Lions of Timbavati

[Potato]

Tanda Tula update

 I was not out on too many drives during this period, but catching up with the guides, it seems as though things are settling down in the lion dynamics. The two Skorro males have made themselves very much at home with the seven Mayambula lionesses.  The pride was seen on a couple of zebra kills over this period in the central regions of our concession.  Interestingly, the seven lionesses were also reported some distance into the Klaserie to the west of the Timbavati during this week, but the next day they were back on the Timbavati’s eastern boundary with the Kruger – this movement would have required a complete leap-frog of the River Pride’s territory!  Even upon my return, I got to see four of the Mayamabula lionesses resting close to Nkhari Homestead, and right in the centre of what had up until then been the River Pride’s safe-place.  That same afternoon the limping Nharhu male was resting about 2km away from them, but it doesn’t appear as if he encountered them during the night.   

Note: Ziga Zak Scar  daughter? :o

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The River Pride have been AWOL for the past week, but just prior to that they too had a zebra kill to the north of Tanda Tula Safari Camp. While I was away, they were also found to the north of our concession on the annual buffalo kill!  For such a good hunting force, it always surprised me that they don’t hunt more buffalos. This is only the third adult buffalo kill that we have seen them with since they separated from the young males two years back.  It does appear that after this buffalo kill the River Pride headed west towards the Klaserie, but there is only so far west they can go before they bump into the five Vuyela males and the Sark lionesses, so I do hope that the River Pride return sooner rather than later.   

*This image is copyright of its original author

 The week ended off with the two Skorro males spending their time mating with a couple of Mayambula lionesses.  If things settle down, we can hopefully expect some new cubs early in 2022.  Interestingly, with the Skorro males being so far south, the Western Pride of lions have even started to venture into our concession for the first time in a long time (the Skorro males are the fathers of their cubs, and dominant males of their pride). Sadly though, up until now we have only seen their tracks, and not the lions themselves. 

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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