Whilst two of the lionesses from the Sparta Pride were off unsuccessfully hunting giraffe in the thickets around the Maxabeni drainage, the seven cubs decided that they would try their own luck at a hunt. The target of their skirmish: a large Leopard Tortoise. A few days ago we were fortunate enough to witness the unusual behaviour of a Nile Crocodile catching and killing a Leopard Tortoise. Although not as unusual as that, this sighting sure did provide some entertainment! Unless of course you are a poor Leopard Tortoise…in which case you will be tired of being the focus of Londolozi’s blog posts.

Two lionesses from the Sparta Pride lead the 7 cubs that currently make up the future generation of this magnificent pride

Priceless – The seven cubs and one lioness all huddled up and drinking at the same time.

Immediately after this drink one of the youngsters saw the slow moving figure of a tortoise up ahead. In a flash he was bounding across the clearing and was upon the unsuspecting reptile. Instinct took over and the tortoise drew into his shell. He had no option but to sit it out as each cub took their turn at trying to prize him out of his home.

Even with claws unsheathed and teeth out this little lion cub could not get into the Leopard Tortoises tough shell

Maybe the underside would prove more easily accessible…not to be

Another cub went and tried his luck

Even with two of them they could not do it

This tortoise would survive to live another day…

Written, photographed and filmed by Adam Bannister