Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Potato]

Singita KNP update

The Shish Pride has formed the bulk of our lion sightings this month and has been viewed regularly in an area just to the north and west of the lodges. It seems as though the original five cubs (six months old) and the other three cubs (three months old) have been permanently moved away from their den sites found along the granophyre ridges east of Lebombo. On the morning of the 26th, the pride introduced us to two more additions, taking the total of cubs to 10. The pride has been found on a few kills this month and is thriving with the two Trichardt males.


The Trichardt males have been spending the majority of their time with the Shish Pride and have therefore been keeping a large presence in the southern parts of their territory. They have pushed up to the central parts of the concession but only for a day or two at a time before making their way straight back south. These males have come into their own and are probably in the best physical condition they have ever been in. One standout sighting from the month was when the males had caught wind of the Mananga Pride and we watched as these males intently trailed the pride's scent until they eventually gained sight of the lionesses moving swiftly out of the area. The males closed the gap on the pride and managed to sneak up on the oldest lioness who was struggling to keep up with the rest. The males attacked her repeatedly but fortunately, she submitted immediately and the attacks weren’t as harmful as initially appeared. The scuffle ended and they all settled down only a few meters apart from one another.

The Maputo male and his new coalition partner, who have now collectively been named the Maputo coalition, have been seen on a few occasions in the north-central and north-western parts of the concession. They seem set on taking over this large vacant territory which comes with access to the Mananga Pride. They have often been heard vocalizing in response to the calls of the larger N’wanetsi male coalition and were observed one morning trailing and chasing four of the N’wanetsi males in the very far northern reaches of the concession.

The Mananga Pride was seen several times throughout the month although in various portions of differing compositions. The coalition dynamics in the north between the Maputo males and N’wanetsi males have had this pride split up and on the run for some time now and we think it will still be some time before things settle down again for this pride. A very welcome surprise however came one morning when 14 members were found together (the largest portion we’ve seen for a few months) along with the last surviving Shish male! The guiding team had all thought he had either disappeared out of the area for good or had been killed and so it was great to see him again looking in fairly good condition as well.

The coalition of six who we have managed to identify as five members of the N’wanetsi Pride and a much older male who is the last surviving Sweni male have kept a continuous presence in the north-western sections of the concession. They are often heard vocalizing in the north or just to the west of the concession and when found are normally around Gudzane Dam. The young males seem to be growing in confidence day by day and we have seen one of the N’wanetsi males and the Sweni male mating with lionesses from the Mananga Pride. They do however seem to be down to only five members now as the last few sightings towards the end of the month have only consisted of four young N’wanetsi males and the Sweni male.

On the morning of the 23rd, seven members from the Mananga Pride and the old Sweni male were found feeding on a large giraffe bull carcass. That afternoon, the Maputo coalition chased all eight off and fed on the carcass. The next morning, four of the Mananga lionesses were together with the Maputo coalition feeding on the carcass and continued to do so for the rest of the day. The following morning the Sweni male and four younger N’wanetsi males were feeding on the carcass with a further four large unknown male lions further south of their position.

What happened next was incredible – with the old Sweni male having already moved off to digest his meal, the four larger males chased the four younger N’wanetsi males off the carcass and continued to do so for a few kilometres. After everything had settled down, we returned to find the old Sweni male feeding on the carcass. Having located the two Trichardt males earlier in the day, that took the total of male lions for the morning to 11. A fantastic morning safari! Reply