink of water.

Another gentleman guest and guide from Duma Tau...

After they had quenched their thirst, the two big kitties headed back into the bush, and we decided to leave them be and see what other encounters we could find.

To the untrained eye, this is just a wooded grasslands...but on closer look you can see a leopard lying in the grass with his kill hanging in the tree above him.

Coming around from the back side, it's much easier to see.

Looks like a very unlucky impala....

It's so amazing to me how a leopard is able to drag an animal way up in a tree like that.  Those are some strong jaws and paws and excellent climbing skills!

Another big kitty, keeping watch over his meal....

I think leopards are my favorites of the big cats...the markings on their fur, absolutely stunning!

What a beauty!  

Our very first evening at Duma Tau, we came across a male leopard stalking a warthog den.  Warthogs go back into their dens just before dark, and the leopard was awaiting their return in hopes of killing one.

As he got up to find a more advantageous position, we could see a large wound on his shoulder.  Perhaps an earlier run-in with these same warthogs?  Maybe he was out to get revenge....

After patiently waiting a short time, the warthogs did indeed return to their den.  But they must have sensed that something was just not right, and scuttled away before the leopard could make his move.  

Both lions and leopards put the fear into every bush creature, and they have definitely earned their respect.

Big kitties.