Lions of Sabi Sands

[Tonpa]

Marthly Pride

• The Marthly lioness was enjoyed on three days this month. On Christmas Eve, she was north of the Airstrip. On Christmas Day, she was at Marthly Crossing. The last time she was seen for the year was on the 29th when she was at Elephant Rock Lookout.
  

Sand River Pride

• MalaMala’s most stable pride were only viewed on one day this month. The area of their territory is in the southern reaches of MalaMala, and with 90 other lion sightings recorded for the month, there was little urgency to make the expedition to find this pride. The presence of a new coalition of six males also appeared to keep members of this pride away from central and western Charleston for the first 10 days of the month. On the day they were seen, the 24th, they made it worthwhile by killing an impala ewe in the Sand River, at Ingwe Donga.
  

Torchwood Pride

• Four lionesses with eight cubs were seen on the 10th, southeast of Clarendon Dam. The second, and final time members of this pride were seen was on the 16th, when six members were north of Clarendon Dam. 
  

Other Lions Encountered: 
• Six male lions made their debut on MalaMala on the 4th. The NKUHLU MALES, rumoured to be a coalition of 9, hail from the Kruger National Park. They were seen on Charleston on the 4 th and 5th, and then on Toulon on the 7th . 
• Three unknown young males were seen on the 14th. Two were together north of the Nwana Nonashemeni Donga. The other attempted to hunt buffalo at Paraffin Drift. 
• Three lionesses and five cubs from the STYX PRIDE were at Pole in the Road on the 17th. One female and one cub were at Trollip’s Camp on the 22nd . 
• The BLACK DAM MALES made their first appearance on MalaMala on the 19th, when they were west of Mlowathi Dam. On the 22nd, 23rd, and 25th, they were at Clarendon Dam. They were at the Old Borehole on the 30th and killed a buffalo bull in this area on the 31st . 
• An NO ID female was at Buffalo Pans on the 28th, she was shy of vehicles Reply