Lions of Timbavati

[Potato]

Tanda Tula update

The latter kill and concurrent vulture activity brought about the sad realisation that the River Pride had indeed moved their den site, as this kill happened right there, and had the lions been anywhere in the area, they would most certainly have come to investigate just what it was that the vultures were after. Combine this to the fact that we haven’t seen any tracks or heard any audio of the pride for the past three days now, and we are a bit stumped as to just where they have moved to!  In fairness, there are only two vehicles driving around most of the time, so it is a difficult task to check all the areas that the lions might be, but we will keep on trying and hope that they show up again soon. I suspect that the lioness may have moved the cubs away from the Machaton Riverbed following the last rains, and with the high potential of some serious flooding next week, this is not a bad move.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

As mentioned last week, the gap left by the River Pride now that they are settled in the east has led to some new lions coming into the area, and we caught up with a young male and young female right on our border with the Klaserie last weekend. The sighting was peaceful at first as the two young lions (we estimate them to be around two and a half) rested after dark, but the local hyena clan must have sensed some inexperience in the lions and soon about a dozen or more hyenas were stamping their dominance all over the lions! The two lions held their ground (and nerve) and managed to keep the hyenas at bay, until the clan members lost interest and moved off.  It was a wonderful sighting to witness if for nothing other than the incredible sounds that these two eternal enemies were emitting!

*This image is copyright of its original author

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