Sparta Pride

The Lion Dynamics after the Flood

January 30, 2012
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After a lengthy break from the bush it is wonderful to be back. I have returned to a very different landscape having missed the monumental floods nearly two weeks ago. I drove around yesterday and am simply amazed by how the area along the river has changed so dramatically. Over the next few days whilst [...]

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The Growing Sparta Pride

January 23, 2012
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This video was forward to us by our recent guest James who managed to capture some fabulous footage of the Sparta Pride and their new cubs over the Christmas period. Growing in size and attitude each day, these cubs are going to be interesting to watch as they mature into adulthood and form the foundation [...]

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The Week in Pictures # 29

January 20, 2012
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This week started off beautifully with some fantastic sightings of the Sparta Pride and their new cubs, a pack of Wild Dogs crossing the Sand River and an unknown Female Leopard in the North. The Majingilane Males were seen interacting with the Sparta Pride cubs which bodes well for the future considering the dynamic which [...]

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Majingilane – The Story of Lion Warfare

January 16, 2012
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Introducing: Majingilane – The Story of Lion Warfare A male lion takeover is a hard reality of the wilderness. Since the 8th June 2010, when the Majingilane Coalition arrived in the Sabi Sands and began to take control from the Mapogo coalition, the rangers, trackers and guests of Londolozi and its surrounding properties have witnessed [...]

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The Week in Pictures #27

January 6, 2012
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This week was abundant with leopard sightings, as David Dampier mentioned on Wednesday. There were many familiar faces, but perhaps what was most interesting for me was seeing some leopards new to the area. We are so fortunate at Londolozi to view leopards that are very relaxed with the game drive vehicles, and because of [...]

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A Once-in-a-Lifetime Sighting

January 5, 2012
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Many people have a bucket list. Things to do and see or places to go before they die. Our sighting last week was something so rarely witnessed in the bush that nobody would sensibly put it on their list, knowing how remote their chances of seeing it to be: A lioness ferrying her newborn cubs [...]

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COMING SOON: Majingilane – The Story of Lion Warfare

January 3, 2012
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In the next few days, a 15 minute short film on the Majingilane Coalition will be released on the Londolozi Blog. Produced by myself for YOU (the loyal and devoted viewers of the Londolozi blog), as well as all other lion and wildlife enthusiasts around the world – here is a little taster, teaser & [...]

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Four Majingilane Males together with Sparta Pride cubs

December 20, 2011
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As mentioned a short while back the Sparta Pride appears to be on the mend. The one lioness has two cubs that are thought to have been born around September this year…they are incredibly cute. They play around with not a care in the world, oblivious to the chaos that surrounds them. Two days ago [...]

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New Lion Cubs at Londolozi

December 5, 2011
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It is with much excitement that we can confirm that there are two new additions to the Lions of Londolozi. In the last 3 weeks we have started seeing two cubs belonging to one of the Sparta Pride lionesses. Although we can not be completely sure as to a date of birth we speculate it [...]

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Lion Warfare: Majingilanes mating with Sparta Lionesses

August 18, 2011
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For the last year the Sparta Pride have been on the back foot continually running away and avoiding any conflict with the four Majingilane Males. Seldomly seen venturing near their traditional hunting fields of the past in fear that they will be met by a show of force! That has all now changed…

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Buffalo Attacked by Lionesses – Escapes Death

June 8, 2011
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It was as if they were gladiators fighting in an arena. A moment of raw African Magic happening right in front of us! The spectators sat transfixed; from start to finish they starred, a medley of emotions… joy, shock, horror, awe, love and hate. The whole event will remain embedded in the memories of those fortunate few who got to witness the battle. WARNING: Not for sensitive viewers….

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Sparta Lionesses Fight Majingilanes for Giraffe Kill

June 1, 2011
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The kill was made around midday; the sound of the two lionesses bringing down the sub-adult giraffe could be heard from Pioneer Camp. Immediately the two Breakaway Sparta Pride Females began to feed. They knew all to well that the Majingilane males were in the area and it was only a matter of time before they arrived on the scene…

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The State of the Sparta Pride

May 1, 2011
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The Sparta Pride have been through a rough ride. Their numbers are continually changing as they continue to get chased about by various other lions. Here is footage of the current composition of the pride as they move around the region of the Mxabeni River.

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Remembering the Shaw’s Male

March 23, 2011
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Remembering the past often helps to explain current events. Hence, I feel it useful to wind back the clock a few years and write about a great lion of the past: The Shaw’s Male, aka The Rollercoaster Male….

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The Tsalala – Sparta Conflict

March 21, 2011
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The two lionesses from the Tsalala pride lay in wait. Not more than 50 meters away the young lions of the Sparta pride were feeding on a giraffe carcass brought down the night before. Both prides were without males and the stage was set for an explosive conflict…

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The Lions – The Tsalala Young Male

March 7, 2011
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The Tsalala Young Male, affectionately known by many in the Sabi Sands as Solo, was born half way through 2005. Of a litter of four, he was the only one who made it through the hurdles of adolescence into adulthood. Having emerged from a nomadic period, he is now at the helm of the embattled Sparta Pride…

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The Lions – Breakaway Sparta Pride (2+1)

February 8, 2011
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The Sparta Pride, also known as the Eyrefield Pride, sits close to many people’s hearts. Providing the core of the lion viewing at Londolozi this pride also spawned, what is thought by many to be one of the strongest ever coalitions to reign of the southern Kruger area, the Mapogos. However, over the last year a breakaway has occurred with two females continuing the blood line of the Mapogos amidst the territorial battles brought by the Majingilane Coalition….

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Lion Warfare – An Update Part 6

January 24, 2011
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It’s been awesome to see the response that blogs about Lions are receiving. For those that have been following the story of the different Prides, the update is as follows….

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Lion Warfare – Well Not Quite…

October 28, 2010
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As we rounded the last corner, the unmistakable sight of a large pride of lions feeding on buffalo carcass greeted us. Nearby, however, was another smaller pride of lions. On closer inspection we discovered that it was one of the Sparta females and the three cubs lying off to the side of the kill, whilst a large portion of the Southern Pride sat feeding on the kill…

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Lion Warfare – An Update Part 5

September 8, 2010
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The lion dynamics at Londolozi continue to be intriguing. Every morning the ranging team heads out into the bush hoping to link another piece of the jigsaw puzzle together. Quite simply the fact that there is no fence between the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park makes for a natural ecosystem, natural movements of nomadic lions and a constant shifting of territories. It has the makings of the very complicated soap opera…

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Lion Warfare – An Update Part 3

July 8, 2010

6 July- We all woke up excited to see what had happened in the north with the lions. The guys tracked the 5 Mapogo Males further north but then surprisingly they headed back west across our boundary. Reports from Singita said they too had tracks which headed all the way through their property meaning that the males had headed back to the centre of their territory in the west of the Sabi Sands. As far as we know the new males are still far east. Maybe the Mapogo just came through to give the Majingilane males a vocal warning that they are not welcome in this area. As far as we there has been no contact between the two coalitions.

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A Tale of Taylors Crossing

February 16, 2010

A giraffe slipped and fell at Taylors Crossing. Over the course of the day this unique sighting drew lions, crocodiles and a rapidly rising river. The outcome was both interesting and unique. Warning: Not for sensitive viewers. To view the full post and video click on the heading.

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