Lions of Sabi Sands

[Tonpa]

Sand River Pride

• Two separate sightings of members of this pride were had on the last day of the month. One lioness with one small cub were south of Charleston Rock, while two lionesses from this pride were south of Trollip’s Camp. With the arrival of the Nkuhlu males in the southern parts of the area this pride has been splintered up with reports of the fractured pride all over Toulon and southern Charleston. The Nkuhlu males have also killed a few lions with their arrival. However, at this stage it is still unclear if these were from the Sand River Pride or the Styx Pride. 
  

Tsalala/Marthly Pride

• The Marthly lioness has kept a low profile this month and was only seen once resting in the Manyeleti River at Kigelia Crossing on the 12th 
  

Torchwood Pride (Breakaway?)

• Four females and seven cubs from this pride and two of the males from the Kruger moved south from Clarendon (30 April) to Fourways open area on the 1st. This was the last confirmed sighting of these lions. However, two other groupings of lions were viewed in eastern MalaMala and Flockfield later in the month that we were unable to identify with certainty. There is always the possibility these lions could be from this pride, but the compositions don’t match what we have come accustomed to seeing. 
  

Black Dam Males

• The Black Dam males have been spending a fair amount of time in the northern parts of MalaMala and have often been seen around the Molwathi river mating with one of the Kambula lionesses.
  

Unknown Pride A -  2 adult lionesses and three male cubs (± 1 YEAR 6 MONTHS)

• A small pride of lions comprising of two adult lionesses, one older lioness and one younger and three young males from two litters around 18 months old appeared around Paddy’s Pools this month. On the 9th they were west of Paddy’s Pools where they chased the Ottawa pack of Cape hunting dogs that walked into them unexpectantly. The Island female was also in the area and its unknown whether the lions had treed her, and she took the gap when the lions were occupied in chasing the Cape hunting dogs. The second sighting of these lions was on the 19th when they were south of Paddy’s Pools. Although we only recorded two sightings of this pride it is more than likely they spent more time in this area after an influx of prey species into this area after a green flush of grass after burning in this area. Initially it was thought this was the Fourways pride. However, these lions were very relaxed with our presence and the Fourways Pride is understandably weary at first.
  

Unknown Pride B - 4 adult females and four cubs (± 5 MONTHS)

• This pride was found on a giraffe kill south of the Kapen River west of the KNP break on the 24th. The pride had come from Paddy’s Pools, and they had been joined by a male. The lions fed on the giraffe until the 28th. At first it was thought these were the lions that had been seen around Paddy’s Pools Compiled by the Rangers of MalaMala Game Reserve previously. However, they were weary of our presence, the three young males were not present and after better views of the lionesses they were not the same lions. The weary behaviour of these lions is more in line with what we are used to with the Fourways pride. 
  

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