It is with great joy, that we at Londolozi, are able to show you pictures and a brief video of the newest lion arrivals to the area. The Sparta lions have three precious new cubs to add to their ever-growing pride. We are still unable to accurately sex the cubs but, now that they appear to be being stashed away in the heart of Londolozi, we anticipate sightings becoming more regular.
There is nothing as special as looking into the dark eyes of a lion cub.
Even at this age they have razor blade teeth - Cindy Matthews
It is always a very special time to have lion cubs on the reserve and we just hope that their mother can protect them during this vulnerable stage. I’m sure, that you can appreciate that with animals still so small, we at Londolozi, are practising the highest levels of sensitivity. We appreciate your patience when it comes to more footage and news on these wonderful additions.
Moving around under the watchful eyes of mom.
Whatever glimpses we can get of these three animals is a real privilege. We are not 100% sure of the age of these cubs but we think they are in the region of 7 weeks old. The reason we say this, is that on around the 4th March, the tracking team found one of the Sparta lionesses with new born cubs. To reduce impact, the area was immediately zoned; sadly the cubs were not seen again. We all presumed that they died. It looks likely now that she just moved them to another location, and those are the cubs we are seeing now.
The black tips to the ears; a delightful addition to these little cubs.
Written, photographed and filmed by Adam Bannister
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What little beauties they are !! Thanks for showing us Adam 🙂
too cute. wonderful news.
So beautiful Adam, and uplifting, what a delight to see, thank you.
Precious! I ENVY you! Thank you!
Precious..thank you
If there’s anything in the world cuter than these cubs, I can’t imagine it! Thank you for sharing!
This is the place where lions should be (in the wild). (And tigers and bears, oh my)
I am so excited to see some new babies….take care little ones, stay close to mom, we will be following you.
Oh Adam you found them and they are beautiful! Thanks for the pics and video. Looking forward to more cub antics in the future! Thanks very much for posting.
wow they are fantastic love them
Oh my, such a nice surprise. They are just too cute for words. I’m so glad you were wrong about their demise with the end result being these three beauties. Thanks for sharing.
I love these posts because it’s a slice of Londolozi! Thanks, Dana and the Frost family.
Here’s hoping they stay safe – beautiful photos, wish I was there to see them in person!
Adam, thank you so much for the photos from such a beautiful sighting. They cubs are adorable. You said that you are guessing the cubs to be about 7 weeks old. Does this then mean that the blog from Jan 5th ‘Sparta Pride has Brand New Lion Cubs’ http://blog.londolozi.com/2012/01/sparta-pride-has-brand-new-lion-cubs/ are not the same as the ones seen in this blog?
Awesome, beautiful sightins and photography. Thank you.
I LOVE the black tipped ears! Adam was your father Anthony Banister? We met him once and he signed all his books for us. Would love think you are his son or a nephew perhaps?
Hi Anne- alas as far as I know I am no relation to the great photographer Anthony Bannister. His work though provides me which much inspiration.
Even to my untrained eye I could tell they were much younger than the four four-month old Tsalala Pride cubs we were the first to see. AND I could see they looked different….just as adorable, but I’m still partial to our four. Sadly only one remains, so I’m thrilled there are more cubs to follow. Another happy ending that they “survived” when you thought they hadn’t. Shayne managed to survive 5 weeks on his own, only to be killed by his uncle. I’m hoping these three have a long-er life span, and we will see them when we return.
Sharing is caring – Thanks Londolozi for making your guests part of your family xx
Interesting, I left a comment earlier and it is not here. Great sighting and beautiful photos and words as were the ones from Jan. 5 blog. In the current blog it is stated that the guess is the cubs are going on 7 weeks. Are this not the same cubs seen in the blog from Jan 5? if they are that makes the ones seen today 4 months?
Well done and many thanks – BBE
Very good question. Sadly the litter that was seen in early 2012/late 2011 is no longer. The three cubs from that litter were not seen again after the big floods of mid January. We fear they may have been swept away with the waters. This litter that we talk of now (also 3 cubs) is different. A different mother too.
What a beautiful photos !!! Thank you!!!I would like to be with you to watch these wanderful cubs!!
Dear Adam, Can you also inform us about the mothers: which females is the mother of the 2 cubs (is it the 2nd oldest?), which is the mother of the cubs that perished in January, the mother of these 3 new cubs ? E.g. the oldest was still seen mating end Nov/early Dec. 2011, but hasn’t had cubs yet, or is she mother of this brand-new litter ? What about the 3 sisters of the young Sparta-males. Have they all mated ? Thanks for any information you can give in addition. Best regards, Patrik
It is all a little bit difficult to do this at the moment with the lionesses never really being in the same place at the same time. I will try have a good look at the individuals and then when I have some good info Il put something together.
Hi Adam
What is the total status on Sparta cubs? we are seeing MM posting 3 new cubs also..
If you could give a quick account of who is who it would be appreciated for updates:)
Hi Syl. The 3 cubs that are mentioned in other reserves updates are the same 3 that we have on this side. They were born on Londolozi, moved off and have now been moved back onto our land. As they get more and more mobile so they will move between the two portions of the Sabi Sands. The Sparta Pride is currently 5 females and 5 cubs!
Absolutely nothing cuter in this big world
Thanks Adam…much appreciated:)
Great pics of the cubs Adam! Which coalition fathered these cubs?
Majingilane Males
Are these the cubs as a result of the two lions we saw mating in October 2011 – if sohow fantastic for you all. Great photos