Lions of Timbavati

[Potato]

Tanda Tula update

For another week in a row, it was the lions that stole the show out there, with all three of our large pride playing along rather nicely. The stars around Tanda Tula Plains Camp continue to be the Giraffe Pride, and they again spent over half of the week on the plains below camp; sometimes it was only a few lost youngsters (they seem to frequently leave a few members behind these days), but the entire pride spent no fewer than three days in the area this past week – it is a sight I don’t think I will ever tire of seeing; 25 lions on the move together.

*This image is copyright of its original author

The Mayambula Pride also spent several days of the week in the areas east of Tanda Tula Safari Camp, and this is something we can only hope continues when we move back to our new home in a few months. The reason for their presence was once again linked to the fact that the Vuyela males had shifted their attention to the Sark Breakaways this week, pulling most of the males to the western sectors, and leaving the Mayambula Pride to roam freely in the east. My favourite sighting of the Vuyela’s was when the single male that had been on a buffalo kill on his own for almost four days was joined by another male one afternoon…then whilst we were watching, a third male joined, and this was followed by seven members of the Sark Breakaways and eventually a fourth male of the coalition. This latter member waited until the two males feeding were distracted by an approaching lioness and ran in and tried to grab his share of the carcass. The males continues to growl and snarl at one another whilst the pride knew that they were not going to get any of the maggot-infested remains. The rest of the pride spent a couple more days relaxing in the area and ended the week with one of the members spending the last few days of the week mating with one of the Vuyela males. Although we did not see the fifth male with the pride, all five males of the coalition were accounted for during the week when two members were seen with the Sark Breakaways, and the other three with the River Pride. My guests that checked out earlier in the week had enjoyed seeing a total of 58 lions during their stay – not bad going.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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