Sunday, January 18, 2009

Kruger Park Lion

The Kruger National Park is one of the most wonderful, peaceful, tranquil places to visit. All you can do is drive around at 30 km (18 miles) per hour, looking for animals (usually the Big 5), go back to the camp at sunset and eat and sleep, to get up again at dawn and do the whole thing all over again.

It is many years since I was there, enjoying those incredible, warm, night time sounds of lions roaring softly, hyenas snuffling in the veld outside the camp and of course, the chirrup, chirrup of the crickets. Music to go to sleep by.

The beauty of the African bush is amazing as you can see from these pics taken by a friend of mine who goes there at least twice a year.


A river in the Kruger Park and a Leopard lazing in a tree

A baobab or upside down tree and Sunset over Sabie

While she was there she also took magnificent photos of a lion ambling across a bridge. He had all the time in the world as he knew that the traffic would stop for him - and he took full advantage. He is, after all, the King of the Jungle.

This is the painting I did of him as he got to the other side - the challenge in his eyes was unmistakable. Luckily there is a whole lot of motor car between the photographer and those teeth.

I must add here, that the likelihood of a lion attacking a human is very remote. But one never takes chances!

16 comments:

sanjeev joshi said...

majestic!! both animal and painting!!

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

So thriling! I have a close friend (another artist) here who returned from SA in November. She spent several days at the park and raved about it. You are so lucky to have such a natural resource nearby.

Marian Fortunati said...

WOW.... You're right... you've got those eyes just pinning you down there don't you.
GREAT job, Liz.

Unknown said...

I hate to sound redundant but "Wow!" you are so blessed to have such inspiring views and sites right in your backyard and talent to capture it.

Carol said...

He is beautiful Liz!!! I love your background too.

Anonymous said...

He's beautiful. I lived in SA for 25 years and never got to visit the Kruger Park. I plan to fix that some time in the near future.
Jean

Art with Liz said...

Hello Sanjeev - thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hi Carol. It's quite a fair bit of travelling time to get to the Kruger but yes, once you're there, as your friend now knows, it's soooo worth it.

Thank you Marian - their eyes are something else! The 'lion stare' looks right into you.

Oh no Sheila! If he was in my backyard I'd run like hell! I know what you mean - although Kruger is quite far from us in CT, we do have other 'reserves' closer to home. Some have lion, some don't. There is a reserve for various buck right on Table Mountain that the working people pass every day on their way to work and back. Now THAT'S on our doorstep!

Thank you Carol, you'll see him 'live' today.

Jean I can sympathise. When you live in a country you don't make the effort to see it's natural wonders, of which the Kruger Park is definitely one. I have two ambitions still - one is to visit the Okavanga Delta in Botswana (one of my favourite countries) and the other is a trip to the Namibian desert. Like you - one day!

rachelsstudio.com said...

Africa is on my very long list of places I MUST see! I love the lion you painted!

Unknown said...

I am sorry for the delayed reply to this! It ended up in my spam folder, somehow....Hey Liz...NICE!!! Very nice! Great job with simplifying the shapes of the values and you handled the foreshortening so well!!!I am totally inspired!

Ramesh Jhawar said...

Magnificent!I liked the touch of orange and yellow in the mane.Also I would like to compliment your photographer friend.Amazing pics!I would like to tell you that the big cats' numbers are dwindling here.I visited the Kaziranga National Park in the north eastern part of my country recently but couldn't spot any tigers or other cats because there are very few of them remaining.And lastly,thanks for your comment on my dog's painting.

Art with Liz said...

Hi Rachel - thank you for your comment. Us Africans are proud of Africa despite all the problems that abound and would love to share it's splendours with you.

Hello Teri, I tried to find out where you were but got an error message when I tried. Thank you so much for your kind words and I hope to get in contact with you soon.

Art with Liz said...

Ramesh I will certainly pass your compliments on to the photographer and thank you for your kind words about my painting. It was taken in the evening setting sun and the colours are quite intense in the original pic.

It is so sad that humans feel the need to rid the land of any creature, let alone an animal as majestic as the tiger. We have unlearned how to live in harmony with nature and now need parks to protect those creatures that are left.

Dianne said...

Wonderful Liz! What a beautifully painted lion, I also like the way you have handled the background.
Love Dianne x x

Art with Liz said...

Welcome back Di, and thank you.

Saundra Lane Galloway said...

Liz, Your animal paintings as well as photos are wonderful. I love the way you see things! I am amazed at the views in Africa...it is probably as close as I will come to seeing it...thanks!!

Art with Liz said...

Thank you Saundra and thanks for visiting. Africa is truly an amazing place, but like any other it can be good and bad. I like to concentrate on its beauty and the diversity of its animals is certainly beautiful.