Help, there's a lion in the tree!
Lions don't usually climb trees. Unlike many cat species they stick to terra firma. However, the lions in Lake Manyara and neighboring Tarangire National Park deviate from the usual lion behavior.
The river provides water all year round, enabling palm trees to grow on its banks |
Every guidebook or website about Lake Manyara mentions its 'tree-climbing lions'. Thus, our expectations were high when we visited the park. But no matter how closely we looked at the trees, there wasn't a lion in sight. Tarangire is not as well known for its tree-lions as Manyara, yet it is here where luck is with us once again.
A large thunderstorm is brewing in the east |
Late afternoon, after a lazy few hours at the poolside, we set out on a sunset game drive. Yahaya takes us to the southern section of the park, the Nguselororobi area, a swampy marsh area. We admire the dark thunderstorm that contrasts starkly against the green grass of the swamp. The color of the grass is so bright that it is almost painful to look at.
The presence of a parked van always means there's something to see... but what? |
A little further down the road, we notice several vans. Something must be up.
Literally.
Four female lions are relaxing on a horizontal branch of the tree. Here is the proof: tree-climbing lions are not a myth concocted by clever businesspeople who want to bring more tourists to Tanzania. These are real, full-color, with the sound of flies buzzing about our heads and the smell of ozone heavy in the air.
Someone forgot to tell these ladies that lions don't belong in trees |
Two cubs are play-hunting nearby, barely visible in the high reeds. Another pair of lions, members of the same pride, approach from the marsh. They look up the tree and one of the females is bold enough to try the climb. From the clumsy way she makes her way onto the branch it is obvious that these animals are really not supposed to be doing this.
Nobody has found a scientific explanation for the strange urge of the Manyara/Tarangire lions to climb trees. The best guess is that it's because the trees are easy to climb and allow the lions to get away from biting flies or herds of buffaloes and elephants.
The single branch isn't really big enough to accommodate five of the large cats. Each female can weigh up to 150 kgs and they take up a lot of space. There is some awkward shifting going on, and lions climbing on top of one another in search of a better spot. One of the lionesses looses her balance, eliciting a startled 'Oh' from the spectators. But she quickly regains it and moves back into position.
Lions are social animals... honest! |
The latest arrival still hasn't found a comfortable position. Desperate, she turns around and slowly backs up until her behind is firmly pushed into the face of the lion behind her.
Lions spend most of their day sleeping, while they hunt at night |
This one, however, isn't so easily budged. It takes several long minutes and slow but insistent pushing from the first lion before she gives in. At long last, all five lions have found a comfortable space on the branch.
It is hard not to laugh out loud at the predators' antics. Not to mention the fact that the dangling legs and tails are quite a funny sight. But the lions don't care. Comfortable again, they simply ignore the humans watching them.
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