There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
The Mountain Pride have been seen regularly this last month. They have been seen all over the central and northern regions of the concession and may also have gone into Mozambique a few times. At present the Mountain Pride consist of 11 individuals (including a sub-adult male). On one occasion some of the members of this pride were seen stalking a blue wildebeest, although they were not successful.
The Kumana and Maputo males have both been seen regularly in the area around the lodge. It is great to hear them roaring at night. At the beginning of the month the Maputo male was seen mating with the limping lioness from the Shishangaan Pride. The Kumana male was looking quite skinny for a while, but has recovered since then. The coalition still seems to be strong. Towards the end of the month the Xhirombe male lion had caught a male waterbuck near our border with Mozambique. The next morning, we found the Kumana and Maputo males, with two Shish lionesses, feeding on the remains of the waterbuck. They had obviously driven the Xhirombe male off and stolen the carcass from him.
The Shishangaan Pride have been pretty scarce this last month, although we have on a few occasions seen three of the females (including the limping female). These lionesses have been seen in the company of the Maputo and Kumana males and the limping female was seen mating with the Maputo male towards the beginning of the month.
The Mananga Pride is getting to be a large pride now. There are now twenty individuals, including six cubs and one sub-adult male. The two Shish male lions are regularly seen with this pride. The pride often splits into two separate groups (one of the groups consists of the sub-adult male and four lionesses). Towards the end of the month a single female was seen near Mangwa Road. She was lactating and seemed as though she could be pregnant and may be looking for a place to give birth. We will have to see in the next few weeks if this is so or not. The smaller group (the sub-adult male and the four females were seen on one occasion feeding on a zebra and on a few occasions the rest of the pride were also seen hunting zebras, but on each occasion, they were unsuccessful. At one point a few members of the Mananga Pride were seen feeding on a baby impala.
The Shish male coalition (Xihamham and his brother) has been seen fairly regularly. They have mainly been seen near Gudzani Dam or on the S41 (our western boundary road). They did however, at one point venture further east into the concession. They are often seen in the company of the Mananga Pride. Xihamham is still grumpy but does tolerate the vehicles more, occasionally giving us a warning growl if he thinks we are coming too close to him.
The Xhirombe male was seen feeding on an adult male waterbuck that he had killed near the Mozambique border. That evening he was challenged by six spotted hyenas, but managed to drive them away. The next morning, though, he had lost the carcass to the Kumana and Maputo males (and two Shish lionesses). It is possible that these lions had heard the commotion between Xhirombe and the hyenas and were attracted there by the sounds.
1/3 Young Jocks today.
"There is one big male, two juvenile males and two females. They were on the road but have moved off, still with decent visual. Spent an hour with them"
H3, 1km N of the S110 tar road, Malelane
Credit: Adam and Daniel
Handsome Mo taking some time on his own this past weekend and relaxing in a really beautiful setting along the southern bank of the Crocodile river. Credit: Leo Vintage Private Guided Safaris
Coalitions of Kruger National Park
