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Lions of Sabi Sands
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From Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, credits to Hugo Breed Wildtography.
"The three Othawa youngsters are growing up very quickly."  *This image is copyright of its original author
Mhangeni young males
Credits to Rob The Ranger Widlife Videos  *This image is copyright of its original author
Talamati Males
Credits to Eckson Sithole  *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  *This image is copyright of its original author
 
I've created two new threads, for the Charleston Males and Matshapiri Males, respectively.
Both of these coalitions have been around for some time, and are settled nicely now, with a defined territory and prides with cubs to protect now, so I thought it was a good time to create individual threads for them. So from now one we will be using this thread for prides and nomadic males, of which there are a few and we'll post about these two coalitions that were a big feature here in their own threads. Thank you.
From Sabi Sabi, A ROYAL INTRODUCTION: BLOG BY MIKE PALMER (BUSH LODGE RANGER)
This morning started out like so many before it and I had a specific plan in mind for the current group of guests that I’m hosting. We had discussed venturing into the southern extremities of the reserve to scratch around for the Hlarulini female leopard. I had no idea what “Lady Luck” had in store for us though… We left Bush Lodge at a snail’s pace, pausing to discuss every small detail that was on offer to us as well as the herds of general game spotted near the roadside. I like to take it slow and to appreciate the intricacies of the bush. Before long we would be nearing the southern section, but we would need to pass by an area we know to be housing the Floppy Ear’s cubs! We have known for almost two months that she was looking at this particular den area as a potential site for her to initially raise her offspring and all the tell-tale signs were there for all to see. About 5 or 6 weeks ago it was confirmed that she had indeed given birth, but we knew nothing in terms of numbers. Our policy is to ensure that nobody goes to these special sites trying to sneak a peak at these precious young babies so as not to place them or the female under any unnecessary pressure and on top of this, not to draw the attentions of other animals, like hyenas for example. We kept our distance, happy with the fact that she would bring them out in due time. Today was that day! We wandered through this area, traversed many times per day by Guides on safari during recent weeks, casually chatting about what we may see and then we caught a glimpse of another vehicle ahead of us, thinking perhaps they were looking at something else. We were not expecting the lioness and her cubs at all. It was an incredible sight! The lioness emerged from the area in which she had been keeping the cubs hidden to the world and behind her were two little bundles of fluff following suit. I almost lost my cool at this point, just full of excitement. In my years of Guiding and visiting the bush, I’ve never been lucky enough to have a first glimpse at such young cubs and certainly not to see a lioness carrying them from time to time in her mouth. It was an absolutely sensational experience for me! I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like for some of my guests that had never even seen a lion before, let alone 5-week old cubs! This is one of those special life-changing experiences for everyone involved, but at least for me, it won’t be the last time I see them. Below are some of the images I was able to capture of the experience. The light was very challenging on this uncharacteristically overcast day, but I think I can be very happy with the results overall and even if I never took one picture, I don’t think I would be able to forget this experience. WOW!  *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  *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  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
One of the Talamati male lions watching my every move!
Photo by: @photowildsa andBeyond - Luxury Safaris Kirkman's Kamp Private Game Reserve  *This image is copyright of its original author Another Credit to Eckson Sithole  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
The Talamati Male lions enjoying the early morning sun.
Photo by: @photowildsa andBeyond - Luxury Safaris Kirkman's Kamp Private Game Reserve  *This image is copyright of its original author
Tsalala young male
Credit to Idube Game Reserve  *This image is copyright of its original author
"I own the Sand River"
Credits to Edward L. Hubbard Shy Toulon  *This image is copyright of its original author
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