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.
(03-04-2025, 10:01 PM)Ngonya Wrote: 3 Sand River females and 4 Nkuhlu males at Kirkman's Kamp back in November 2024.
At 0:20 the guide mentions those 3 are the Sand River southern breakaway. And at 0:30, by the radio other guide asks which break group, and the guide says once again the southern break. Its a misfortunate they won't share any info on the coalition and prides of the area.
by Lydia Mdaka
I don't think 'southern break' as he said has anything to do with breakaway prides. Since when do breakaway prides gets 'southern' or 'eastern' in front of them? That would suggest more than one breakaway, as in the southern breakaway and the northern breakaway, for example. And since the Sand River pride has only 5 lionesses now, multiple breakaways seems highly unlikely. I would imagine they were refering to something completely different.
Yeah, it could be reference to a road/path as well. Possibly short for firebreak. Point stands we don't hear enough, at least not as much as we would like from these parts of Sabi Sands.
03-05-2025, 11:22 PM( This post was last modified: 03-05-2025, 11:23 PM by BA0701 )
(03-05-2025, 10:54 PM)RookiePundit Wrote:
(03-05-2025, 04:07 AM)NLAL11 Wrote:
(03-04-2025, 10:01 PM)Ngonya Wrote: 3 Sand River females and 4 Nkuhlu males at Kirkman's Kamp back in November 2024.
At 0:20 the guide mentions those 3 are the Sand River southern breakaway. And at 0:30, by the radio other guide asks which break group, and the guide says once again the southern break. Its a misfortunate they won't share any info on the coalition and prides of the area.
by Lydia Mdaka
I don't think 'southern break' as he said has anything to do with breakaway prides. Since when do breakaway prides gets 'southern' or 'eastern' in front of them? That would suggest more than one breakaway, as in the southern breakaway and the northern breakaway, for example. And since the Sand River pride has only 5 lionesses now, multiple breakaways seems highly unlikely. I would imagine they were refering to something completely different.
Yeah, it could be reference to a road/path as well. Possibly short for firebreak. Point stands we don't hear enough, at least not as much as we would like from these parts of Sabi Sands.
For certain, we don't hear enough from that area. Many prides there, I wish we could keep up with, Southern Pride, Sand River, Plains Camp, Styx, Msthulu, all in the general region of southern SS, that we just don't hear enough about. Not to mention, the Nkhulu, the Gijimas, and even recently Kruger Male and S Avoca. To be honest, we used to get near daily updates from most of SS, and recently, it seems to have slowed to a trickle.
(03-05-2025, 04:07 AM)NLAL11 Wrote: I don't think 'southern break' as he said has anything to do with breakaway prides. Since when do breakaway prides gets 'southern' or 'eastern' in front of them? That would suggest more than one breakaway, as in the southern breakaway and the northern breakaway, for example. And since the Sand River pride has only 5 lionesses now, multiple breakaways seems highly unlikely. I would imagine they were refering to something completely different.
Not sure honestly. They say breakaway at some point, typically associated with prides split i think, no? Or could it be associated with a location on the reserve? English is not my native language but i dont think that would make any sense. Southern break would, breakaway? dont think so.
I agree that 5 is certainly not a number for a pride to be split, especially in more than two groups as southern breakaway would indicate. Not to mention the fact that until around late 2024 we would have reports and see the pride together in 5 - 6.
But we barely have anything on the pride, so idk what to really think. Since May 2024, atleast 3 different litters of cubs were born, none made it, but nothing about it was shared.
Until around November 2024, MalaMala counted the Sand River pride as consisting of 6 lionesses, of which 4 adults, and 2 sub adults. In December that changed, 1/2 sub adult females was counted out, pride down to 5.
Regardless of any of that, i wish we would have more updates on the Sand River pride, saying theres little is more than a compliment tbh. A little something shared by Kirkman's Kamp today: "When power meets the river, the wild unfolds. Two Sand River lionesses clash over the remnants of a carcass."
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
by Luke Hartley
Yeah it's difficult to hear, but listening again it sounds like he's calling in the lions's position.
"4 Nkuhlu males, 3 Sand River lionesses, southern breaka- ... underneath the powerline." (He doesn't actually say breakaway)
"Copy that, which break ridge?"
"Southern break, southern break."
"Copy that."
As you said there's such little info or news out of that area at the moment, so it's difficult to say with 100% certainty. But I would hazard a good guess that they were talking about location, rather than a breakaway pride.
Yesterday, 12:45 PM( This post was last modified: 11 hours ago by sunless )
(03-05-2025, 11:22 PM)BA0701 Wrote:
(03-05-2025, 10:54 PM)RookiePundit Wrote:
(03-05-2025, 04:07 AM)NLAL11 Wrote:
(03-04-2025, 10:01 PM)Ngonya Wrote: 3 Sand River females and 4 Nkuhlu males at Kirkman's Kamp back in November 2024.
At 0:20 the guide mentions those 3 are the Sand River southern breakaway. And at 0:30, by the radio other guide asks which break group, and the guide says once again the southern break. Its a misfortunate they won't share any info on the coalition and prides of the area.
by Lydia Mdaka
I don't think 'southern break' as he said has anything to do with breakaway prides. Since when do breakaway prides gets 'southern' or 'eastern' in front of them? That would suggest more than one breakaway, as in the southern breakaway and the northern breakaway, for example. And since the Sand River pride has only 5 lionesses now, multiple breakaways seems highly unlikely. I would imagine they were refering to something completely different.
Yeah, it could be reference to a road/path as well. Possibly short for firebreak. Point stands we don't hear enough, at least not as much as we would like from these parts of Sabi Sands.
For certain, we don't hear enough from that area. Many prides there, I wish we could keep up with, Southern Pride, Sand River, Plains Camp, Styx, Msthulu, all in the general region of southern SS, that we just don't hear enough about. Not to mention, the Nkhulu, the Gijimas, and even recently Kruger Male and S Avoca. To be honest, we used to get near daily updates from most of SS, and recently, it seems to have slowed to a trickle.
Well for Kruger Male he seemed to have returned back North alone according to the latest Elephant Plains Report, his location seems like to be the middle area that separates North and West.
But for the Southern Avoca Male I have not seen an update recently, last update I saw was he was in South with Kruger Male, hoping he pops up in good condition like when we are all worried for Mohawk after his mouth injury but then after weeks he is in good condition and with his 2 sons.
For Gijima Males they are almost always seen (intervals like 2-3 days gap) by guest in Umkumbe, Sabi Sabi, and Lion Sands, and the same case goes for the Msuthlu/Talamati Pride, it is Southern Pride and Styx Pride that I find hard to find an update on them. (You can view the story or post of the guest when they tag the lodge.)
(03-04-2025, 10:01 PM)Ngonya Wrote: 3 Sand River females and 4 Nkuhlu males at Kirkman's Kamp back in November 2024.
At 0:20 the guide mentions those 3 are the Sand River southern breakaway. And at 0:30, by the radio other guide asks which break group, and the guide says once again the southern break. Its a misfortunate they won't share any info on the coalition and prides of the area.
by Lydia Mdaka
I don't think 'southern break' as he said has anything to do with breakaway prides. Since when do breakaway prides gets 'southern' or 'eastern' in front of them? That would suggest more than one breakaway, as in the southern breakaway and the northern breakaway, for example. And since the Sand River pride has only 5 lionesses now, multiple breakaways seems highly unlikely. I would imagine they were refering to something completely different.
Yeah, it could be reference to a road/path as well. Possibly short for firebreak. Point stands we don't hear enough, at least not as much as we would like from these parts of Sabi Sands.
To be honest, we used to get near daily updates from most of SS, and recently, it seems to have slowed to a trickle.
I agree, I've been wanting more consistent updates on NK and Khanya instead of a few videos every few weeks inbetween. Kambulas going back down south has made the North kinda boring for the moment, with no real male presence at all. Hopefully with WildEarth setting up in ChitwaChitwa, a lot of these boys will come to give us a show, getting their very much deserved air time. Seeing the BDM would be nice too.
Some have been wondering regarding the whereabouts of the Southern Black Dam Male of Sabi Sands.....well, hes in Londolozi. seems to have a bit of a back leg thing going on but otherwise looks well.
(9 hours ago)criollo2mil Wrote: Some have been wondering regarding the whereabouts of the Southern Black Dam Male of Sabi Sands.....well, hes in Londolozi. seems to have a bit of a back leg thing going on but otherwise looks well.
6 hours ago( This post was last modified: 1 hour ago by Ngonya )
Both Ximhungwe male cubs with their mother and Gingerella. The pride grows with the addition of those two tiny males, hopefully a succecsful coalition in the future
Interesting sighting of the injured Kambula subadult sharing a kill with the Ntsevu pride and the Ndhzenga males.
He gets rough with one of the cubs and is chased and attacked by the Ntsevu females, but Eorenji steps in and saves him! Eorenji then puts his brother in his place before putting an end to the conflict.
Pretty cool. I've noticed before that you never see the Ndhzengas bonding with their cubs, having tender moments with them nor anything, but when the time comes they act to protect them, amazing.
They did abandon their previous prides way too soon, but are being great fathers currently, not only in terms of defending the territory but also protecting the offspring in these more unusual circumstances.
