Lions of Timbavati

[Potato]

Tanda Tula update

Well, I sadly didn’t get to catch up with the new face I wanted to see most, and that is the newest member of the River Pride. Just before my return to work the guides had their first sighting of the 6-week-old cub born to the youngest River Pride female, and if I am honest, we were all a little disappointed to hear that there is only the one cub. But as Luke reminded me, one cub is better than no cubs, and with the other young lioness in the pride expected to have her cubs soon (if not already), we will have more on the way. I, in fact, failed to see the River Pride this past week, with the most frustrating moment being when I saw their tracks on our southern boundary one morning, and reported this to Scotch when he came back on drive, and upon checking the same spot in the afternoon, found the whole pride resting in the same place!

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It was however lovely to see the Nharhu males again, even if I caught them on a day that they weren’t enjoying life so much as they were seeking cover from the intermittent rain bursts under some pretty small Guarri bushes. Once the rain passed though, the three brothers reunited, and gave us a wonderful roaring display. It was also good to see the limping male putting some weight on his hind leg again.

The other lion news this week was the surprise arrival in the area of some members of the Western Pride from the northern Timbavati. Three of their five lionesses were seen resting in the Nhlaralumi one day, with tracks for the other two lionesses further east. I can’t recall this pride having come into our concession for many years, if ever. They aren’t the only new faces around, there has also been a small pride of three lions frequenting the western parts of the concession, comprising of a nice male (the Dundee male from northern Klaserie), and two lionesses from what we believe are known as the Balule Pride (also northern Klaserie).  With the Nharhu males spending so much time to the south-east of the concession, it has left a gaping hole in the central and western portions of Tanda Tula, so it is not a big surprise to see some new lions moving in to fill the void. Reply