Lions of Timbavati

[Potato]

Tanda Tula update from 18.09

What was pleasing was that these rare predators showed face while the lions remained active in the area; usually when the lions are around, the smaller predators remain scarce.  Luckily, the lions were on form this week too.  The Sark Breakaway Pride seems to be getting more and more settled in the area, under the guardianship of the Vuyela males.  One male spent the first half of the week with the pride when they were found with a wildebeest kill and carried on following them for a couple of days afterwards.  Glen tracked them down resting in the Zebenine Riverbed the morning before the wind, and the next day they were found in the west of their territory with a waterbuck kill, which it appears the Vuyela male commandeered.  To our surprise, we followed up on some suspicious hyena activity on Nkhari the next morning (it was still windy) and found that the Sark Breakaways had immediately returned to the central parts of our concession and made another wildebeest kill.  Even without the presence of a large male lion, the large lionesses and growing young males were able to keep off a dozen hyenas.  Whilst we were watching them, the missing lioness from the pride was seen in the west with her four cubs; sadly though, that was the last sign of them this week, and I am still awaiting my first sighting of the little ones! 

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

 The Giraffe Pride (or fragments thereof) remained reasonably active in the west around Plains Camp, and there was a report of the Hercule’s male in the western section too.  To make things more interesting, two unidentified male lions were seen in the central regions this past weekend too; they had tried to get a buffalo one evening, but the buffalo evidently got away.  Our guides that went to see them did not recognise them, but I suspect it could be two of the Birmingham Breakaway boys, but I have been known to be wrong…often!  Reply