Lions of Timbavati

[Potato]

Tanda Tula update

It was our lions that were most absent this week, the River Pride kept on heading back east every time they returned to our concession.  After following them to our eastern boundary one evening, we got news that they had killed a big male kudu some distance north-east of us but knowing that the closest water was within our concession, we followed up the next day and fortunately found the pride resting near the water.  Surprisingly though, that evening, the pride got up and walked straight back east.  My only explanation for this behaviour is that this was where the pride came from after there was evidence of some sort of fight, and with the old lioness having not been seen since then, perhaps the pride keep returning east to look for her?

The Nharhu males made a reappearance later in the week, but frustratingly spent the day resting in long grass.  Following their interaction with the Sark breakaways last week, the young Sark pride didn’t return, and we didn’t even see tracks for them.  Further west, the Hercule’s and Sumatra male lions spent a day in our concession, but despite my long trip to the area in the afternoon by the time we arrived to check on them, they were nowhere to be seen.  This was the most we have struggled for lions for a long time, and we can only hope that this is some temporarily errant behaviour from the River Pride and that they will soon return to their old habits.  Interestingly, there were also reports this week of the Mayambula Pride resurfacing to the south of our concession, and whilst the closest sighting was still 4km south of our boundary, it is good to know that they are still around. Reply