The name ‘Majingilane’ was coined with reference to watchmen who patrol the night, marching with intent, never altering their course. The Majingilane Coalition are believed to have originated from the Manyelethi Game Reserve and were part of a pride which had built up a feisty reputation for hunting buffalo.
The Majingilane males were born sometime around 2004/2005. By late 2009, the 5 males were forced to leave their natal area and moved south into the Sabi Sands. Deciding to work as a group instead of individually they roamed around like a gang, causing havoc and sending animals, of all species, scattering for safety.
There were rumors of their arrival in the Sabi Sands in late 2009, but it was only at the beginning of June that they asserted their
dominance and the lion dynamics in the Sabi Sands changed. On the 8th of June 2010, the Majingilane Males came to blows with the dominant Mapogo Males, Kinky-Tail and Satan.
What occurred over the next 24 hours was brutal to say the least. Kinky-Tail and Satan isolated one of the 5 Majingilanes, bringing him down with spine-breaking bites. A short while later, the surviving Majingilanes retaliated and pinned down Kinky-Tail, whilst his brother helplessly tried to defend him.
Upon realization that Kinky-Tail had been killed, Satan ran non-stop into the western sector of the Sabi Sands where he would join up with the remaining four of his Mapogo brothers. There was a belief that the two warring coalitions would come to blows shortly after that. However, what was billed to be the ‘Greatest showdown of male lions ever seen’, never actually materialized, although there are supporters who claim the fight will still take place…
The surviving four Majingilanes took control over much of Londolozi, starting with Marthly and then slowly areas south and west across the Sand River. With this land grab came the purging of the lions that did not fit in with their plans for dominance.
At Londolozi, the first pride to experience their fury was the much-adored Tsalala Pride. Four out of the eight sub-adults were killed leaving just the four young girls and their three mothers. As of September 2010 the two adult lionesses gave into the Majingilanes and began mating with ‘the enemy’. It’s amazing, in human-logic, to think that the females were attempting to fall pregnant with the very males which just months prior had so violently killed their own offspring. But nature works in strange ways and this phenomenon ensures that it is only the strongest and best genes, which survive. One thing you can be sure of is any lion making it through this period will have to be tough as nails.
Next came the Sparta Pride, in mid December two of the three cubs were killed and still at the end of January 2011 a few of the Sparta pride members were unaccounted for. The pride has been split into fragments and in fear of being found do not vocalize. They are thus, unable to reunite as a solid unit. So plays out a difficult passage of time for the Sparta Pride.
The Majingilane’s continue to grab more land, and exert their dominance, as they become more vocal and their darkening manes start to thicken. As they continue their quest for ultimate domination it makes me wonder two things:
- Will we ever see a Maginjilane/Mapogo showdown?
- Will these four males reach the point where this mutualistic relationship starts running dry?
For now they are strong, and they only continue to get stronger. Whilst we hate to see what they are doing to the lions which we hold so close to our hearts, we love the drama and action that comes with it. Either way you look at it, we are fortunate to be able to see this story unfold first hand in one of Africa’s remaining wild frontiers. The video below outlines who each of the four members of the Majingilane Coalition are.
Let us know your thoughts, comments and answers to the above questions in the comments section below.
They have decimated the Styx pride too 🙁
Very Nice Blog Update Adam,
I Think that the 3 Old Surviving Mapogos Dont Have Much Left in Them Now to Go For Another Showdown Against the 4 Majingis as Anyways They Will be Outnumbered as Three Against Four,The Last Time Legendary Mapogo Coalition was Victorious in a Territorial Battle was 8 Months Back when 5th Majingi was Wiped Out Since then Mapogos have always Come Second Best in Territorial Clashes It can also be Partly Blamed on Lack of Unity Among Mapogos When Rasta and Bent Spine Needed Mr T/Satan in Territorial Clash against Majingis on 8 july the Real Character Mr T was Nowhere to be Seen and Now When Everything is Lost Mr T is Back in Town Trying to Put Up a Brave Face.
As Per Reports from Ulusaba and Other Lodges it is Also Believed that Dreadlocks Mapogo had Also Fallen Prey to Majingis in December Last Year ,So Now the Once Formidable Mapogos Have Dwindled to Just Three.So May Be the Mega Showdown of Majingis Vs Mapogos Has Already Taken Place in Past Few Months But In Every Case Majingis Have had a Numbers Advantage Over Legendary Mapogos.
But Interesting Times Lie Ahead as There have been Reports that a New Coalition of Three Large and Strong Males has Been Seen Near Windmill Area and Some Days Back there was Another Younger Coalition of Four which Had Been Seen Near Nkorho Vocally Challenging Majingis. So If Majingis Focus More on Capturing More Land Then they May Eventually Land Up Being Invaded Themselves !!!!!
Those are some good comments Ravi. I think you may be right about the Mapogos having lost this battle! What is fascinating is how we seem to have a continual stream of coalitions investigating the Majingis eastern boundary! I have watched, of late, as the Majingis are spending more and more time apart from each other as they take on more land…they need to be careful because individually I don’t think they are the most formidable beings…it is only as a collective that they are truely special. Do they need to proceed with caution?
Adam I definitely think that they need to move together as a unit and make sure that they do not spread themselves to thin and too wide. Although they are establishing their territory and have been relatively unchallenged in the last few months, they must be careful of not growing this area and the prides within it too quickly for themselves to manage. I would be interested to here any thoughts on my opinion…?
Personally I don’t think Majingilane are masters of Sabi Sands .
In fact their domination means Styx pride and 2 lionesses from Tsalala pride . BB and the other 4 young lionesses don’t accepted yet. In fact their relations with Styx girls are quite cold, simply these lionesses don’t like these guys ( but these is not a surprise if you remember how bloody was their relations with Mlowathi males ) . The young Styx male is in hart of Majingilane teritory for over half year and keep his temper with the suport of older lionesses from Styx .
Sparta pride lost 3 cubs and one female but they are not defeated – in the past Eyerefield girls stayed with young Mapogo long time , is that what I think will happen in these case too ; the 3 males will stay togheter with pride and become more and more dominant .
On the other hand Mapogo indeed dominate Sabi Sands for 5 years , they use brutality and if they were togheter I think Majingilane never win the easten part of Sabi Sands.
In fact these coalitions never met in battle , Majingi defeat Kinky Tail who was crazy enough to fight alone against four .
In present there is not possible for Mapogo to sustain a fight against any coalition of four adult males. Makulu has 13 years , Bent Spine never fully recover for his wounds and Mr T was always litlle crazy and never that kind of hero…
Hi just watched the brothers in blood great documentary insightful and makes all other documentaries outdated. I dont understand how the Mapogo reign of 6 years did not produce any heirs is their blood line lost? Also i dont understand why they let mr t back into their coalition only for him to kill off all the cubs why did makulu do nothing to stop this?
I don’t think Kinky Tail was a “crazy” lion. The Nkorho reports and other recent information shows clearly enough that the two Mlowathis started the offense together, but during the chase Mr. T has “lost” the pace, giving the Majinjilanes the unbelievable chance to fight 4 vs 1.
I have to agree that the Mapogo/Majingi showdown is highly unlikely to occur. However, reports of a new coalition of four moving in from the east could certainly make life interesting in the next few months…
There May Be Signs of a Mega Showdown in the Making, Till Now the Territory of 2 Gijimas was Inbetween the 4 Majingis and 6 Sava/Matimba Males But Now with the Demise of Gijimas We Have 4 Majingis and 6 Matimbas Right Next to Each Other. So From Now on Majingis Should Better Watch their Backs as the 6 Matimba Males are Well Capable of Taking on Majingis !!!!
If you would like to see photographs of the June 8, 2010 fight between, the Majingilane Males and thet Mapogo Males, Kinky-Tail and Satan, check out my blog: http://bit.ly/Mapogo
I just returned from your camp and saw the big brothers,but never saw them in action.They are really powerful.Hope that the females will be safe.Adam thanks for a great tracking experience.Sherri
that question of yours may just about be answered as of this week – will we ever see a showdown between Majingilanes and mapogo? I am waiting everyday for it to happen.
The Mapogos were simply past their prime when the Majingilanes came into theirs. And remember so many things didnt favor the Mapogos at the wrong time. The biggest factor was of course they were all declining in age. Combined with the fact that they were extending their territory and so they divided their grip on their empire. Mr t and kinky t held one part. Big Mak, Rasta, Dreadlocks and Pretty boy held the other front. The 4 Majin attacked and outnumbered Mr t and Kinky t, killing kinky t in the process. This part is sad because according to accounts of those who whitenessed the battle, kinky t met the 4 enemy lions head on and he was for moments beating them, but against 4 he couldnt keep up the momentum. Mr t showed up to help his brother minutes later and also seemed to be winning momentarily but was soon forced to escape as kinky t could no longer fight…if Mr T had showed up just a few minutes earlier they might have been able to repel the invaders or at least both escaped alive to rejoin their brothers. Bad timing and being outnumbered cost them one of their younger and strongest members(Kinky t). Heres the worst part that contributed to the aging Mapogos empire to fall, they found themselves fighting on multiple fronts…against the Majin and the Selati males…fighting two coalitions of younger lions of course could not end well. Rasta who was killed by the same Majin males as he patrolled by himself. Dreadlocks then dissapeared leaving only 3 brothers to continue the fight against overwhelming odds. On top of this Big Mak and Pretty boy were the oldest of the 6 brothers, both at that time were 11 and 13 years old. Even Mr T who the youngest along side Kinky t was already 10 years old when the three brothers were fighting on both fronts. The Selati coalition ultimately defeated the remaining three aging brothers, Big mak and Pretty boy being too old opted to flee after the final battle and Mr T who decided to fight till the end stood his ground courageously and was killed. So again so many things contributed to the mapogos fall…if they hadnt split into two groups they would have been able to fend off the majin and selati…at least for a longer period of time. Of course they were aging either way but the rival coalitions simply arrived at the right time and right place, they had luck on their side considering all this. One thing is certain, the Mapogos rule and legacy will be hard to duplicate. You could say they are the greatest coalition ever in african Lion history.
This is a great comment resuming accurately the rise and fall of the Mapogos.
Dreadlocks Mapogo has been poached. This information is confirmed now by Willem Botha and Colleen Holland.
Amazing commebts on here massive massive respect for all lions and lioness abd certainly the mapogo they bring about the goosebumps! And legend is the deffinitive of what and who they are and i miss them so much! But they did not create much room for their own cubs to thrive in fact they killed their own mr t was the worse for this but being a lion he wanted only his genes to flurish .
Ultimately yes if the 6 mapogo stayed as a solid unit for life they would still be here unless 1 or more where caught out by stalking rival coalitions keeping a low profile biding time being cunning clever and super effective lion killers!
Has the Mopogos bloodline ended, I mean what happened to their offspring?