Sunlit Notch

On part of a photographic trip with Jonathan Scott, we had been enthralled by a stand-off with Tamu and two of the Marsh Pride females.

Tamu, who had a previous dalliance with Notch, and her cubs were nearby a kill which the Marsh Pride females had smelled in the air and had wandered over to investigate. When the females got closer you could feel the tension as they spotted Tamu and her cubs. The cubs sensed all was not well and stayed very close to their mother. The two females sat and surveyed the scene for a few minutes and then one got up and headed off to the kill. Tamu was playing safe with her cubs a short distance away.

As we were all watching the scene the master, Notch, had decided to come and check out what was happening. No-one knew what was going to happen next. We watched as Notch, highlighted by the late afternoon sun, came to check out what was happening. His presence alone seemed to calm the whole situation down. Tamu and the cubs greeted him affectionately and showed he was undoubtedly the father of her cubs.

Photographed in 2006 in the Masai Mara, Kenya.