Lion tales

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The Sand River pride recent history

The Toulon reign
During the latter years of the Toulon males’ reign, the lionesses didn’t mate with the males – we can only assume that instinct told them it could be counterproductive as the Toulon males were getting old and would soon be overthrown by stronger male lions and the pride would simply lose the cubs later.

*This image is copyright of its original author

The Mantimahle reign
Enter the Mantimahle male lions, a coalition of 5 male lions who began extending their territory into our concession and took over the Sand River Pride. During this time the pride moved into the Kruger National Park, spending more time deeper within the new males’ territory where their cubs would be better protected. It would be 18 months before we saw the Sand River Pride again.

*This image is copyright of its original author

What do guides mostly talk about in discussions with one another?


We speak of sightings we dream of and lion dynamics we wish to unfold! We had been dreaming for ages of taking our guests to the east of our reserve and finding this pride of lions.

One morning, when exploring the far flung eastern reaches of the reserve we came upon a large number of lion tracks – males, lionesses, sub-adults, and cubs – their tracks covered the entire road. We spent a heart-racing 30 minutes tracking these lions – could this finally be the return of the Sand River Pride?

We suddenly heard impalas distress calling. Ahead of us, we noticed the back of male lion melting into the bushes nearby. As we returned with our guests in the safari vehicle, there they were – 20 lions! 5 male lions, 4 lionesses, and 12 cubs. The lions caught an impala ram as we arrived and we were awe-struck as they demolished their prize – ripping, growling, clambering, fighting and living up to all the hype and expectations that we guides had placed on them.

Exit the Mantimahle

In the months following, we saw the Sand River pride once every 3 weeks or so as the cubs grew old enough to travel longer distances, and the pride began to utilise their old territory on our concession. The Mantimahle males disappeared, never to be seen again. The lionesses of the pride all had cubs, and it would be at least a year before any could mate again.

Exposed and vulnerable

The Sand River Pride became an unlucky pride who got left behind as the adult males pursued new ventures.


The pride was now exposed with no dominant males. Males don’t only keep other male lions at bay, they also provide indirect protection whilst feeding at kills – hyenas are less likely (if not completely unlikely) to approach a carcass whilst male lions are nearby, as a larger lion could easily kill a hyena.


With only the lionesses to protect them, a few cubs perished. Then the two older lionesses (15 years of age) disappeared, leaving only two adults. Soon the pride had only two adults and nine sub-adult lions left (males and females). If only the lionesses could keep the pride away from male lions until the youngsters came of age but it was not to be.

Enter the Avoca

The Avoca male lions took over the Sand River Pride and chased all remaining sub-adult lions away leaving only two females – and so the once mighty Sand River Pride was diminished from its peak at twenty lions to a vulnerable pride of two.

*This image is copyright of its original author

A pride of two

With only two lionesses, it has been much harder for them to provide the reliable protection which the cubs would receive in a larger pride. As a result, only a single cub from one of the lioness’ litter of four has survived so far, and the other lost her entire litter.

However, there is a light on the horizon – one of the sub-adult lionesses has rejoined the pride, and the dominant males seem to be comfortable with her. This is fantastic news! The addition of another pride member will improve the protection afforded to any new litters of cubs, and if the lioness can bear cubs herself, she could help rebuild this once formidable pride of lions.

*This image is copyright of its original author

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