Lioness in Long Grass

This is a shot taken recently in the Kgalagadu Transfrontier Park on the South African side. This lioness and her two cubs had been with a wildebeest kill she had taken three days previously - she had wedged it into the branches of a fallen camel thorn tree and the three of them relaxed there for a few days. I waited most of that time, but she didn't come near enough for any kind of shot.

On the third day, leading up to the site where she lay were the ominous signs of other lions passing through the area. When I arrived this mother was walking around the dead tree in circles, slowly getting larger and larger - the cubs were nowhere to be seen. Every so often she would call and listen, but nothing happened. Eventually she gave up and wandered off over the dunes...

It's a tough world - even for lions!

The shot obviously doesn't tell any of the story, but I thought a little backing track would be nice

Nikon D700
Sigma 50-500mm @500mm
ISO 400
1/1000s
f7.1

Thanks for looking...