Lion cubs at sunrise, South Africa

© Ruan Springorum/Getty Images

Sunrise on the savanna

Curious about what it's like to be a lion cub living in the wild? Let's explore their life. African lion cubs like those featured here, sunbathing in the wilderness of South Africa, start life tucked away in a secluded den. Blind at birth, these little ones are vulnerable in the first few weeks of their lives and depend entirely on their mothers. At around 8 weeks old, they meet the rest of the pride and learn to socialize so they can find their place in the group. After they hit 6 months, they begin to go out hunting with adults, learning essential skills through real-life adventures.

Lions enter adolescence around 2 years old, and they reach maturity by 3 or 4. At this point, young males leave their mothers and group with other males, while females remain to hunt and breed in the same pride. For the lion cubs in today's image, their early experiences will lay the foundation for their place in the wild.