Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Ngonya]

(09-14-2022, 05:03 PM)Brahimlegend Wrote: Singita Kruger Report August 2022

This month has been an incredible month for lion viewing. 

•The Mananga Pride continues to produce great sightings. The larger portion of 16 members, has continued to search far and wide for prey. They are focusing on the large herd of buffalo that have been moving through our concession. They have been viewed attempting to bring down buffalo on a few occasions, in an almost never-ending “cat and mouse game” they have trailed the herd all night and then spent the day resting, almost in view of the herd, then once the sun begins to set, they follow again. They had success bringing down a large buffalo bull that was split from the herd, north of the dam. The entire pride gorged themselves on the bull, including the Shish males. It was a spectacle to remember with all 26 members of the pride finishing the carcass in less than 24 hours! The smaller portion of the pride, the two females and six cubs, are seen in and around the Gudzane Dam area, and the cubs are growing well.

•The Trichardt male lions have continued to be seen in the southern parts of the concession, mainly along the N’wanetsi River. They have been mating with the Shish females and, on one occasion, they were seen mating near the lodge entrance! They brought down a big buffalo bull shortly after sunset during the middle of the month. The buffalo struggled with the two big males for almost an hour until he took his last breath. The males were joined in the following days by some of the Shish females and, incredibly, even the old Kumana male lion - very unusual behaviour. These Trichardt males do seem to have asserted themselves as the controlling territorial lions in the south, however, the Shish females were seen mating with a rival coalition of three lions from the west. These three males were seen marking territory, calling and looking for the Trichardt males. Once they found them a fight ensued, separating the two Trichardt males, and they gave chase into the mountains. There did not seem to have been any blood spilled during the day-long altercation and the intruders were seen far west along the H6 during the following days.

•The Mountain Pride continues to be elusive. They were found in the far north-east feeding on the remains of a buffalo, and they seem to be spending some time in Mozambique.
The Kumana and Maputo males were seen not far from the Mountain Pride. Initially hopes were that they had joined the Mountain Pride however, both males have seen separated further south towards the last days of the month.

Picture of when 3 of the 7 Satara males chased Trichardt males recently by Rudi Hulshof.

Those in the picture are the Satara or the Trichardt? Reply