Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana, Africa

A wildlife photograph features an African lion portrait with his beautiful golden mane with a black stripe. He is placing his head a bit downward with his whiskers on bright display.

copyright Anette Mossbacher, 17 July, 2023

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This photograph was captured with a Canon EOS-1D Mark III and a lens. The following settings were used:

  • Aperture: ƒ/6.3
  • Exposure time: 1/320s
  • ISO: 1000
  • Focal Length: 600mm

The original photograph has the following dimensions: 5338 by 3559 pixels (WxH).

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In that wildlife photograph of an African Lion, you can see his beautiful thick golden mane with a black stripe. He is placing his head downward with his whiskers on a bright display. Indeed, male Lions are lazy. As you can see, he is dozing the day off. The outstanding characteristic of a Lion’s black mane varies between each individual. It might be fantastic long and thick or sparse and scraggly hair. Some Lions even have a mane, which goes down much further on his back compared to a different male. The hair also makes the Lion appear more massive and intimidating. That can deter enemies or urge prospective female mates. In this African Lion portrait photograph, this male is remarkably impressive with a black stripe through his mane.

Lion Facts

A full-grown male lion is about 1.8 – 2.1 meters long, plus a one-meter-long tail on top of that. They assert their dominance and presence by urinating on many surfaces, which leaves a strong smell. They will also rub themselves on trees to transfer their scent. Male Lions we know only help Lionesses to hunt when they seek a larger animal as prey. For smaller prey, they indeed do not move. Undoubtedly that is the Lionesses department!

This photograph of the African Lion portrait shows his whiskers off nicely. The purpose of hair is to help the big cat feel its surroundings. As you can see in this portrait, each whisker has a black dot at the base where the root is.

The Lion, Panthera Leo, is in the category vulnerable in the IUCN red list.

Please enjoy our predator’s photographs or explore the impressive Arctic predator, the Polar bear. My photos of lions you can license photos or purchase as a high-quality fine art print on canvas, acrylic, metal to decorate your home.

This photograph is available to be purchased as a print. We offer our prints as unmounted fine art prints and framed prints that are ready-to-hang on your wall out of the box. Another option is that it can be licensed for personal or commercial use. Just click the add_shopping_cart icon left-hand side above the photo to select your choice.

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1 comment for African Lion Portrait With Closed Eyes

  1. Ruth Koprek

    This lion looks like he’s bracing for a vaccine of some kind. I love the black stripe in his mane. Fabulous lion photograph.

    • Anette Mossbacher

      😀 thanks so much Ruth. This lion was walking through the African bush like on a mission for something. He suddenly stopped rolled a bit in the dirt and had his eyes closed for a power nap. That went on for about 10 – 15 min. before he continued his mission.

      Ciao Anette

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