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the Selati coalition
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2013 Wildlife Journal:
 *This image is copyright of its original author The Selati males have continued the usual routine of patrolling and marking their territory against other male lion while searching for buffaloes. They did manage to kill a large buffalo bull, they were later joined by Ximhungwe lionesses which brought the cubs to be introduced them to their fathers and a meal. The buffalo carcass didn’t take long to finish off between the four brothers and four lionesses. They are all looking in good condition, and it seems that the one injured during an attempted buffalo hunt is healing well. The little cubs were looking very nervous when meeting their fathers for first time…  *This image is copyright of its original author Ximhungwe pride  *This image is copyright of its original author Two lionesses gave birth few months ago they been keeping their cubs up on the rocky hills. We excited to report that finally the mothers have brought their cubs down and we are having some great regular sightings. One female, short-tail female have three has the older cubs of just over three months old now and the other female have two cubs just under two months old and the photographic opportunites have been really great.  *This image is copyright of its original author
2013 Safari Journal:
 *This image is copyright of its original author Selati Coalition The coalition is still going very strong in defending their territory. During the month of this report we have seen them pushing more towards the eastern section of their territory, possibly following Othawa pride. This resulted in a territorial battle with the Manjingelane males, a coalition of four males that denominate the north-eastern of the Sabi sand game reserve. Two of the Selati males were injured in this fight, one had his bottom lip split and the other got his eye badly injured. Sadly the Selati male who got injured by buffalo who was recovering his condition have change direction, he now deteriorated, looking thin again. Othawa Pride After anxiously following the movements of this pride, we know that two of the three lionesses were pregnant and now believe that they both have given birth. We have yet to see the tiny scrap of spotted fur that a lion cub is during its first few days of life, but it appears from our most recent sightings that they are both lactating, a sure sign that there is a small mouth out there hungry for milk. We are waiting patiently for the mothers to introduce to cubs; hopefully we will photos to share with on the next report.  *This image is copyright of its original author Ximhungwe pride  *This image is copyright of its original author This resident pride has provided us with lots of great lion sightings during the course of the month. Having young cubs meant that they need to stay in a relatively smaller area making it easy to find them. We have had some regular sightings of them at their favourite spot where they relaxed on a large boulder, surreptitiously monitoring the movements of waterbucks who had come to the waterhole to drink.
2013 Safari Journal:
Selati coalition  *This image is copyright of its original author The last three months have been tough for the Selati coalition, the Majinilane have been keeping them on their toes. There was another dispute between these two groups of male lions this month. Three Majingilane male lions came across one Selati male, the smaller one and a Othawa lioness mating. Majingilane retreated immediately and one other Selati join in chasing the intruding males north-west across the sand river. We herd commotion across the river unfortunately we could follow across. It was on few minutes after the two Selati males chased Majingilane males, when suddenly we saw our boys running back across with the three males chasing them back. It was only the younger two of the Selati males that were in this territorial dispute. The Majingilane had the upper hand since three of the Selati we still injured, two were injured in previous battle and the third one was injured by buffalo and was not well enough to participate in this fight. There were no major added injuries on the recent territorial fight. However one of the males who was actively fighting and chasing the three intruding male is now badly limping. The boys are recovering well even managed to kill two buffalo cows in one evening. One of the Selati males showing battle scars after the encounter with the Majingilane males.  *This image is copyright of its original author
April 2013 Safari Journal:
 *This image is copyright of its original author The four male lions are recovering well from the battle injuries, the Majingelane coalition of lions have stayed away for a while. The Selati spent good part of the month of trailing behind the three Othawa lionesses.  *This image is copyright of its original author One of the male lions stole two impala kills from one of the leopards. Given only a few seconds the leopard (Nyeleti male) managed to claim one of his hard earned meal back and quickly put it up a tree. Persistence pays off! After three days and three nights of following the large herd of buffaloes, making few failed attempts, the four Selati male lions finally pulled down a buffalo cow. The herd came to rescue her several times but the lions had injured her badly that she couldn’t keep up with the rest of the herd it was only a matter of time the big cat knocked her of the feet. It was a hard earnt meal, they were already very-very hungry and the one with injured ribs was looking very weak.  *This image is copyright of its original author Ximhungwe pride This pride still provides most of our lion sightings. The lionesses have had a successful month of frequent killings.  *This image is copyright of its original author The cubs are growing fast and looking very healthy.  *This image is copyright of its original author Here the cubs were left of top of boulder for few minutes as mothers were trying to hunt the nearby herd of impala. Impalas saw the predators early and all got away.
May 2013 Safari Journal:
 *This image is copyright of its original author SELATI COALITION  *This image is copyright of its original author These males have been very active throughout the month moving great distances covering every corner of their territory. It could because of the recent encounters they had with Manjingelane coalition of male lions, but it could also be that they have pick up scent of the new pride(southern) frequenting the area.  *This image is copyright of its original author We often seen and heard the males in different areas of the reserve. We watched this Male roaring in cold misty morning possible looking for other members of his coalition.  *This image is copyright of its original author One of the Selati male lion has fresh wounds, we are not sure what happened. He could have met the Manjingelane males again. The boys may have fought among themselves as there is a lioness of Othawa pride that is in oestrous and they have been taking turns in mating with her. OTHAWA PRIDE It’s been long waiting! The pride has finally brought out the cubs for us all to see. We had our first proper sighting of the prides’ new litter at the beginning of the month. There are eight cubs in total, and it looks like two litters of four but we have been unable to sex them thus far.  *This image is copyright of its original author The lionesses killed a zebra and brought out the cubs to carcass and the 8 new cubs were very excited to have one of their first hard meal. We also got to see the little cubbies crossing the sand river which is full crocodile fortunately they all made it across.  *This image is copyright of its original author And a little dispute between two sister lions, the lioness with no cubs have been acting rather strange, she been unfriendly to her two sisters and their cubs. The fight started as play fight of which she initiated and she just went mad started hitting and biting hard and then there was a war. Fortunately the fight only lasted a minute or so with only few minor bleeding wounds on the mother lion.  *This image is copyright of its original author
JUNE 2013 SAFARI JOURNAL:
 *This image is copyright of its original author SELATI COALITION The coalition has given us wonderful viewing throughout the month. The male with injured ribs was battling again at the beginning of the month but he seems to be recovering now.  *This image is copyright of its original author Some of our guests were lucky to witness an amazing sighting of the Selati males killing a buffalo cow. The males quickly brought the buffalo down, we presume they broke her neck, but the herd of about 400 buffalo turned and chased the lions off their fallen sister. Despite their best efforts the cow was unable to stand up. The Bulls fiercely held the lions at bay for about an hour but it was only a matter of time before the herd had to move on and lions claimed their hard earn price. One of the cow taking the last glance at the lions and their kill, relactantly moving away as she had to stay with the herd otherwise she would fall victim as well.  *This image is copyright of its original author The one Othawa lioness with no cubs, the one that we believed was pregnant was seen with one of the Selati boys mating, this male made clear that he wasn’t sharing her with anyone not even his brothers.  *This image is copyright of its original author OTHAWA PRIDE After some few months monitoring Ottawa pride’s movement one can securely say that this animals have settle in our area or maybe for while. They are becoming more comfortable and started moving south-east into Ximhungwe pride territory. Their eight cubs are well feed and growing fast.  *This image is copyright of its original author On one afternoon we tracked them for couple of hours before finding them resting after having gorged themselves of nyala bull they killed. The cubs were playing with their full belies on the nearby fallen down marula tree. The pride also came across a dead hippo which they fed on it for couple of days before the salati males join them to feast on large meal. The hippo had some huge puncher wounds that seem to be from a battle with another hippo.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author 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
JULY 2013 SAFARI JOURNAL:
Selati Coalition and Othawa pride  *This image is copyright of its original author These males have been spending much of their time with the Othawa pride. They did not do much of their own hunting as we know them to rather follow the pride around helping them to eat the kill they have made. On one evening the lioness killed an impala which the males stole it . While fighting over the kill the lionesses and cubs left. It was good idea, they did manage to lose the males for couple of days but the boys got smart and they found the cubs and waited with them knowing the mothers will return at some point.  *This image is copyright of its original author We were sitting with the pride one morning when the lion decided to leave the cubs in the drainage line to go out hunting. As they were leaving , at distance of about 800 metres, they saw a male leopard, Tai dam who was heading in the direction of the cubs. The lionesses didn’t waste any time chasing him around they ran fast ahead of him back to move their cubs to a safe area. If he was given half a chance that male leopard would have killed those cubs just like the lion or hyena would kill the leopard but to eliminate competition for food.  *This image is copyright of its original author
August Safari Journal2013:
Selati Coalition Three members of the coalition are doing great often seen together hunting or patrolling their territory. The male that had injured paw has recovered well as he is able to keep with the group. Unfortunately we can’t say the same about the male with broken ribs. His condition is worsening and is he appears to be having difficulties in keeping up with any group of lions, his brother or any of the prides.  *This image is copyright of its original author The three males killed a buffalo in the Sand river, luckily he happened to be nearby got to join in few hours later for a feed. When others left he remained at carcass finishing the scraps knowing it may be a while before he eats again.  *This image is copyright of its original author Othawa Pride This pride has provided us with some fantastic lion viewing throughout the month. The prey species have dispersed because of lack food and water and predators have to cover large areas in search for their food. This pride has been seeing hunting often along the Sand River. They have been having great success hunting and killing mostly kudus and nyalas and the cubs are looking healthy. The lioness with no cubs is thought to be pregnant as she was mating with the most dominant Selati male, possessive as we know him, he was hogging her. The other sisters were denied access to her; the other males could not even look in her direction without him growling at them.  *This image is copyright of its original author Ximhungwe Pride The pride has been scarce for most part of the month but one of the few sightings we had of them was great. They had killed a large male kudu and the pride was feeding at the same time with fights between the cubs getting intense. The cubs are growing and their confidence in hunting is rising fast, although they are only getting in a way of their mother at the moment, they will learn.  *This image is copyright of its original author
SEPTEMBER 2013 SAFARI JOURNAL:
Selati Coalition and Othawa pride Three of the Selati males are often seen together constantly patrolling and marking their territory. They spent a good fair amount of time with the Othawa pride. Unfortunately the fourth male is still not doing well. He continues to lose condition due to the broken ribs and possible punched lung from when he was hit by a buffalo.  *This image is copyright of its original author Remaking the pride! The Othawa lionesses are growing the pride again. This pride was made of seventeen members few years ago and they made pulling down a buffalo look easy. We hope all the cubs make to adulthood and restore their pride.  *This image is copyright of its original author The males are regularly involved in a brotherly squabble over the Othawa lioness with no cubs, whether in estrous or not the boys still fight for her.  *This image is copyright of its original author On one afternoon we witnessed the lionesses hunting they made a kill just east of our airstrip, by the time selati male lion and cubs arrived there wasn’t much of impala carcass left.  *This image is copyright of its original author Ximhungwe pride The pride is moving great distances again reclaiming the large territory that they have ignored for a while as they were raising the cubs and avoiding the Selati male and Majingelane male lions. We had an unbelievable sighting of the whole pride climbing on a large jackalberry tree. It was all well and fun as they were climbing up the tree but coming down was rather ungraceful.  *This image is copyright of its original author
OCTOBER 2013 SAFARI JOURNAL:
Selati Coalition Sadly the formidable four – Selati male coalition – known for defeating the Magogo coalition is now down to three. One of the males has passed on after battling for over eight months from the internal damage caused by a buffalo hitting him. He was found dead east of our boundaries, we are not sure how he died but there is a theory that he was finished off by another buffalo.  *This image is copyright of its original author Othawa pride This pride continues to thrive, they have been extremely successful in their hunts and the cubs are growing by day. One of the lionesses was mating again this time she was with the large of the Selati males.  *This image is copyright of its original author The lionesses lost few of their kills to the selati male, which we followed hunting on one afternoon. They caught a young male nyala before they could tuck in and eat their kill the dominant selati male was there to claim it.  *This image is copyright of its original author On another occasion Othawa pride had some luck again. The pride was lazing on the banks of the sand river when the wild dogs caught a nyala ewe within earshot. The lions were off in an instant and quickly chased the dogs off the Nyala that was still kicking. A battle then broke out between the lionesses…. The tug of war lasted into the night. There was a lot of fighting but hardly any eating. These loud growls did not go unnoticed… the Selati male come running into the scene for some share of the carcass, he took no time to steal the kill from the lioness. He was able to keep his two brothers at bay as well. When we left he was still finishing off his spoils.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
November 2013 Bush journal & update by Matthew Brennan:
Selati: All three brothers have been seen with the one Othawa female and have been taking it in turns to mate with her. They have looked really skinny but for them it is a matter of priority with regards to mating or feeding. Surely when she passes through this cycle the males will return to their usual well fed selves. Othawa’s: The two mothers have been working hard to keep all the young ones alive and recently they have kept a nyala bull alive on a hunt so that the cubs could learn to make their own kills. Two of the cubs are very adventurous and are often not with their brothers and sisters, which always raises alarm bells with the rangers but as soon as we lose all hope they appear from some adventure or other no worse for the wear.  *This image is copyright of its original author
DECEMBER 2013 BUSH JOURNAL:
It has rained a great deal and we got 100mm in a few days. This caused the river to swell nicely and the northern section of the reserve was closed off for a bit. As soon as the levels were just passable we crossed the causeway to head north which raised a few pulses on the game viewer. We were however rewarded with the Hukumuri female, one Selati male and a group of buffalo all in the same sighting. We really got some great interaction here, watching the dynamic between the different animals.  *This image is copyright of its original author Firstly the lion was on his own and so his interest in the buffalo was superficial, as he quietly observed looking for any possible opportunity to exploit he preferred to keep himself hidden from the group. The group of buffalo then started reacting to something. Immediately we noticed that there attention wasn’t aimed at the lion. The buffalo had stood up and were looking in an easterly direction, ears pointed forward, and there whole bodies were focused on this new threat. We noticed the female leopard as she stood up on a rock next to a tree, which she knew was her best defence against the buffalo. She stood with her tail erect and made her easy to see, like she was teasing the buffalo. I’m quite sure the leopard was unaware of the lion through all of this. The buffalo decided it was time to move on and slowly drifted away while the leopard started walking and marking territory by spraying urine on leaves along her path. She then climbed a fallen over marula tree, the male lion was walking in the direction and as soon as the leopard saw him, she bounded out of the area and out of sight. This sighting portrayed the subtle and overt dynamics of superiority and dominance with these apex predators and buffalo.  *This image is copyright of its original author Xhimungwe’s: We had a scare with three of the cubs from this pride as two males from the south had chased them into the north and for quite a few days they were missing. Thankfully one pleasant morning we came around the corner and saw them with the rest of the pride and had eaten with their mother’s during the evening and so they were looking happy with themselves.  *This image is copyright of its original author Othawa’s: They have been absent for most of the month in the Othawa concession, but we have been getting regular updates on them, also they are currently back on the property and seem to be well. Selati’s: These males have been here, there and everywhere the last few weeks and have been roaring up a storm. The presence of intruding males on their territory has got them going bit. At the moment they are fat and contented after a buffalo feast that they picked off from the big herd that has been on our property from time to time. These males are doing well and have lots of cubs, their main function at the moment is to keep all competing males out of the area. They are regularly patrolling and scent marking in order to maintain dominance in the area. While the cubs from the two prides are close to a year old, they are still vulnerable and if the males lose their territory then we can expect the new lions to kill these cubs in order to bring the females into cycle and so they can start breeding. Male lions have quite a short life cycle of about 10 years and so they can’t afford to wait for the old cubs to reach maturity. 
From Tintswalo Safari Lodge:
"The afternoon of the 19th, the Talamati pride was found with 3 Buffalo kills on 4x4. Making 3 Lion sightings for the afternoon."  *This image is copyright of its original author
 (10-22-2016, 01:36 AM)Georgel Wrote:(10-19-2016, 04:49 PM)Ngala Wrote:(10-19-2016, 02:16 PM)Georgel Wrote:(12-05-2015, 08:30 PM)SVTIGRIS Wrote: I was having a debate on which coalition is better, the Majingilanes or the Selatis along with the poster Majingalane, I argued for the Majingilanes, but I'm interested in your guys opinions. Here's my 2 cents. I think no moderator should be able to "censor" what someone thinks or opinions they express as long as it done in a respectful manner and it has something to do with the thread. If someone is blatantly lying or "stirring the pot" just to do so, that is a different matter. Censorship is not something to be used lightly, it's a big deal to determine what someone says as being "valid or not" and it shouldn't be done without just cause. We're a team here, "Team Nature," and we need to help one another grow without dictating how they grow. If somebody has a legit question or opinion they should be able to express it. 
come on brudders chill. This is just a small matter:) btw beautifully said @Pckts
I guess debates makes forums more interesting and actually serves it's purpose else it would just become another info and picture site. Opinions are always subjective and it's ok to dislike, in that case just throw in our perspective as long as we feel it's true and its respectful. On that note, @Ngala kindly remove my post #244 from the Matimba thread thks. I think I went over the line sorry @LionKiss. Let's get some positive energy going boys! |
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