Lions of Sabi Sands

[Tonpa]

Lions

• The biggest news this month is the death of the Styx male lion (who was partnered with the Nkuhuma male forming the Nwalungu males). Sadly on the 14th August, this male was found dead at a pan in the southern parts of our property. The cause of his death is thought to be from wounds he attained after he and the Nkuhuma male stole a wildebeest kill from the Mhangeni pride the previous day.
• The Nkuhuma male is looking in good condition and we’ve seen him quite a lot this month. He was located at a sodic area south of the river with a new male lion to the area. This newcomer was later identified as one of the males from the Black Dam Pride from Thornybush. This interaction seemed relaxed as both lions seemed unchallenged and adequately happy in each other’s presence. However, this was a brief engagement and the new male hasn’t been sighted since.
• The Mhangene pride have been roaming throughout the property still avoiding any male lions. They’re being sighted in the south and also north of the Sand River. The pride comprises of six lionesses, a year-old sub adult female and a five-month-old cub, also thought to be female.
• The Tsalala females have been seen a lot this month and seem to be settling along the Sand River. One very exciting sighting was seen from Boulders Lodge deck where the two lionesses were stalking waterbuck in the river. As these females gave chase, a group of twelve buffalo bulls chased them away from their prize and they were left to try another day.
• There is definitely a big shift happening with young males on our property and sightings have increased. The two Plains Camp males have been settling in the north this month, seen once chasing the Tsalala females.
• Two sub-adults (young male and female) from the Othawa break-away pride have also been roaming through the land.
  

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