Lions of Sabi Sands

[Ngonya]

(04-12-2025, 02:29 AM)KM600 Wrote: It’s different with Kambulas as they have the numbers, and still get bullied by duos, when it’s seemingly clear they want to be dominant males in the north. 

Yeah its not like the Kambulas are leaving and coming back north for the sake of being nomads. They just leave bc they are overpowered everytime a confident coalition gets into play. 
The four of them are lucky to still be alive, just like most lions that reach adulthood and, a life filled with difficulties. So far, they in particular have been living in luck for a year or so. Being beaten and chased around, not being able to stand their ground if not against solitary males, females or sub adults. If that is thriving, what can i say.
They surely are alive, looking like impressive and healthy males, there is plenty of success in that, the fact is they just didnt take over a territory yet bc they lack the strenght for it. 

(04-12-2025, 11:08 AM)Tr1x24 Wrote: And this is normal behavior for pretty much all males who have those opportunities, with countless examples, which suggest that for male lions mating opportunities > protecting offspring.

Males who are seemingly "good fathers" and protectors, staying with pride for long time so their offspring matures, are ones who dont have other opportunities. For example, RRM would not be with Nharus for 6 years if he has other opportunities, but as lone male, his opportunities are limited.

well noted. The strongest coalitions will always expand big territories and look for mating opportunities simply bc they can. And nomads can surely get their shot at mating, quite frequently actually.

Kambulas are different, they havent settled anywhere bc they couldnt do it. Their half brother Nk lived the life as a nomad bc thats the life he can live, solo but partnering with unrelated males, never a big or confident enough coalition to take on bigger fish. Althought Fiercer males have proved that being solitary doesn't necessarily make you a eternal nomad. But that depends on the circunstances the male lives in... His surroudings and life. Nk had it really tough since a young age. It can make some lions stronger, and it can kill others. He surely got stronger from it, but not as confident really. Yet a good hunter, healthy and big male. 
Kambulas have the potential, but lack the strenght and fierce. Their only male that tried hard to become dominant now permanently damaged on his back leg, and blind on one of his eyes. Althought looking fine thats some irreparable damage, a high yet unnecessary price to pay for the weakness of this coalition. 
People were already thinking of them as territorial over Imbali pride back in 2024. Then all of a sudden Mantimahle males started being seen with Imbali and Kambulas came back to Sabi Sand, not being seen with Imbalis afterwards. Pretty much the same happened multiple times with Nkuhuma pride, but they keep coming back and trying to settle, yet failing.
Its not like they are those big tough lions going anywhere they want being confident enough to look for mating opportunities wherever they want... Pretty much the opposite. Reply

[Mapokser]

(04-11-2025, 10:43 PM)FACR2212 Wrote:

(04-11-2025, 09:10 PM)Mapokser Wrote:

(04-11-2025, 11:59 AM)Mwk85 Wrote:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Same business as usual.

I'm just surprised Kambulas chased the Nkuhuma pride.

They never fail at surprising me with their actions.

Now we wait to see the Kambulas showing up in Umbumke or whatever. I was thinking Mantimahle may not be interested enough in the area, giving the Kambulas a chance to take over, but clearly that wasn't the case, and the Kambula as everybody is tired of knowing, don't have what it takes to confront a strong duo.

They better be comprehended as eternal nomads, like Nkuhuma male or "Solo" male in his time. Sadly we are all so tendent to emotion, that even after rationally knowing the fact they won't behave like proper territorial males, I had a hope they would set their place this time.
Anyway, a very interesting phenomena, since their older brothers K1 and K2 seem to behave differently.

I'd like to think about them as "what if the Nkuhuma male had 3 brothers like him", but as soon as NK had a good opportunity he became a fully territorial male ousting Tumbela with his father. He is far from a confident male, but he won't struggle to take power when having a clear advantage.

He'd have never abandoned an empty territory without pressure, so I think the Kambulas are even more unique than Nkuhuma in terms of behavior.

Solo? Yeah, possibly, Cleo and him had trouble with the lone Kruger male and couldn't properly oust him, though Sand River Males arrived and ousted everybody.

Still, Solo and Cleo chased the 2 old nomadic Mapogo and never had anywhere near as many good opportunities as Kambula. I doubt Kambula can chase anyone 2v2.

If Solo and Nkuhuma had 3 brothers each, I'm sure they'd have been successful.

But yeah in a sense I agree that just like them, Kambulas are eternal nomads. Nothing wrong with it of course, it's their life and how they are, but it's a shame for the prides and area facing such instability, as well as it is intriguing for us as we're not used to big coalition of primes males being unable to establish themselves, being instead bullied around by coalitions half their size. Reply

[KM600]

As @Mapokser was kinda starting to say, there’s no success in destroying a pride. I said the same thing about Nkhulus when they established themselves with Sand Rivers but the cubs could never survive. That is what the Kambulas are doing right now to Nkuhumas, and have been doing for a while. Unfortunately these new cubs likely won’t survive either.

And by this I mean destroying their short term future, the whole pride should be filled with lil ones. Obviously as a whole, the pride has an abundance of lionesses and are nowhere near close to being destroyed. Reply

[T_Ferguson]

Well, this is not good news for the Nkhumas...

Reply

[Ttimemarti]

I can’t wait for a coalition to take control of the nkuhuma pride they’ll become the mega pride they where supposed to become during the avoca reign before Amber eyes and ridgenose left Reply

[Guillermo94]

(Yesterday, 02:02 AM)Ttimemarti Wrote: I can’t wait for a coalition to take control of the nkuhuma pride they’ll become the mega pride they where supposed to become during the avoca reign before Amber eyes and ridgenose left

I was going to ask what did you mean about a possible mega pride. You are right Nukhuma lionesses separated when Plain camp male lions came. Reply

[Potato]

(04-12-2025, 09:08 PM)Mapokser Wrote: I'd like to think about them as "what if the Nkuhuma male had 3 brothers like him", but as soon as NK had a good opportunity he became a fully territorial male ousting Tumbela with his father

To be fair Kambulas also in 2vs1 situations chassed Mantimahle male and Kruger male and on the spot Nkuchuma/Nhenha were they would probably do the same. Reply

[Guillermo94]

(Yesterday, 01:53 AM)T_Ferguson Wrote: Well, this is not good news for the Nkhumas...

So strange why after all this time Ndzhenga male lions go in north ? 

Hopefully they just return. Must be a lot of male lions, and Ndzhenga male lions heard roars. 

Hopefully they go back to Kambula lionesses. Wonder if other Kambula lionesses will have more cubs like K5. Maybe young Nukhuma lionesses are having attention from a lot of male lions. 

Kruger male lion, four Kambula, and mantimahle male lions. I do not think it would be a good idea for Ndzhenga male lions to be with Nukhuma lionesses. Ndzhenga male lions have many cubs with Kambula lions; if they would get with Nukhuma lionesses I wonder if it would be a problem. 

Wonder if Ndzhenga male lions would be like plain camp male lions back and forward. Reply

[Tr1x24]

(04-12-2025, 10:51 PM)KM600 Wrote: As @Mapokser was kinda starting to say, there’s no success in destroying a pride. I said the same thing about Nkhulus when they established themselves with Sand Rivers but the cubs could never survive. That is what the Kambulas are doing right now to Nkuhumas, and have been doing for a while. Unfortunately these new cubs likely won’t survive either.

Not sure if i understand correctly, are you implying that Kambulas are destroying NK pride? If yes, I kinda dont agree. Reply

[Ttimemarti]

(04-09-2025, 05:54 PM)Ttimemarti Wrote:

(04-09-2025, 04:54 PM)Dangeroscos Wrote:

(04-08-2025, 09:22 PM)Ttimemarti Wrote:

(04-08-2025, 08:29 PM)Dangeroscos Wrote:

(04-07-2025, 11:01 PM)Ttimemarti Wrote:

(04-07-2025, 10:07 PM)Mapokser Wrote: S.Matimba had multiple clashes with the Majingilane who were 4 males strong, and ended up ousted by Matshipiri who were only 2.

Talamati and NK have only duos around them but there's a massive difference in strength between them and S.Matimba.

S.Matimba in 2015 just after leaving the North may have been able to just show up West and straight up oust PCM from Singita, taking over Mangheni pride.

that’s what I mean that matimba territory they had coalitions all around them too much pressure so they left I believe and I don’t think nkuhuma and talamati will be able to handle that territory with plains camp ndzenga matimahle kambula and southern black dam and avoca also in the area but I hope I’m wrong this would’ve been 1000% easier if darkmane jr was still alive RIP beautiful boy truly heart broken

How did darkmane jr die?

No idea he just hasn’t been seen he and his brother where in southern sabi sands I believe the gijimas chased them and then only khanya was seen very deep into Kruger before returning alone… I believe he came back to northern sabi sands and was seen contact calling possibly looking for his brother

Oh I c. Thanks for the info. Khanya the same age as PCMs and gijimas right?

I’m not good with the ages but I believe khanya may be 5 in a half maybe 6 years old plains camp males should be 8 years old maybe close to 9 and the gijimas id say around 7 in a half to 8 years old but those ages are not 100% accurate

(Yesterday, 03:41 AM)Tr1x24 Wrote:

(04-12-2025, 10:51 PM)KM600 Wrote: As @Mapokser was kinda starting to say, there’s no success in destroying a pride. I said the same thing about Nkhulus when they established themselves with Sand Rivers but the cubs could never survive. That is what the Kambulas are doing right now to Nkuhumas, and have been doing for a while. Unfortunately these new cubs likely won’t survive either.

Not sure if i understand correctly, are you implying that Kambulas are destroying NK pride? If yes, I kinda dont agree.

I don’t think they’re destroying the pride (yet) but they are stalling the prides growth for sure Reply

[Ttimemarti]

(Yesterday, 02:30 AM)Guillermo94 Wrote:

(Yesterday, 02:02 AM)Ttimemarti Wrote: I can’t wait for a coalition to take control of the nkuhuma pride they’ll become the mega pride they where supposed to become during the avoca reign before Amber eyes and ridgenose left

I was going to ask what did you mean about a possible mega pride. You are right Nukhuma lionesses separated when Plain camp male lions came.

So before Amber eyes and ridgenose left the pride purple eye chela and the nkuhuma males sister where all still alive plus I believe another female from 2021 but when those two left it started a downward spiral of things purple eye passed away blondie died 3 or 4 2021 subadults died and so on but now the pride has 7 adult females… look at what the kambula pride did with 5 of 6 females with a strong coalition like the Birmingham males the girls got pregnant they doubled the size of the pride with k7 k8 k9 k10 k11 and k12 but k11 died and k12 isn’t with the pride even tho the kambula pride split they are still the strongest pride in sabi sands Reply

[KM600]

(Yesterday, 03:41 AM)Tr1x24 Wrote:

(04-12-2025, 10:51 PM)KM600 Wrote: As @Mapokser was kinda starting to say, there’s no success in destroying a pride. I said the same thing about Nkhulus when they established themselves with Sand Rivers but the cubs could never survive. That is what the Kambulas are doing right now to Nkuhumas, and have been doing for a while. Unfortunately these new cubs likely won’t survive either.

Not sure if i understand correctly, are you implying that Kambulas are destroying NK pride? If yes, I kinda dont agree.

Yes, they are killing their growth, fortunately all Nkuhumas are young enough to have several more litters and can withstand times like this. If it was an older pride, then it would be much more of a dire issue. 

They will continue to stunt their growth until they either provide some stability or leave the area for good. Reply

[Fenix123]

Kruger Male (posted on april 9th)

Credits to dan_thebushman

Reply

[Guillermo94]

(Yesterday, 04:20 AM)Ttimemarti Wrote:

(Yesterday, 02:30 AM)Guillermo94 Wrote:

(Yesterday, 02:02 AM)Ttimemarti Wrote: I can’t wait for a coalition to take control of the nkuhuma pride they’ll become the mega pride they where supposed to become during the avoca reign before Amber eyes and ridgenose left

I was going to ask what did you mean about a possible mega pride. You are right Nukhuma lionesses separated when Plain camp male lions came.

So before Amber eyes and ridgenose left the pride purple eye chela and the nkuhuma males sister where all still alive plus I believe another female from 2021 but when those two left it started a downward spiral of things purple eye passed away blondie died 3 or 4 2021 subadults died and so on but now the pride has 7 adult females… look at what the kambula pride did with 5 of 6 females with a strong coalition like the Birmingham males the girls got pregnant they doubled the size of the pride with k7 k8 k9 k10 k11 and k12 but k11 died and k12 isn’t with the pride even tho the kambula pride split they are still the strongest pride in sabi sands

Yes. Hopefully Nukhuma cubs can survive. Male lions in north Kruger male, four Kambula, mantimahle male lions. I wonder where black damn male lion and young avoca male lion in north? Wonder if young Nukhuma is with younger black damn male lion. Reply

[FACR2212]

Nkuhuma YM was chased by Mantimahle that was/were mating with 2 Nkuhuma lionesses. 

Kambula males and Kruger male apparently were not far from the action.
Nzdhengas roaring on the North, I think just patrolling their borders.
It looks that a good clash is going to occur sooner than later. Reply