Lions of Timbavati

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Tanda Tula update

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Let’s start off with the lions; now whilst there may not have been as much male action it. doesn’t mean that the intruding males left the area.  In fact, Scotch found the two Black Dam young males right in the heart of Mayambula territory a few days ago. When it was reported that the Skorro males were seen chasing buffalos close to Tanda Tula Field Camp yesterday and other male lion tracks were seen in the Mayambula territory, we began to worry.  This worry was amplified when a lioness was seen moving some young cubs further south along the Machaton Riverbed, and closer to where the roars of two male lions were heard.


Fortunately, it was a case of misidentification, and the roaring lions turned out to be the two Skorro males back in the heart of their domain, and the lions moving out of the area in the morning were likely the Black Dam boys.  So for now, the Mayambula lionesses and their growing cubs seem safe enough.  The pride remained in the north-east of our concession and crossed out of the concession a couple of times before returning to their usual haunts.  They are looking in great shape, and despite the prey being scarcer in that area due to their presence, they are doing well to make ends meet.  The Birmingham Breakaway young males also remained within our concession for a little longer and were seen out west, closer to Tanda Tula Plains Camp on a few occasions during the week.

The coalition found a sixth member and they spent some time moving around Giraffe Pride territory before moving back south.  A day after the six fat-bellied boys were seen in the area, the Giraffe Pride eventually showed themselves on a zebra kill before once more heading to the south-west.  Reports indicate that another lioness has given birth to four cubs, and this could be drawing the pride continuously back to the south.  They were quite active around Plains Camp, and one day we even followed their tracks and saw that they had come to drink water in front of the camp.  The last lion update was that of the lone Sark lioness that continues to remain isolated from her pride; Tristan had a great sighting of the lioness ascending a Marula tree to steal an impala kill from a young male leopard before making an unceremonious descent and hitting the ground with a mighty thud!

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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