Lionesses are firm believers in team work when it comes to hunting and raising cubs. The only social wild cats, lions live in prides of between 10 and 30. For mothers, this means they can help each other out with babysitting, suckling and defending their young ones.

The five lionesses of Ol Pejeta's Eastern Pride had their paws full back in 2011, when they had 11 lively cubs between them. Lionesses with cubs in the same creche will often nurse each other’s young; giving first priority to their own, followed by the cubs of their closest relatives.

The 9 males and 2 females spent four years with their mothers, until finally in 2015, they decided to fly the nest together. Leaving behind their somewhat relieved mothers, the new pride, dubbed 'The Royal Boys' pride, moved to the southern sector of the Conservancy and established their own territory. Here are some photos of their journey: