She's Just Like You, Only Hairier and With Sharper Teeth

I believe I've mentioned one or two or 18 times that, at the end of our trip to Uganda last month, we went on a weekend safari.  It was the experience of a lifetime. 

It turns out that the big prize in a Ugandan safari is the chance to see a lion.  They're hard to spot.  Our guide told us that our particular lodge often went two weeks without a lion spotting. 

We saw ten.

Our first lion encounter was along the banks of the Nile.  A mother and her six young cubs yawned and rested sleepily in the grass, barely noticing us gaping at them a mere 50 feet away. 

As we stood there in our safari vans, watching the mother with her babies, I was struck at how universal the motherhood experience is.  Even across species, so much of what we do is getting our tribe from point a to point b without anyone forgetting their lunch money or getting sniped by big-game hunters.  You know, the usual stuff.

 

Poor girl.  I could totally relate.

(Gorgeous photos courtesy of Keely Scott.  Cheesy doctoring courtesy of me.)      

Comments

[Greta]

How cool to see all those lions?! And the Nile?! I'm only slightly jealous - and it's a healthy jealousy...really, it is. My fav is the, obviously, teenage daughter. Too cute.

[Mommy Cracked]

LOL! That's so cute. How amazing to be right there.

[Anna]

I had a moment there. THE NILE! Man.
I really, really love the cartoon bubbles. I think I will use them the next time I'm out with the kids.
My favorite part, since Greta shared hers, is when they're sitting in the middle of the road.

[Melanie]

My in-laws will love this!

[Melanie]

PS. We are totally reading between the Lions. Snort.

[Amanda]

So funny! Motherhood is universal.

[Kristen @ We are THAT family]

You and Keely did a VERY fine job.

[Kathy in WA]

Loved it!! Too funny. Great captions. Isn't motherhood the same everywhere.

Dh wrote a long post about budgeting, saving and credit cards. He seems to be sincerely asking for input (still shocked here) and I'd love to know if you have any insight into the topic. Blogs? Books? Helpful thoughts.

Stop by and help the discussion. We might actually figure out this whole saving and budgeting thing.

Duckabush Blog

[Judy]

My uncle went on Safari many moons ago and said it is an experience everyone should have. Simply beautiful.

[Jennifer]

Only problem is Mommy is in charge of slaying the antelope also. Daddy is probably off sleeping somewhere. That seems to be the only thing male lions do.
Smiles!

[Jenny]

What fun that looks like from my chair in Georgia, maaybe not so much in person!

Thanks for the fun!

[Jeana]

"Look, Mom, one of them is wearing a fun-dana! I WANT A FUN-DANA."

Baby lions. Awww...

[Linda Sue]

A mother's work is never done - and you sure make it funnier than the average nature guides. You and Sophie need to do a book on nature - you know - monkey alarm systems, lioness subtitling, and most importantly how to dress for steep uphill hikes. I love Jeana's comment about the Fundana - glad Sophie couldn't understand lioneese talk or she might have felt a bit like a potential for up close and far too personal!

[Summer]

Lol!

[Richelle F]

That's awesome. You should do the commentary for a documentary! :)

[Sheila Gregoire]

When we were in Kenya we went on two safaris, and I will never forget them.

BUT WE NEVER SAW A LION! AAAH!

We did see about a million flamingoes. At one time. You know whenever you watch movies of Africa there's always a scene at a lake covered in flamingoes, and then they all take off? We saw it. The actual lake. That was cool.

So were the rhinos. And we saw baby ones. It's so neat to see stuff that's endangered actually multiplying.

So for the rest of you--if you're ever in Africa and you have the chance, go on safari. Even if it breaks the bank. You'll never regret it!

Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!

[Amy]

"Hey look Mom, tourists!! Can I keep one, pleeeassseeee?"

[Michelle]

Awesome! I think I like the title the best. I've shown my daughter some of the photos on your blog from Africa. She's 4 and according to her, she apparently is now attending school in Africa. When I said, "Oh that is really far away." She said she dug a hole for a shortcut. Keep that in mind for your next trip.

[Liz]

ROFL - I'm loving the "works for you" balloon

[Bonnie]

Those are hilarious! Great pictures too - the cubs are so cute!

[Danna]

"or, just park yourselves in the middle of the road." hee hee hee

[Jenni]

Oh, she is SO beautiful! And I loved the commentary. Anthropomorphizing at its finest.

It must have been such a trip to be viewing all of them with no fence between you all. Can't imagine!

[Kim]

I don't know, looks like a field trip to me! Ever tried taking 30 10 year-olds anywhere with no parent help? I have. It isn't pretty.

Pretty amazing in what those shots are though! I love how they really do seem to catch the relationship between the cats. Even without the "cheezy doctoring". : )

[Damsel]

Hi-stinkin-larious!!!

[Tootie]

Ha! You should start your own comic strip. Loved it!

[suburbancorrespondent]

Ha! This made me laugh - the universal experience of motherhood...

[Raising Country Kids]

After living my entire life on a ranch, I can attest that motherhood is just as frustrating for animals as it sometimes is for humans. Our cows are constantly hollering at their calves when they run too fast, crawl on things they should avoid, and play with naughty calves that are bad influences. It cracks me up.

[Kelly @ Love Well]

"But Mom, they won't run over us! Bobby told us we're ENDANGERED!"

[Christine @ Serenity How?]

That is so cute. I really enjoyed it. Cheesy doctoring? I don't think so. LOL! :-)

[Reynie]

That is hysterical! Love it. Poor Moms everywhere!

[Kara S.]

So I thought your post was hilarious with the comments and then I read some of the above additions. Hehehe. :)

[Kara S.]

So I thought your post was hilarious with the comments and then I read some of the above additions. Hehehe. :)

[Kellyn]

I love your commentary! Such great shots!

[gretchen from lifenut]

It's debatable who's hairier, but she's got me on the teeth.

[Cousin Matt]

That kind of luck must run in the family! I believe I saw a similar number in the Serengeti, feeding on a buffalo, stalking gazelle, walking next to our Land Rover, and two different pairs mating, though no cubs. They are such muscled animals for being so lazy...

[Kathleen]

I've been reading your site for about a month now -- I found it a few weeks before you went to Africa. I visit often and find your posts funny, touching and compelling. Thanks for sharing...BTW, love the lion commentary. What an amazing Creator we have!

Kathleen

[DeAnna]

I can TOTALLY relate!!! What we moms have to endure on a daily basis with our youngsters no matter how many we have at the moment.

[Shalee]

Awesome, Shannon! Just utterly beautiful and inspiring. You make me want to head out to the zoo...

[CheriBeri from Multiply]

I, too, had a "Nile moment." Unbelievable. I'd want to stair aimlessly at it, too. Thanks for the lovely pictures!

[Sally]

Yes, you're so right about the motherhood experience being universal, no matter what species!!
Awesome photos!!

[bee]

"Or just park yourselves in the middle of the road..."
You crack me up!

[Jenn]

Thanks for the smiles today. My daughters loved the pics, I loved your comments!

[Sara Bowyer]

that was hilarious and just the laugh I needed today!!! Thanks!

[pam]

Dad was in the middle of a spa day, I believe. Mama Lion, while taking care of the kids is essential, also has the responsibility for hunting, killing, and bringing home the bacon, I mean antelope. A woman's work is never done . . . regardless of the species.

[Marian]

Fun =)

[Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama]

LOL! That's an awesome narrative. I always wondered what lionesses thought...now I know!

[nottryingforaboy]

wow, beautiful.
(and love the captions!)

[Linda at 2nd cup]

I'm a big fan of cheesy doctoring, as you put it.

[Sarah (Real Life)]

Love that last picture. They look so cuddly - until they tear your arm off! Love the captions, too.

[Proverbs31]

LOL! It's a lot like a trip to the grocery store, right?

"Keep walking, kids, keep walking."

"Follow the basket please!"

"Young lady, you-just-grab-ahold-of-the-side-of the-basket-and-you-don't-let-go!"

"Get up out of the middle of the aisle, it's not a bed!"
"Or a swimming pool."
"Or an appropriate place for a tempter tantrum."
"Not that temper tantrums are ever appropriate."

*sigh*

:D Loved the captions. :D

[Anna]

That has got to be one of the funniest things I have seen today!

Thanks so much for the laugh!

[Jill]

Apparently you have not yet witnessed my legs in the winter. I could give that lioness a run for her money.

[jen]

Awesome post - thanks for the laughs! I especially like the first pic/caption!

[Jodi]

That is too funny. I can totally relate to Mom Lion there. Today I had to take both of my sons to the grocery store with me. Usually I draw the line at one and today was a good example of why. I came very close to uttering the 'tail nuzzling' comment in the store only mine involved the shopping cart he insisted on pushing and the backs of my ankles. Very little makes me more nervous than a young boy pushing a shopping cart directly behind me. I'm constantly braced for the impact.

On another note - reading the Uganda blogs once again stirred my long-held desire to sponsor a child and this time I did it! You can visit my blog if you'd like to see our Compassion child. Not in Uganda - although I was sure we would choose one from there - but my husband and I were drawn to this child in Tanzania. I'm learning Swahili now!

Kwa heri!

[Shannon]

Ooo, I just want to cuddle those lion cubs in the last pic, they are so cute!

Why yes, I do like cats, why do you ask?

[edj]

LOL

[Chaos-Jamie]

Love the cheezy doctoring! I needed that laugh.