Lion King

One day, son, you'll be the lion king: Father and newborn son look over their terrain at spot that inspired Disney movie

By Lucy Ballinger
Last updated at 8:04 PM on 9th August 2010

Standing tall this proud lion leads his cub over their home terrain.
His mane streaming back due to the breeze, the father looks over his tiny cub as they stand on a barren rock in Tanzania.
The little cub - just old enough to walk - took his first steps following his father on the Serengeti plains.

Incredible: A male lion shows off his tiny cub on a rock at Simba Kopjes in the Serengeti in Tanzania

In a scene straight out of the Lion King the adult lion stood on a rock overlooking the surrounding region, with his tiny cub beside him.
The picture was taken on the Simba Kopjes, a granite outcropping which the animated Disney film drew inspiration from and is known in the cartoon as Pride Rock.

Inspiration: A scene from Disney movie The Lion King

The movie, which is the highest grossing traditionally animated film in history after making £490million at the box office following its release in 1994, is the story of a cub called Simba, who is heir to the throne.
Everyone is delighted by his birth, except is Scar, King Mufasa's younger brother, who desires the throne for himself.
Scar conspired with a pack of hyenas and and manages to send the young lion to faraway badlands while arranging for Mafusa to be trampled to death so that he can assume the crown.
Years later, having grown up, Simba confronts Scar alone at the top of Pride Rock.
Scar begs Simba for mercy, accusing the hyenas of planning the exile and murder.
Simba prepares to show Scar mercy and exile him, but Scar refuses to give up, and the ensuing fight ends when Simba throws Scar off Pride Rock.
He survives the fall, but is immediately mauled to death by the hyenas, who overheard his treacherous accusations.

New to the world: The lion takes tentative steps as he explores Simba Kopjes, known as Pride Rock in the film

With Scar gone and the hyenas banished, Pride Rock is eventually restored to its previous majesty under Simba's rule.
The film, which was also famous for its score, including Elton John’s Circle Of Life, closes with Rafiki presenting the animals with Simba and Nala's newborn cub.