Lion Directory

[Leo Aslan]

Lions of Africa - Ntwadumela (1 male) 80´s-1991
Chobe National park - Botswana
Ranger report: Savuti’s legendary Lion King
...There was once a majestic male Lion in Savuti, Botswana called 'Ntwadumela' what a magnificent animal he was. One of two brothers who reigned over the Central Pride in Savuti national park in northern Botswana. The name Ntwadumela in local language means (He Who Greets with Fire). The Lion was so named because of a peculiar and pointed disposition which ensured that once he set his mind to 'kill' and destroy an enemy, it got decimated! For this reason, Ntwadumela was also known as the 'Hyena killer' - not the least because he had an intense dislike for the uncomely creature and would go out of his way to kill them! It goes without saying therefore that Ntwadumela was greatly respected and feared by Hyenas in the territory. In the course of his life, Ntwadumela, was documented to have killed over 36 hyenas!
This was a lion, but not just any lion. His name means " he who greets with fire ", and he was known as "The Hyena Killer". Ntwadumela gained worldwide fame in a documentary called Eternal enemies some years ago about the eternal battle between lions and hyenas.
"He was smaller than his coalition partner/brother Mandevu, but he was still the most beautiful lion I've ever seen. With other lions in his pride he was laid-back, even deferential, and yet he took his duties as hunter and protector very seriously. He had terrific instincts for maintaining the balance of power in disputes and he took extraordinary risks to defend himself and his pride.
Ntwadumela's tour de force style had him charging a raging bull elephant at a watering hole, making a habit of challenging buffalo, and harassing the pride's most able competitors. That qualifies as leading a remarkably brave life, especially in a place where one terrible injury most often results in certain, agonizing death.
Ntwadumela and his brother Mandevu reigned confidently with their pride for several years, before they were ousted by a coalition of younger male lions coming into their prime.
Ntwadumelu and Mandevu like most ousted lions in Savuti, wondered northward from one territory to the next, through a network of territories that eventually requires these older lions to cross a government sanctioned hunting ground.
Trophy-hunters killed both of the long-reigning lions, as they moved from one protected reserve to another in 1991.
"I know that wherever Ntwadumela's skin hangs, on a wall somewhere in the U.S.A., perhaps, the new owners have no idea of the life that this lion lived. The daily heroics, the matings, the battles with elephants and buffalo, and, of course, his almost nightly vendettas against hyenas can never be seen on his fading skin." (written by Dereck Joubert)

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