You’ve heard about the Big 5… but what about the Tiny 5? Steyn managed to film the sweetest lion cubs walking through the bushveld and crossing the road with their mother.
Lioness walks through bushveld with cubs in tow
This mother lioness definitely had her job cut out for her as she walked through the bushveld thicket with her little ones in tow. They staggered behind her, with the awkward gait of baby animals.
She was, of course, an attentive mother, turning every now and then to check on her handsome litter of cubs.
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Seeing the cubs emerging from the long grass was a beautiful, poignant moment. These cubs were very young, and were wide-eyed as any infant creature might be.
They were as interested in Mom as she was in them. She would turn to check on them, and they would keep her in sight; sometimes running forwards filled with zealous energy, and then turning back to run towards her as she walked to keep up with them.
She was evidently their place of security and refuge.
Mom’s ‘pride and joy’ come into clear view
When they came to the road, the cubs walked out into the open, much to the game viewers’ delight. They plodded along on clumsy paws and their softness and newness was evident.
They ran on ahead of their mother, and having crossed the road, trotted back to her.
She had the awesome task of keeping them all in check.
However, she was a committed mother and even helped carry one of the little ones a short distance, through lifting the cub up in her jaws. This was akin to a child with tired legs getting a piggyback ride from a committed parent.
They had possibly already made a long walk through the long grass. One could hardly blame the little cub for feeling tired.
Lions are social animals and oftentimes the other lionesses in a pride will stand alongside the mother lioness as she raises her cubs.
This mother was definitely a candidate for some assistance from fellow female pride members. She had her hands, or rather, paws, full and these tiny ones were full of energy and curiosity.
Tiny cub wanders away from the restt
Once all the lions had safely crossed over, one of them couldn’t help but wander back onto the road, out of curiosity. This was perhaps the tiniest of them all.
The small lion sat on the road and looked around… a tiny thing with wide eyes and a heart for exploration.
Mother returns to collect cub
However, Mom was having none of it. She came back to the road’s edge and lifted the wee thing up in her jaws. It was straight back into the bushveld for the mischievous cub, with the mother’s jaws providing the vehicle for the cub to be reunited with his brothers and sisters.
The game viewers no doubt spent a while enjoying the special pride. Cubs are rare to witness and these ones were especially young and dependent on their mother.
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