Lions of Timbavati

[Ngala]

From Nthambo Tree Camp, Mapoza Lions Take Buffalo Kill from Lionesses… Again
"This is starting to look like a trend in the world of the Mapoza lions: Once again we have found them stealing a hard-earned meal from the Ross Breakaway lionesses! This isn’t news in terms of lion behaviour – lions are notorious scavengers and opportunistic feeders, meaning that they will rarely miss out on a good meal when it’s going, especially when they don’t need to do the hard work themselves! The Mapozas are a force to be reckoned with, and both are growing more and more confident in their new territory."

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*This image is copyright of its original author

"Last week, we found the older male mating with one of the Ross Breakaway lionesses (not the first time), and now we’ve discovered them feeding on a buffalo calf that was killed by the females!"

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*This image is copyright of its original author

"Africa on Foot guide, Greg, found one of the Breakaway lionesses trailing a buffalo herd on afternoon game drive, and he followed her for a long while, giving guests the opportunity to witness the process involved with a lion hunt. Patience and stealth! Soon it was time to return to the lodge for dinner, so they left the lioness to her work for the evening, and returned first thing in the morning ready to see what the result of the hunt could be. Greg found the tracks of the buffaloes close to camp and decided to backtrack the herd to see what may remain in its path… Sure enough, there were the Mapoza males, sniffing around and on the scent of something interesting!"

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

"Greg trailed the two, now famous, male lions until they got to nThambo Tree Camp access road, and that’s when the drama went down! One of the Ross Breakaway lionesses had clearly succeeded in killing a buffalo calf and the Mapozas had traced the evidence right up to the scene of the crime, and didn’t hesitate in chasing the lioness off her meal."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*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 Mapozas fed on the carcass for a bit while the lionesses hung around on the perimeter. The younger lioness has always kept her distance from the males, and doesn’t seem to have taken a liking to them, so she remained on the outskirts for the entirety of the sighting. The males soon moved off and left the remains of the buffalo for the lionesses, and by midday – as nature would have it – the whole carcass had been cleaned up by vultures! Some more fantastic predator action for guests at nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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