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Lions of Timbavati
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Tanda Tula update
As always, let us begin with the lions! Our River Pride have once more returned to a state of permanent presence at Tanda Tula with the pride and their ever-growing Nharhu males having set up a base to the east of Safari Camp. While it is always great to have them around, it is the really the reason why they are persistently in the area that is most encouraging. This is because the youngest lioness has given birth to a litter of cubs in the thickets along the banks of the Machaton Riverbed. Whilst we have yet to see them (they’re between 3-4 weeks old), it won’t be long before she brings them out. With another lioness looking quite pregnant, the future arrival of her cubs should ensure that the pride remain rooted to the area for the foreseeable future, and fingers are tightly crossed that these litters have a little better luck than the last.  *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 subadult female is approaching a year old now and still doing well, but with the lionesses hunting well, it is no surprise. We saw them with a zebra, a giraffe and a wildebeest kill over the past three weeks, whilst on separate occasions we found just the Nharhu males on their own zebra and giraffe kills. The latter kill provided not only for some lovely lion viewing, but also a feast for the scavengers after the last Nharhu male left, and hordes of vultures and some twenty hyenas moved in to finish off the remains. Sadly, the limping male’s foot is not looking in good shape, and at the moment he cannot put any pressure on it. However, despite the limp and the atrophying muscles in his leg, he is still doing very well. In other lion news, the lone Ross female is still active in the south-west and the Giraffe Pride have made a number of appearances in the west together with the Monwana males. It’s very encouraging to see them settling into the area again.
Klaserie Drift update
Of the big cats, the River Pride has once again proved the a highlight of many guest stays. The growing cubs are pushing the pride to kill more and more often and we were lucky to capture them feasting on both a wildebeest and a giraffe, the cubs fiercely fighting for their seat at the dinner table. Towards the end of the month, the pride made an unprecedented move to the far southern end of their territory and stayed in the same spot for 3 days, whilst the dominant males Hosi and Socha were spotted covering tremendous ground in the north-west. Although we can’t confirm what happened, we believe there may have been a dispute or invasion amongst rival lions that caused the upset. Happily, the triumphant boys were soon back to check up on their females, albeit sporting a few extra scars, and the pride returned to its normal behaviour once more.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Tanda Tula update
The lions were still active in the east, although we didn’t see them as often as would be expected, but it was mainly due to the fact that the pride appears to have spent their days down in the Machaton Riverbed close to the den site, and out of view of our prying eyes. We still haven’t seen the cubs, but I have no doubt that the first sighting will be before the end of the month. The Giraffe Pride were active in the far west again, and we once more heard roars of lions coming from the Klaserie to the west where it appears as though a “new” pride has moved into the area. A couple of weeks ago, a male lion and two young lioness from way north in the Klaserie were spotted in our concession, and it appears as though these lions are now nomadic and looking to set up a new territory. With the River Pride operating so far east, there is every chance that these new lions may start to venture into the Timbavati on a more regular basis.  *This image is copyright of its original author
 (11-19-2018, 04:00 AM)Herekitty Wrote: As well as the 5 young Avoca males in the north and south of Sabi Sands, there's also two young Avoca males (called Xikukutsu males) who were fathered by the current Ross males. In the last couple of days the Mapoza male who is currently mating with the Avoca lionesses, got into a scrap with the Avoca boys around a kill. It looks like the young guys can fight. Images by Ziggi Hugo, November 18, 2018 (01-07-2021, 12:50 PM)Potato Wrote:(01-07-2021, 05:52 AM)Psyckoo Wrote: Did you have more information about this Coalition the Xikukutsu and Mapoza, i heard of them but never see there story ? some pics of that on page 50 
The second Machimba male at Motswari 2018. This male was tied up in the sorry saga of when Skye the previous Western Pride male was legally hunted in mid 2018. The Board of Ingwelala extracted an agreement from the Mpumalunga Tourism Authority to ensure that the dominant male of the Western Pride was not killed, but the MPTA mistakenly used a Chad Cocking photo of this Machimba male instead of Skye, using his face scars as markers to ensure they didn't kill Skye; in the end the rich American shot Skye. The second Machimba disappeared shortly after. You can read about it: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/.../follow-up-skye-the.../. Image by Russell Pringle posted Jan. 13, 2020.
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
We catch up with the Western Pride and their little cubs. This last week has yielded some incredible lion viewing here in the Timbavati. The Western Pride appear to be doing well even in the absence of the recently deceased female. The most significant change we've seen over the last month though is that they appear to have accepted the Skorro males as their new pride males. On a number of occasions now the males have been present with the females and cubs - something we have not seen for almost two and a half years. To say we are excited about this is an understatement of note. Our hopes are that dynamics start to stabilize now in the Northern Timbavati. One of the females was also mating with a Skorro male a few weeks ago so we're holding thumbs for good things in the near future
Videos of the pride with cubs: https://www.facebook.com/motswariprivategamereserve/videos/874311086662608 
https://www.kwambilisafarilodge.com/the-mighty-mapoza/
THE MIGHTY MAPOZA Having first been spotted in Thornybush in 2018, and now dominating the central and northern sections of the reserve along with his two counterparts known as the Xikukutsu males, the Mapoza male has fast become one of my all-time favourite lions and something of a celebrity in these parts. He is easily recognizable from his damaged blue right eye, which some believe to be a Congenital Glaucoma (a birth defect), whilst others believe to be an injury sustained from a giraffe in his early days in the Klaserie Game Reserve. This feature, although leaving him blind in one eye, has also made him truly stand out from the rest and gives him his astounding air of authority. Luckily at KwaMbili we have regular sightings of him, being located in the middle of his territory, and we have been able to get to know him and his unique personality. Being a bit older than the Xikukutsu brothers (with whom he shares the territory), he is often found apart from them and enjoys “doing his own thing”. We are often lucky enough to find him on a warthog carcass, which seems to be one of his favourite meals and seeing him feed is always a treat in itself. His very dark mane and sheer size also sets him apart from the rest and he really is a confident and regal “King of the North”. His no-nonsense approach has definitely benefitted him in getting to where he is today, as it’s a tough world out there and he is living proof that “only the strongest survive”. Over the last few weeks we have seen him mating with several females from the northern pride, and if successful we can expect cubs around May 2021. And if these cubs turn out to be anything like their father, they are definitely destined to be royalty! Text and images by Andi Dill  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
One of the eldest River pride cubs keeps a close eye on his cousin! These 17-month old cuties are now paying close attention during the hunt - often to the adults' detriment - and love to show off their tiny roars when the pride calls! Sadly for us, 3 out of these eldest 4 are male and in all likelihood they will be forced out by Socha and Hosi some time after they turn 2. However, for now, we relish every moment that we get to watch them learn, grow and develop their differing characters! Plus there's quite a lot of other cubs to keep us entertained for a while yet
 *This image is copyright of its original author
100% visibility of the Western Pride Cubs, at ease with their surroundings - safe and healthy.
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
how are the Hercules and Sumatra males doing are there any update thanks
Black Dam young male at Thornybush Game Reserve
Credit Daniel  *This image is copyright of its original author
Tanda Tula update
The latter kill and concurrent vulture activity brought about the sad realisation that the River Pride had indeed moved their den site, as this kill happened right there, and had the lions been anywhere in the area, they would most certainly have come to investigate just what it was that the vultures were after. Combine this to the fact that we haven’t seen any tracks or heard any audio of the pride for the past three days now, and we are a bit stumped as to just where they have moved to! In fairness, there are only two vehicles driving around most of the time, so it is a difficult task to check all the areas that the lions might be, but we will keep on trying and hope that they show up again soon. I suspect that the lioness may have moved the cubs away from the Machaton Riverbed following the last rains, and with the high potential of some serious flooding next week, this is not a bad move.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author As mentioned last week, the gap left by the River Pride now that they are settled in the east has led to some new lions coming into the area, and we caught up with a young male and young female right on our border with the Klaserie last weekend. The sighting was peaceful at first as the two young lions (we estimate them to be around two and a half) rested after dark, but the local hyena clan must have sensed some inexperience in the lions and soon about a dozen or more hyenas were stamping their dominance all over the lions! The two lions held their ground (and nerve) and managed to keep the hyenas at bay, until the clan members lost interest and moved off. It was a wonderful sighting to witness if for nothing other than the incredible sounds that these two eternal enemies were emitting!  *This image is copyright of its original author
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