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The Matshapiri Males

Argentina Tshokwane Away
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#16

Quote:in the 2nd photo I notice a resemblance with MrT, KT, isn't it noticeable? what do you think?
Yes, I think he does have a resemblance, mostly because of the shape of his mane.
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#17
( This post was last modified: 04-02-2016, 06:24 PM by Tshokwane )

From Londolozi, Matshipiri Males Return:
It has been a long time since the two Mathsipiri males were seen on Londolozi soil. Casting my mind back, the last time I saw them myself was probably August last year when one of them was chased for his life by the Majingilane coalition. It seems that they were happy to settle in the east after that, mating with the Sparta pride and avoiding the potential threat of the Majingilane, as well as the newly-arrived Matimba coalition.


These two males have since fathered cubs with the Sparta pride (two lionesses have birthed two cubs each) and the months of drought saw them spending the vast majority of their time in and around the Sand River to the east of Londolozi, hunting buffalo with great success.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Five days ago ranger Shaun D’Araujo and tracker Elmon Mhlongo were returning with their guests from the deep south of Londolozi when three lionesses emerged from the bush in front of them, crossing the road in their headlights. With hearts in their mouths, all on the vehicle watched as four very small shapes tumbled out of the thicket line and followed the adults across the beam and disappeared into the bushwillows on the other side. The Sparta pride had returned! The next day their tracks were in the area but heading back towards the river, possibly in an attempt to move the cubs away from the nomadic Talamati males, a group of three from a rival pride that have been pushed into independence and have been spending time in Londolozi’s deep south.


Then yesterday afternoon they were seen again by ranger Andrea Sithole as they crossed into Londolozi north of the Maxabene Riverbed, but only briefly.
Trackers Milton Khoza and Innocent Ngwenya along with rangers Melvin Sambo and Andrea Campbell set out to find the pride and their cubs this morning, but their tracking efforts were interrupted by the discovery of the two Matshipri males who had also come west during the night and were feeding on the carcass of a wildebeest. According to Andrea, the feeding behaviour was rather strange, as both males were feeding fast and looking nervous, despite there being very little meat left.

The two males break off the last properly edible chunks of the wildebeest carcass. Photograph by Andrea Campbell

*This image is copyright of its original author

This seems to suggest that the kill was stolen and not made by them. The fact that the Matimba males were roaring across the river from camp this morning may also have put the Matshipiri males on the alert, as they are in territory they haven’t been in for months, and as far as I know have yet to encounter the Matimba coalition and are unaware of their strength or weakness.

The darker maned Matshipiri male glances up from feeding to scan the surrounding thickets. Photograph by Andrea Campbell

*This image is copyright of its original author

Either way, once they had finished what meat remained, the Matshipri males began moving back east, and eventually settled near the Maxabene Riverbed. With general game flooding back onto the central parts of the reserve in droves since the breaking of the drought, hunting opportunities will be rife, and we hope these males and indeed the Sparta pride as well will be spending more time on their old hunting grounds.

*This image is copyright of its original author
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#18
( This post was last modified: 04-03-2016, 03:43 AM by Tshokwane )

Robin Hester Photography:
One of the cubs from the Fourways pride, ankles taps dad (the Matshipiri male). Lucky dad was in a good mood. Mala Mala Game Reserve 2016

*This image is copyright of its original author

The blonde male, pic credits to Malcolm Cotton

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#19

The mohawk Matshapiri male, pic by ranger Dan Bailey from Mala Mala.

*This image is copyright of its original author
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#20

Matshapiri male roaring. Credits to Deb Potts
Click on it to play.



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Italy Ngala Offline
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#21

From Londolozi Game Reserve, My Favourite Place by Ian and Lisa Wilson
"One of the brothers from the Matshipiri coalition stretches his legs after feasting on a wildebeest."

*This image is copyright of its original author
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#22

Robin Hester Photography:
Brotherly love, Matshipiri Males.

Mala Mala Game Reserve 2016


*This image is copyright of its original author

Amazing picture.
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United Arab Emirates CRYPTIC Offline
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#23

 3 lion sightings: the 2 Matshapiri males and the Eyrefield pride provided us with an amazing sighting as they went after a hippo in the Sand River just south of West Street Bridge- an ordeal that went on for hours. The Marthly pride watched some of the action from the bridge itself before moving off northwards. An unidentified male lion was being chased around by a herd of buffalo at Clarendon.
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#24

Quote:the 2 Matshapiri males and the Eyrefield pride provided us with an amazing sighting as they went after a hippo in the Sand River just south of West Street Bridge- an ordeal that went on for hours.

Yep, it was a great sight, amazing.

*This image is copyright of its original author
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#25

Blonde Matshapiri male, pic credits to Morne Coetzer, Mala Mala game reserve.

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#26

Mohawk Matshapiri male and Sparta lioness. Credits to Robin Hester Photography.

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United States Pckts Offline
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#27

(05-04-2016, 08:05 PM)Majingilane Wrote: Mohawk Matshapiri male and Sparta lioness. Credits to Robin Hester Photography.

*This image is copyright of its original author

I actually saw these two photographed on ig, I thought the male looked massive and it looks like he lives up to the hype. What a bulky boy!
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#28

Quote:I thought the male looked massive and it looks like he lives up to the hype. What a bulky boy!
No doubt about that. Sometimes I just take it for granted, but once you take a minute and really look at the difference in size, it's amazing.
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Italy Ngala Offline
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#29

From Londolozi Game Reserve, The Best Birthday Present Imaginable:
"One of the Matshipiri coalition is encouraged to pace through the bush by a Sparta female. The brothers were separated at this point, but we had been listening to them calling all morning as they worked on reuniting."

*This image is copyright of its original author
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#30

Matshapiri male, credits to Mala Mala Game Reserve.

*This image is copyright of its original author
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