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The Mighty Mapogos
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The big, and beautiful Kinky Tail resting on the side of the road.
Photo credits: Evan Marc Dunstone  *This image is copyright of its original author
Shaka Mapogo in war mode!
2010 All credits to: Evan Marc Dunstone  *This image is copyright of its original author
The great Kinky Tail Mapogo on high alert!!!
2010 Photo credit: Evan Marc Dunstone  *This image is copyright of its original author
Kinky Tail Watching
Photo courtesy of Evan Marc Dunstone  *This image is copyright of its original author
Mr. T on high alert lurking behind some grass.
Photo taken in 2010. Photo credit: Evan Marc Dunstone  *This image is copyright of its original author
Here is Mr T SaTan Mapogo staking out in 2010.
Photo credit: Evan Marc Dunstone  *This image is copyright of its original author
Brutal killer Kinky Tail
"This hyeana was next to my vehicle about ten meters away grooming himself and then out of no where this mapogo came in and smacked him next to my vehicle. The hyeana than got away but only survived a few more days. The quality of the image is not great but i thought i would share the experience." © Wild Child (Wed 6/8/2008)  *This image is copyright of its original author
Days of our lions: Mapogo roars the entire bush-veld shivers with fear, long live Mapogos
By Inyati  *This image is copyright of its original author inyati cub
https://inyatigamelodge.com/2011/11/01/days-of-our-lions-mapogo-roars-the-entire-bush-veld-shivers-with-fear-long-live-mapogos/
MARCH 31, 2015 BY INYATI GAME LODGE
March 2015 Field Guide Report by Matt  *This image is copyright of its original author The sentimental bush. I have delayed writing this piece. There has been a drama playing out and instead of making it two parts as seems to be the trend these days when someone finds a marketable story like the Lord of the Rings movie series. Like any good drama it has highs and lows and it has so much sadness. I guess it all started about 6 months ago. One quiet evening unbeknownst to the Selati lion coalition, four old campaigners moved into this, a relatively stable part of the reserve. The story ended on the 15th of April with a sad and lonely death from a broken lion that never had a chance.  *This image is copyright of its original author A single Selati male lion was killed on his own in the North of our reserve, his body was found by a guide out on drive. He was the second casualty to the Majingelane lion coalition with one of his brothers having been killed by the coalition a few years before. A third brother was killed in two separate encounters with buffalo. The two surviving brothers were seen walking off the property never to return. The new coalition on the property had actually come up from the north of the Sabi Sand, where they had been established for a few years.  *This image is copyright of its original author The new coalition then went about looking for the females on their new territory. We left them one evening on a kudu kill in a drainage line and when we returned the next morning 4 of the 8 cubs from the Othawa pride were dead. The remaining cubs had scattered about the reserve lost and bewildered by something they had no clue about. It took many weeks of searching to get them all back, one young female even ended up following the Ximungwe pride around for two weeks. This signaled the start of the great race, the females from both prides took it upon themselves to mate with the lions as a distraction tactic and allow another female to lead the cubs to safety. However over time the males got two more cubs from the Othawas leaving a male and female cub left as the survivors from 8. The two cubs became sub-adults together and often found them alone having to fend for themselves. They lasted for many months and it seemed like for the female at least there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  *This image is copyright of its original author Then in February one of the Othawa females gave birth to three beautiful little cubs. The Majingelanes had become proud fathers once again. The Othawa group thought it was time to introduce the males to the two remaining sub-adults. Surely having cubs of their own would appease their vengeance on the Selati’s at last? The interaction did not go well and the female was seen fleeing the area with all the males after her. The young males were also injured in the skirmish. The female was found close to the lodge a few days later as her decomposing body could be smelt from afar. The young male alone and injured returned to the females with cubs who rejected him. I’m trying not to anthropomorphise here but I can only imagine how he must have felt, being hurt and hungry and then cast away from his family.  *This image is copyright of its original author In the meantime the short tailed lioness from the Ximungwes had been isolated from her pride because of a small injury. She was on the mend but needed to join the group again. She must have made the fatal mistake of contact calling close to the Othawas and their new cubs. The short tailed lady must have fought like a demon possessed judging by the signs of the struggle left behind as flattened and bloody grass. Her body had mostly been consumed by one of the male coalition when we found her the next morning.  *This image is copyright of its original author This story ends late one morning drive, after the males and the Othawas had finished off a kill and were relaxing by a watering hole. The lone surviving offspring of the Selati coalition tempted by food and a time gone by came close. He forlornly was calling more from instinct than hope. He lay in the shade of a tree hoping to get in close and join the group. The coalition then came up to him and as he lay there exhausted and broken, they approached with a look of intent. He accepted his fate as only one destined for the gallows can be, resided to his fate he did not run away. With a flurry of activity it was over, the males walked away leaving the broken body and a broken promise from his fathers. Hopefully now the bush has taken its required amount of blood and the strong genes of the Majingelane and by proxy the mighty Mapogos will see this new generation of cubs lasting long. However only time will tell and the bush is certainly not sentimental.  *This image is copyright of its original author Regards, THE INYATI TEAM Keith & Francis – Managers George (Head Ranger) & Solly (Tracker) Khimbini (Senior Guide) & Rodger (Tracker) Matthew (Senior Guide) & Nelson (Tracker) This month’s sightings report compiled by Matthew Brennan https://inyatigamelodge.com/2015/03/31/march-2015-field-guide-report-by-matt/
AUGUST 12, 2013 BY INYATI GAME LODGE
Khotavuxika / June 2013 Safari Journal XIMHUNGWE PRIDE  *This image is copyright of its original author The pride have been successful in their hunting they have started to move further in the northern part of their territory, kudu and zebra is some of the thing they killed during the month of this report. Unfortunately the Selati males have killed one of the cubs, leaving 5 cubs. It is unusual that the male will kill their own cubs, here is what is we think is reason of this behaviour. The pride have suffered losing cubs to pride males on few times in the days of Mapogo coalition of male, they now don’t trust any male lion, they hardly ever interact with the Selati males, as of recent they ran when confront these males. On many occasion the males don’t even follow them but on one situation they chased them got hold of the cub and killed it, instinctively. We hope the situation change, which is the lionesses stop running and accept the Selati male as pride males otherwise the result will be dreadful to the pride.  *This image is copyright of its original author https://inyatigamelodge.com/2013/08/12/khotavuxika-june-2013-safari-journal/
Mawuwani : July 2012 Wildlife Journal
By Inyati Ximhungwe pride The lionesses are trying very hard to keep the cubs away from the Selati male, keep them alive. We seen them their strategy from running and hunting to engage entertaining and mate. The one lioness, Queen is left to baby sit and feed the three remaining cubs, hunting without the help of the three sisters (who are busy entertaining the Selati males) have proven little difficult especially because she been limping for a while now but she is managing so far.  *This image is copyright of its original author It was much to our relief that the lioness and the 3 sub adults made a kill on one morning. We found them with bulging bellies and still bloodied. The Lioness had fed a bit but had clearly left the lions share to the youngsters. Hope beyond hope, as the Selati males still search for the last of the Mapogo’s cubs. The sad news this month is the lioness that had new litter lost all her cubs, we only got to see one cubs, we saw her carrying this cub to a wildebeest kill and the next day it was dead we are not sure what happened to it.  *This image is copyright of its original author https://inyatigamelodge.com/2012/08/03/mawuwani-july-2012-wildlife-journal/
JUNE 13, 2012 BY INYATI GAME LODGE
Mudyaxihi: May 2012 – Wildlife Journal Lion (Panthera leo) Selati coalition and Ottawa pride  *This image is copyright of its original author The new dominant males, Selati have spent a good part of the month with the three Ottawa lionesses of which two of them were in oestrous. The boys did manage to pull down at least couple of buffaloes this month. While they were feeding on the buffalo, one of the younger male sneak away he was found the next morning in the different area mating with two lionesses at same time. It didn’t take long before the three brothers caught up with him. This was the first time that the bond amongst these males was put to real test, the younger two males have been given so many chances in the past but this time it wasn’t the same there was few serious battle between among themselves and the younger two who initially claimed the lionesses where beaten up and driven off. One of the male younger male was seriously injured but the next day were found him with the female he lost the night before, this particular male have very strong character of them all. He often separate, he was one driving the group to search for the Mapogos, he was more aggressive when they killed Mr T. He is far less affectionate; often lie separate from the rest of the males. He was the one who continue the chase of Ximhungwe pride ended up in the tough jaws and claws of four Ximhungwe lionesses. This male can be easily identified by the prominent bulge on the right side of his heap and his frown or mean face he wears. (Note second picture blow)  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author https://inyatigamelodge.com/2012/06/13/may-2012-wildlife-journal-by-khimbini-hlongwane/
JUNE 27, 2011 BY INYATI GAME LODGE
Wildlife Journal June 2011 by Khimbini Hlongwane  *This image is copyright of its original author The three members of the Mapogo coalition, have had a difficult time this month, they have had at least two fights excluding the interaction they had with the Ottawa young males, where the young males were badly wounder and one almost had his spine broken. Note how alert they become every time the bush moves and look at all the scares on them. A week later after the first fight one of the males, Mr T went to get his face ‘redone’ in another fight.(see claw marks on his face) Mapogo never cease to amaze me at their age they still managed to bring down a young hippo, it seems the old boys still have it in them.  *This image is copyright of its original author On one icy morning we headed in search of the Ximhungwe pride and success found three members of lionesses and 2 older cubs they have just killed a waterbuck cow on early hours of the morning on the western boundary. We are starting to see more of the two new cubs as the mother begin to move den site frequently they are very cute and curious. She almost walked her little cubbies straight into a herd of about 300 buffalo luckily see the buffalos just in time to get the cubs up onto a hill.  *This image is copyright of its original author We also got to see the southern pride, a pride we very seldom see that consists of 1 adult lioness and 4 sub-adult male they come from south-eastern Sabi sand and we fortunate the killed a buffalo on concession.  *This image is copyright of its original author https://inyatigamelodge.com/2011/06/27/wildlife-journal-june-2011/
JULY 31, 2011 BY INYATI GAME LODGE
Wildlife Journal July 2011 by Khimbini Hlongwane Metsi and cubs, She has been mostly far in the south and west of our traversing area! We have notice that she stays away from her cubs for long time lately some times over two weeks. We think the cubs are already being pushed out by Metsi and will become independent soon. Only one of her cubs has been seen for the last two weeks so we suspect that the other young male, the nervous one has been killed by one of the territorial males, Xhinzele, Babalas or Kashane.  *This image is copyright of its original author The remaining cub is very relaxed with vehicles we have been seeing on the western boundary possibly to avoid the dominant male leopards are that roam our reserve. Xikhavi female has been seen few time times this month she seems to have moved her territory slightly more west. She was seen mating with Xindzele male. She later killed impala on the afternoon Xindzele male leopard join her filled his belly and then took the carcass up a tree. And the next morning a lioness join them! She chased them off, climbed up the tree and stole the carcass. Hlabankunzi female and Khashane male  *This image is copyright of its original author were chased up two separate trees by the three lionesses from the Ximungwe pride, accompanied by one male of the Mapogo brothers. They spent hours in the trees, staring at lions below. The lions soon lost interest and moved off into the shade, leaving the leopards bare trees. *This image is copyright of its original author *This image is copyright of its original author Lion  *This image is copyright of its original author Lion sightings have been great, on one morning we followed up on the noises of lions and buffalo interactions we heard the night before. It was only after a few minutes of followings tracks that we found two male lions (Mapogo) and a lioness from Ximhungwe pride on a buffalo kill. Mapogos are, as always, having some domestic disputes. A quiet afternoon nap at the buffalo carcass erupted into a full on brawl war. The Mapogo are showing signs of a recent battle with a neighbouring coalition. They have deep scratches and bite marks. Three of the Ximungwe lionesses have cubs at present. They range in ages from 2 to 10 months old respectively. One of the Ximhungwe lionesses killed an impala and went to collect her two cubs to join her on the feast. The Ottawa pride was seen also this month we watched trying to stalk a very young rhino calf. The calf stuck close to its mother and she protected it and mother rhino charged the pride, they soon lost interest and moved off.  *This image is copyright of its original author https://inyatigamelodge.com/2011/07/31/wildlife-journal-july-2011/ |
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