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Lions of Timbavati
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Klaserie Lions : Vuyelas Quenching Their Thirst
We are enjoying regular sightings of the Vuyelas, the resident coalition in our "neck of the woods". Sightings over the festive period have increased - the Vuyelas are most certainly the gift that keeps on giving. Rogan Kerr captured this video of the Vuyelas stooping down to drink after indulging in a lengthy snooze session. We're looking forward to seeing what 2020 brings when it comes to Klaserie cat sightings.
https://www.umlani.com/blog/post/umlani-captured-in-photos-2019/?fbclid=IwAR3G1gi4fvULq38ELRAS3fuMduYuZ4RGc_edZcZqjG6tk7u1AV-XewvFqYY
Year 2019 at Umlani In the beginning of the year we had the Mayumbula pride of 4 females move into our traversing area and seemingly make it their home as they all gave birth to cubs around the same time, in this prides time in our area they provided us with countless incredible sightings here are a few highlights. Being able to witness the 10 cubs grow from first seeing them a few weeks old to becoming young lions was an absolute privilege, to this day the 4 adult lionesses have done an incredible job of raising their cubs and all 10 cubs are still alive and well, even though we don't get to see them that often anymore.  *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 Watching the Mbiri males see-saw in and out of power has also been extremely interesting it seems like a bit of a fall from grace for them as they once dominated a huge portion of the central and southern Timbavati. The first part of the year saw them defending their territory viciously against any intruder that set foot in their kingdom, however it seems like the comfort of a stable pride was all that the two males were looking for and in the last part of the year we witnessed them all but move out of their former stomping grounds sticking with the Myambula pride who make regular kills therefore providing meals not only for their cubs but for the 2 males as well. These days the males will make the odd appearance but with 3 new males known as the Nharu males that have moved in they seem content to give up a large portion of their territory, perhaps one of the times that the Mbiri males returned and marked with the wounds of war the decision to relinquish territory to the 3 newcomers was made.  *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
The less_maned Mbiri is a warrior, he has that look " you don't want to mess with me".
3 Nharhu / River pride males:
 *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 These 3 young males establish themselves in the northern sector of Timbavati aswell as in some portion of 2 Mbiri males territory around Tanda Tula. They are seen with River pride and Western pride lionesses. 5 Vuyela young males:  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author These 5 young males are lately seen more and more west in Klaserie, and are now around central Klaserie. Giraffe male with Monwana pride and 2 Monwana young males :  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author It seems that Giraffe male is tolerate towards 2 young males, with Mapoza and 2 Xikukutsu males on his doorstep it would be wise for him to accept them as partners, just as Mapoza did with Xikukutsus. Young subadult male from Black Dam pride:  *This image is copyright of its original author Young male from Birmingham pride:  *This image is copyright of its original author
White cubs from Birmingham pride are doing well
 *This image is copyright of its original author
From RockFig Safari Lodge
One of the Nharu males pauses for a moment to scan the lush Savannah ahead of him. The two brothers moved towards a natural pan where they settled for the day. The brother with the limp was further north of them vocalizing persistently during the early evening. He managed to catch up with them and the river pride lionesses the following day where all seven of the pride were located further north.  *This image is copyright of its original author Three of the 5 Vuyela males, accompanied by a female as they enjoy the soft sand of a riverbed on a hot summers morning.  *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 wonder what will be Vuelas next move. They are comming of age in which they will want to settle with some females, but which currently dominant male will they target? Lone Black Dam male seem to be very good option. Rather easy target and quite close to Vuelas position, or perhaps they will chosse to go after newly settled Nharhu males? It is yet to be seen.  (01-09-2020, 01:47 AM)Potato Wrote: From RockFig Safari Lodge The Vuyelas are the River pride ,They never split up,The Nharhu Also are from River pride according to Ivory but they are mode older than the Vuyelas,They have almost 5 years old,Meanwhile the Vuyelas almost 4,i heard this info on (Lions Of Timbavati facebook page),The admin is keeping informating to the followers and giving some great info when we ask him Lions of Timbavati page has compared the Whiskers of one of the 5 vuyelas, and it is the same lion that Xanatseni called him River pride male a few months ago
3 Nharhu males are not young River pride males/Vuyela males, 3 males ( now called Nharhu) first showed up in northern Timbavati and Klaserie and they where called Abercrombie males, 1 had a bad limp, if im not mistaken 1 of them is still limping.
5 young River Pride males/Vuyelas are younger then those males. There was a lot of miss info about those 2 coalitions, Facebook pages where posting images from both coalitions calling them same names, that was obiviously false. But problem was finally solved, 3 Nharhu males =/= 5 young River pride/ Vuyela males.
Tanda Tula update
I had been hoping to return to work with the news that our pregnant River Pride lionesses had given birth, but despite their near constant presence over the past few weeks, the pale lioness is still very pregnant, and after my sighting last night, it looks as though one of the other lionesses is not too far behind! I have given up guessing when the cubs might be born, but this timeframe puts pay to my theory that she was actually carrying cubs sired by the Mbiri males (seen mating with her in early September), and has indeed been impregnated by the Nharhu males.  *This image is copyright of its original author These males are still doing well, although the limping male’s foot almost seems to be getting worse, and after a sighting of the whole pride last night, it became very evident of just how much he struggles to keep up with the rest of the pride when they are on the move. Time will tell if he has the strength and determination to maintain his position as one of the dominant males of the pride, or if the injury of unknown origin, will prove too much for him. The Vuyela pride (of five young males and one lioness) were also seen this week, pushing further south-east than they have before, and they seem to be getting quite comfortable in the area – a presence that makes for some potentially interesting lion dynamics over the coming year. Needless to say, the Mayambula Pride have not been seen this year (although we did have a lovely sighting of all sixteen members feasting on a zebra kill shortly before Christmas), but a lone young male lion was seen moving around in their territory this week. 
The purple eyed Avoca lioness wearing an impressive new scar at Shindzela.
- Posted by: johnbarrieellis, Jan 8, 2020.  *This image is copyright of its original author
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