The Mhangeni pride are not what they once were.
The younger members of the pride are essentially doing what their mothers did once upon a time, breaking off and operating independently. For different reasons, mind you, but basically operating as a separate entity.
One of the main reasons is that the adult females have been looking to reproduce once more. At least one female has two young cubs of just over three months that she has been denning in or near the Sand River, and latest reports indicate that another female has been seen lactating, so is also stashing young cubs somewhere. A third looks heavily pregnant.
Last night three of the adult females and two cubs were found near Taylor’s Crossing, right on Londolozi’s western boundary. This morning tracks of at least two lionesses were found on Londolozi, having seemingly been hunting in the grasslands, but then disappeared over the western boundary.
The interesting development was last night’s movement of the Matimba males.
At around 18:30 we left the dark-maned Matimba male heading east from Plaque Clearing, at the red dot on the map. His brother had been seen in the morning on the opposite side of the river to him.
This morning at 04:30, loud roars of both the males reverberated through the camp, waking most people from their slumbers I imagine. They were roaring from directly in front of Granite Camp, from around the blue dot on the map.
By 06:15, ranger Chris Goodman and tracker Jerry Hambana had found them at the pink dot, very close to where the Mhangeni females were last night.
One of the males moves up the hill from the Sand River valley.
Before too long, the males were on the scent of the lionesses, following with clear intent. When they heard one of the lionesses roaring further west, the pace picked up considerably, and they broke into a determined trot.
Surging over the hill once they’d heard the Mhangeni lioness roar…
Pausing to listen once more…
Remember, the cubs of the Mhangeni lionesses were sired by the Majingilane coalition, and would therefore almost certainly be killed by the Matimba males if they were caught.
Thankfully, it seems as if the lioness with the two cubs had already got them safely to a den site on the north bank of the Sand River, and the lioness that was roaring was one of the two who had been hunting on Londolozi, who didn’t have any cubs with her at the time.
The Matimba males eventually sighted the lionesses in the distance and launched into the chase, foregoing the chance to hunt buffalo in an open clearing, bypassing them in pursuit of the females.
They had run through a very rocky area where the vehicles could not follow at speed, and by the time Chris had driven around to where they had last seen the males disappearing, they had only a line of tracks to go on, superimposed on the tracks of lionesses moving at speed.
Eventually it seems as though the Matimbas lost interest in the chase, as they were found soon after, resting in a thick block with no females in sight. Since it wasn’t a rival male they had been chasing, it is possible it was more out of curiosity that they pursued the lionesses, maybe in an attempt to size up the mating potential.
With the Mhangeni pride regularly appearing in the western sections of Londolozi, they are potentially going to be coming into contact with the Matimba males more frequently, which, if they are to ensure the safety of their cubs, is something they will need to try and avoid. Over the last few weeks we have seen the Matimba coalition expanding their normal areas of movement, and if they sense the incursion of a new pride with potential mates, they would be remiss not to try and take advantage of such an opportunity…
Are these majingilane Cubs
Hi Cameron. Yes the Mhangeni pride’s cubs are fathered by the Majingilane.
Great update James. Let’s hope the cubs stay safe. It will be difficult for the Tsalala and Mhangeni Lionesses, with the different coalitions roaming through Londolozi, to safeguard their cubs…but they are good mothers and very smart. Let’s also hope that luck is on their side.
Thank you for update, beautiful photos!!
how come the matimbas have cubs with tsalala pride which has 4 sub adult lions from majingilanes? did they kill them?
Hi. No they haven’t killed them. One of the adult lionesses from the Tsalala pride (the tailless lioness) has taken the cubs and moved them further east into an area that the Matimba males do not venture in order to ensure their safety. The remaining two lionesses have stayed behind and and mated with the Matimba males hence the two new young additions to the pride.
Hi! why did the mhangeni split from tsalala pride? will the mhangeni males will leave their pride this year?
Hi Rex. The history of the split is quite a long and complex one but basically the arrival of the Majingilane to Londolozi meant that the Tsalala pride’s youngsters were in danger (because their father’s were the Mapogo). As a result, one of the lionesses moved west with the cubs and raised them to independence separately. Those youngsters never re-joined the pride as they grew older and essentially formed the break away, Mhangeni pride. In response to your second question, the Mhangeni males are about 3 years old now and are spending longer and longer periods exploring away from the pride. They are likely to become fully independent some time this year.
thank you
Amy thank you
Do you know If any selati males are still alive
There is no update of Majingilanes mating with Mhangeni pride recently, who pregnant those two Mhangeni lionesses who are about to give birth?
Those Mhangeni new cubs are Matimbas offsprings. Because i haven’t of Majingilanes mating with Mhangeni pride. I did once read from Singita that Matimba Male mating was seen mating with Mhangeni lioness for 5 days.
The lioness that give birth to 4 cubs a few months ago was Pregnant by Majingilanes but the other cubs born are fathered by Matimbas.
I think from those 4 cubs (fathered by Majingilane) only two are alive. And Alejandro agree with you. Because Rob said there has been no interaction of Majingilanes with Mhangeni pride recently.
Looks like Matimbas have mated with some of the females but they are now after the other females of the pride. Recently a Mhangeni lioness was seen in Djuma, the same day the Matimba Males were reported in Simbambili. The other members of the pride were also reported on Elephant Plains and simbambili on the same day also.
Matimbas are the best Males.