This is just a short follow-up to last week’s Monday post. It sounds like the Majingilane have had another run-in with the Selati males, or at least one of them, in the Western Sector of the Sabi Sands.

Last week saw the Majingilane following the Mhangeni pride up to the fringes of Selati-held territory, but it seems as if Londolozi’s dominant coalition have now left the Mhangeni lionesses and cubs to their own devices, and have struck back west. Two evenings ago all four males were in company together, resting up a couple of kilometres west of Londolozi’s boundary.
Roars from the west had several vehicles heading in that direction at first light yesterday morning to investigate, but the faint vibrations in the still morning air were coming from farther away than we imagined, and the Majingilane were beyond our traversing area, many kilometres away, chasing the Selatis males.

Two of the Majingilane in full cry as they battle for the right to mate with the Sparta females. With all four of these males taking on a single Selati male, you can only begin to imagine the noise and carnage of the scene.

Reports from JP Joubert, a ranger currently operating out of Exeter Camp in the west of the reserve, were that the Majingilane caught one of the Selati males yesterday morning and spent the day mauling him on and off. The Selati male apparently managed to get hold of the Scar-nosed Majinglane during the day and inflict some damage to his face, but being outnumbered, it was not surprising to learn that the Selati male took the worst of it. Inexplicably the Majingilane let him go, and are currently in pursuit of one of the other Selati males as I write this.

The Dark-maned Majingilane. Although seemingly the dominant male within the coalition when it comes to mating and the right to feed at kills, will he be playing a leading role when it comes to conflict with other males?

The Scar-nosed Majingilane. He was reportedly bleeding profusely from cuts on his face during yesterday’s battle with the Selati male. He should certainly have some new scars to add to his already-impressive tally.

The conflict is taking place far to the west of Londolozi so we will unfortunately not be able to follow the action first-hand, but will post updates as soon as we have them.

It will be interesting to see the state of the Majingilane if and when they return to to their Londolozi stomping grounds. Will they all come back alive? Will the Selati males see another of their number fall to the might of the Majingilane coalition?

Please post any updates or information you may have below…

Written and Photographed by James Tyrrell