Lions of Timbavati

[Timbavati]

Tanda Tula update

I was only on drive for a few of the days this week, but it was a week filled with the big cats in the eastern parts of Tanda Tula’s concession, with the River Pride being the main attraction throughout the week.  As mentioned, they moved north along the Machaton Riverbed over the past few weeks and seem to have settled very nicely into the area with the three little cubs doing very well.  They seem to be having far greater hunting success in the area, and this is not surprising as having been based further south for the past three months left very few general game species in that area. So, the move to old hunting grounds around the biggest body of water in the east (Machaton Dam) was almost necessary, and it paid off handsomely. The pride had finished a wildebeest the day before I got back, and then two days later they were found fat-bellied at Machaton Dam, having eaten during the night once more. To end things off, when we followed up the next morning, the pride was located with a massive male kudu kill just east of camp that kept them feeding for another day and a half before they returned once again to Machaton Dam.

Even when the whole pride wasn’t at the dam, the oldest lioness was found on most days mating with the two Nharhu males – first it was the cut-nosed male, but she didn’t look overly interested in him, but once the limping male took over, their mating activity intensified greatly. There has been no further word on the sickly Nharhu male, but one morning whilst sitting with the mating pair (while the limping Nharhu was at the kudu kill to the west), another male lion could be heard roaring in the east. The mating lions looked in that direction, but didn’t react at all, which made both Glen and I wonder if this roaring was possibly coming from the third male – the same male I had been telling my guests was likely dead! Time will tell if he returns, but I am still doubtful. With the River Pride being so much more central – and vocal – this week, our other prides that have been looking to establish themselves were far less in evidence. Although the Balule females had reunited with the Dundee male the week before, there was no sign of them this week. The Sark breakaway pride were seen further west within our concession, and members of the Giraffe Pride were reported on three occasions this week, the last time seemingly in the company of the Sumatra male lion following the unfortunate find of a dead male lion in the far west that is presumed to be the non-limping Monwana male. If this is the case, the injured Monwana male would be unlikely to keep these two larger, stronger males at bay and there might be yet another change of guardianship of the Giraffe Pride females. Reply