African lions drinking. African lioness (Panthera leo) and her cub drinking from a water hole. Lion cubs are kept in hiding for their first 8 weeks. They are weaned between 7 and 10 months, but remain dependent on the pride's adults until around 16 months old. Females remain with their mother's pride but males leave the pride around the age of two and a half years. Photographed in Kenya, in September.