The Matimba coalition

[sik94]

(05-15-2018, 01:11 AM)sundarbans Wrote: Looking for a little history lesson on the Matimbas. I don't seem to know much about their life, especially the northern ones since they were not in the Sabi Sands. I know there was a dominant male called Nduna, who eventually split off and stayed alone with a pride in the Kruger. I guess he disappeared a few years ago, probably died of old age or killed by rivals since one male is easy to pick off. Not sure if this info is entirely correct so would love it if someone gave further clarification.

Two of the three Northern Matimbas were Slit Nose and White Face but I don't know what the third was called. I heard all 3 are now dead but not sure if there is any documentation of that. From various sources, I have read that these northern Matimbas were part of fights that sound legendary. Apparently they defeated a coalition of 7(!) lions known as the Orpen Males, 5 males of the Giraffe coalition (any relation to the current Avoca/Giraffe coalition in Timbavati?) and the 4 Machaton Males. If I am not wrong they also killed the brothers of both Skorro and Sizanani from the Thanda Impi coalition. Is there anywhere I can find more information about these exploits? And the name of the third male and their inter-coalition dynamics would be great too.

Hairy Belly and Ginger are obviously the most well documented males and certainly have been around longer than their brothers. Are they perhaps younger or were they just better at surviving? And finally, does anyone know which pride was their natal pride?

I think it were the selaties who split the matimbas. The selaties were dominant over the talamati pride around the time the birminghams first showed up in sabi sands. I think the area up in ngala, orpen, and timbavati has a lot of competition. The skybeds, the avoca+giraffe coalition, and other large coalitions have all had a go with the northern matimbas at one point or another, its quite remarkable that the three northern matimbas held on until 2016. 

HB is actually one of the older matimbas excluding nduna, ginger is one of the younger if not the youngest matimba. The southern matimbas have probably not had to fight as often or face relentless pressure from other coalitions as much as the northern brothers, hence have survived this long. Reply