SIGHTING OF THE WEEK
Ximungwe Pride and Mapogo
Ximungwe Pride and Mapogo
The Sand River has remained at a high level but fortunately the Ximungwe pride and Mapogo brothers had crossed southwards before it flooded. Makhulu and Sataan got wind of the buffalo in the south and when leaving on drive one morning we found them with a young buffalo kill right outside the entrance to the lodge. Unbeknown to us at the time the two young Ottawa male lions (the Mapogo’s sons) were also in the area and by the looks of it the two younger males had been responsible for the kill as they were covered in mud, but then lost the kill to their fathers.
The next morning we found the Ximungwe pride in the south as well and they made an attempt at hunting the herd of buffalo but without success. They eventually met up with the Mapogo brothers and remained in the south for the better part of a week, perhaps attracted by not only the buffalo but also the zebra and wildebeest.
The pride was not seen to make any substantial kills though and this may have convinced them to head back north as the next day they were 7km away and back near the river again. We were watching them lazing about one morning when suddenly one of the lionesses noticed something and began to stalk. All of a sudden there was commotion as all the lioness jumped up and ran to where their sister had disappeared. When we followed we found that the 13 month old cub who has been wondering around on his own for the last month had finally found the pride. However it was not the happy family reunion that we had hoped for as the lioness started attacking the youngster. What happened next though was very surprising as Sataan came in and fought off the lionesses. He then stood over the youngster and continued to protect it against the hostile females (Bernie and Ali Han were guests of mine at the time and managed to get this amazing video – watch here!). We know that this Mapogo is not the father of the cub so it was interesting to see this behaviour. It did however suggest that the future for this cub is very uncertain now as the lionesses do not appear to want to accept the youngster back into the pride.
The next morning we found the Ximungwe pride in the south as well and they made an attempt at hunting the herd of buffalo but without success. They eventually met up with the Mapogo brothers and remained in the south for the better part of a week, perhaps attracted by not only the buffalo but also the zebra and wildebeest.
The pride was not seen to make any substantial kills though and this may have convinced them to head back north as the next day they were 7km away and back near the river again. We were watching them lazing about one morning when suddenly one of the lionesses noticed something and began to stalk. All of a sudden there was commotion as all the lioness jumped up and ran to where their sister had disappeared. When we followed we found that the 13 month old cub who has been wondering around on his own for the last month had finally found the pride. However it was not the happy family reunion that we had hoped for as the lioness started attacking the youngster. What happened next though was very surprising as Sataan came in and fought off the lionesses. He then stood over the youngster and continued to protect it against the hostile females (Bernie and Ali Han were guests of mine at the time and managed to get this amazing video – watch here!). We know that this Mapogo is not the father of the cub so it was interesting to see this behaviour. It did however suggest that the future for this cub is very uncertain now as the lionesses do not appear to want to accept the youngster back into the pride.
OTHER SIGHTINGS
Dewane Male Leopard
Dewane Male Leopard
The Dewane Male continues to make his presence felt and looks to be expanding his territory eastwards. As with a few months ago he managed to kill an adult female kudu, no easy accomplishment even for a male leopard. On closer inspection we also found a dead kudu calf which suggests he must have killed the mother and then the calf when it came back to find its mother.
Hlabankunzi Female Leopard
Hlabankunzi was seen regularly although most sightings of her only lasted a short while as she disappeared back towards her den where her cubs are hopefully doing well. There was a heartstopping moment when we found her and Dewane Male in the same area near to where we think her den is. We did not see her courting with this male so he is unlikely to be the father of her current cubs which means he would kill them if he found them in order to bring her back into season so he could father her cubs. Both leopards eventually moved in opposite directions and with no drama.
Tlangisa Female Leopard
We watched Tlangisa one evening as she stalked some impala from a termite mound. As she fixed her gaze on the antelopes the rain started coming down and she abandoned the hunt to seek refuge under a bush. The next morning she was found with a young impala kill so she did have success after the rain had abated.
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