Tanzanian Safari Journal

Serengeti National Park: Drama at the Waterhole

lioness and hartebeest by mwilkinson

Drama at the Waterhole

kori bustard by mwilkinson If one watches closely at a waterhole, interesting things are sure to reveal themselves. In the late afternoon, near the Seronera we paused for some time near a waterhole. At first it was a typical sight, hartebeest were drinking from the pool, a lappet-faced vulture hopped around, kori bustard paced through the brush, and warthog were wallowing in the mud.

lioness skulking hartebeest

cokes hartebeest by mwilkinson

Then we noticed ears poking up in the tall grass behind the waterhole. The unmistakable ears of a lioness skulking. She would peek up above the grass, then disappear. Moments later she would reappear in a new position, closer to the hartebeest. As she moved closer we thought we would get to see an attack. The hartebeest were completely unaware for some time, but suddenly they startled and moved away from the waterhole. Had they smelled the lioness? Her prey now wary, the lioness remained still and hidden in the tall grass, awaiting a new chance.

Text and Photographs by Wild Ones Director Michael Wilkinson

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