Lions of Sabi Sands

[Duco Ndona]

It kinda depends on what you concider a pride and what it means to be in control of a pride. If you go with the traditional textbook example of a group of territorial lionesses regularly visited by the pride males. Then its only around 3. (Ximhungwe, Mangheni and Ridgenose) But if we add any leopard lionesses, young subs or any other lions just living in their territory without much interaction. Then the number gets much larger. 
Offcource the same can be said about the Mapogo successes. 

The central north, has always been lowly populated with lions for some reason. Especially Londolozi which as a result has become a popular spot for leopards.
I guess its becouse its right between most of the larger prides in the region, which avoid the area to avoid running into eachother. Which as a result also makes it less interesting for territorial males to cross unless they themselves are nomads avoiding lions. So most coalitions either take over the deep west. (Othawas, Mangheni and Ximhungwes.) Or the northeast. (Talamati, Nkuhuma and Kambulas.). 

Offcource in twenty years, the dynamics might be completely different. Reply