Dandylion mug

The Dandylion (not to be confused with the humble, yet valuable dandelion) has a penchant for the finer things in life – wining and dining and trendy, yet somewhat foppish accessories.

Unlike his wilder counterpart, who’s rather an egotistical bugger and swears by “treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen”, the Dandylion is a bit of a softy. He likes to shower his conquests with freshly picked flowers, expensive wines and concert tickets.

About our LESSER SPOTTED AFRICAN WILDLIFE latte mugs:

This is what you get with each mug, you lucky person, you!:

• ○ 12oz (350ml) unique Lesser Spotted African Wildlife cone-shaped latte mug
• ○ Premium grade ceramics with scratch-resistant finish
• ○ Dishwasher- and handwash-friendly
• ○ Microwave-safe
• ○ Individually hand-made in Cape Town
• ○ The ideal gift for a friend, family member or loved one – or for you

*Please don’t scrub hard with bleach and a scourer, even if you’re a die-hard germaphobe (true story) – treat your Dandylion mug gently and it’ll give you years of pleasure and amusement.

ALL ABOUT Lions:

The lion, king of the jungle, king of the beasts and a keystone apex predator of the Big Five, is of the gloriously and regally named species ‘Panthera leo’! It’s the only big cat species to live in large, sociable and permanent family groups. They’re the second largest cats in the world and are only outsized by tigers.

Our friend, the Dandylion, fancies himself amongst the best of them.

You’re more than likely to spot them in the Kruger, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park and prefer savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands. If you live in Marloth, or are brave enough to vist there, your chances of a close-up meeting with one at any time are really high!

KEY TRAITS:

Best known for: The king of the jungle stuff, their manes and how scary they are. They kill 200 to 250 people each year! And their terrifying roars, which can be heard as far as 8km away.

Size and appearance: Adult males weigh between 180 and 250kg and are about 1.2m high (their shoulders). Lionesses are smaller and more agile and usually weigh from 118 to 150kg. Their magnificent manes (unique to males), protects their necks during fights and signal health and testosterone levels to the females. The darker the mane, the more attractive he is to the lionesses.

Lifespan: Males typically live for 10 to 12 years in the wild and females 15 to 16 years. Males’ lifespan is shorter because of territorial fights. In captivity, they can live 25 to 30 years.

Social Structure: Prides generally consist of two to 12 females (related to each other, their cubs and a few males. They sleep and rest for up to 20 hours day to conserve energy.

Their Diet: They’re fearless carnivores and so are highly likely to want to eat you if they’re hungry (maybe even if they’re not hungry). They usually eat wildebeest, zebra, buffalo and gemsbok and the females do most of the hunting. They’re also prolific scavengers and often nick a large proportion of their meals from hyenas.

Breeding: Females gestate for about 3.5 months and their litters usually cost of one to four cubs, who are spotted at birth, for camouflage.

Spoor Description: They leave large, heavy tracks with their four toe pads and a large, three-lobed heel pad. As their claws are retractable, they can’t be seen in the tracks, unless the lion was running or pouncing at the time.

Collect the full set of 12 Lesser Spotted African Wildlife mugs and give your family and friends an inspirational topic for filling awkward silences.