Just over a week ago we ran a post announcing the first sighting of one of the Matimba males on Londolozi. Since then both males have moved in as a pair, and the first thing they did was to kill a large buffalo bull next to the Sand River. This is over half a ton of bovine; a huge meal for only two lions, even though an adult male can consume almost 20 percent of his bodyweight in a single sitting!
The males fed for over three days. They were right next to a large pool in the river and therefore had easy access to drinking water, and the kill was made in a stand of tamboti trees, so the males were able to enjoy the shade through the heat of the day.
Magnificent males, both of the Matimbas show full manes, and together are an incredibly powerful unit. When male coalitions clash however, it can simply be a numbers game, and the five Birmingham males in the north are proving to be a problem…
The male with the enormous mane, who some say is – unofficially – the biggest lion in the Sabi Sands, contemplates another bout of feeding on his buffalo carcass.
Two nights ago they finished their kill, and their roars sounded throughout the evening, beginning before the sun had set and continuing on into the night. We heard them moving further and further west until their roars were just faint and distant rumbles. They had never been that far west before, as far as we knew.
The next morning (yesterday), reports were that two of the Majingilane and the two Matimba males were found lying up around 500 m from each other. Despite their enormous size, it was reported that the two Matimbas were reluctant to answer the challenging calls of the Majingilane pair. Perhaps they heard the rest of the Majingilane coalition further west and realised the great danger they would face in taking on four male lions.
Would the Matimbas advance, or would the Majingilane? If the Matimbas did advance, would the Majingilane retreat?
Enormous lower canines give an idea of just how big these males actually are. Photographed by Amy Attenborough
As the African dusk descended, the Matimbas ran.
There was no roaring from either side, but the rangers present think that the Matimbas may have heard some contact calling from the Majingilane, thought they were coming, and decided discretion was the better part of valour. The fact that they were looking behind them as they ran indicates that they certainly knew something was coming. Tracks from this morning conclusively showed that the Majingilane tailed the Matimba males all the way through our property, forcing them back east of our boundary and then retreating themselves back west.
Red line: Retreat of Matimba males last night, eventually crossed east of our boundary. Blue line: Following of Majingilane and eventual diverting, heading back west.
So that begs the next question; is the Matimba males’ presence here on Londolozi because of the Majingilane moving out, or are they being pushed here by the advancing Birmingham coalition from the north? Almost certainly a combination of the two in my opinion, but I’m sure there are other factors involved that we are unaware of. It’s difficult to have a serious one-on-one with a lion and ask him what’s really happening, as I’m sure you can appreciate.
My guess is the Matimbas are being pushed into a new area for the first time, and their movement into the west yesterday was merely a probe, testing how far this area extends and how far they can safely move without facing swift retribution from a dominant coalition. They came into contact with the Majingilane and realised they had pushed it too far, so retreated.
What happens next?…
Written by James Tyrrell, Londolozi Ranger
Photographed by Trevor McCall-Peat and Amy Attenborough, Londolozi Rangers
Thanks for the update…Where are the Styx males in all this? Aren’t they roaming the same area where all this action took place?
Great blog, James! What a confrontation!
Majingis really don’t like seeing other males in Londolozi…
I suspect the Matimbas will temporarily set their Western boundary around MM & Londolozi, and they will come back to the Southern part of Londolozi again, since the Majingis have to protect their main territories outside Londolozi.
We were fortunate to view the Matimbas on the buffalo kill. It was an incredible experience. They must be the biggest males we have ever seen.
Love your lion posts James! Thanks for keeping us updated. Definitely an exciting time for lion activity.
Wish there were enough land to go around for them all . Just 2 to finish a grown buffalo, how cool. Too bad u do not a video of that . Wish other pride with makes could learn from thing from these master hunters .
This is so cool. You guys have the best job in the world. Keep us who wish they were there updated. Thank you!
The map really helps tell the story. I am surprised how far south and west that the two Matimbas traveled. There must have been a lot of tension in the air with such enormous lions lying so close. The Majingis followed the Matimbas for quite some distance. The message is clear, the guests are most unwelcome! I do not think this is the last time we will see these two coalitions interact.
Some interesting stuff going on right now, the BB’s have really shaken things up quite a bit for everyone else. Do the Matimbas still have offspring left, male or females? Just thinking it’d be a shame to lose Belly Hair’s genes. And what about the other two unknown males in djuma yesterday? has anyone been able to confirm that they were Matimbas from the north? At first it was mentioned they were Selatis, but they dont look like Selatis at all. Thanks a bunch for keeping us informed.
The two strange males makes me very curious^^ Only two of the north Matimbas(Among three of them except one in Kruger) could be there…???
Can I ask where you did know about the two males information?
Hey Tim, I think Joyce answered both of our questions and yet I’m somehow still hopeful it’s the northern Matimbas, but it doesn’t look like it. Yet anotherr coalition in the area will wreak even more havoc to the prides in the Sabi Sands. Let’s hope soon enough some of the coalition settle and really begin to protect their territory from intruders so prides can flourish again.
Thanks for your kind reply, Ricardo. Speaking of another coalition, is there any big coalition except what we mentioned so far? Except BB, you mean skybeds? Or you are just saying that there could be unexpected coalition? I am just curious^^ Anyway, thanks again.
It was that it was the Selatis, as 1 of them had a lower broken tooth
oh, I didn’t know that. They are already getting old as well… poor…
Thanks for the great update James and fantastic pictures Trevor and Amy! The Matimbas are really spectacular and I hope they stay safe. I’m happy to hear the Majingilane are back on Londolozi. Do you think they will be able to fend off the Birmingham coalition should they run into each other?
The same here. I hope the two Matimbas are safe, too. BBs are growing and getting bigger. They are getting confident. As far as I know, some people think BBs will not try to take over some prides in Londolozi this year, probably next year.
I’m surprised the matimbas have not met up with there brothers kind of reminds me of Mr t and kinky tail I would say if one does go down in a fight the other will head back to his brothers
Interesting reading about the unfolding territory battles between the various lion coalitions. Can you please tell me how the different groups get their names.
Usually but not necessarily all the time, coalitions will get their names depending on the territory they own. Coalitions may also be named after the prides they came from when they were vanished by their dads e.g. Birmingham Boys (from Birmingham pride) or the Styx Males (from the Styx pride). Also, they may be named simply for their own specific characteristics e.g. Mapogos (rogues, vigilantes) or the Majingilane (security company).
Thank you for that information Ricardo. Most interesting.
How is the Ginger males foot is he still limping?
That’s what I want to know as well^^
How wonderful to read your blog and updates on The Southern Matimba Male coalition – Hairy Belly and Ginger. I have a certain fondness for them and am keeping tabs on their locations. Ginger is the one with the injury to his right front paw (was a snake bite from a few years ago) and HB, well it’s just obvious how he got his name. My heart swells with pride when you say these two are enormous beast and the biggest you’ve seen. These two have been seen around MalaMala for the past few weeks and are referred to as the Clarendon Males in that reserve. Since the Birmingham Boys (5 males around 4 years of age) showed up on Djuma on August 5, they have killed 4 lioness’ from the Nkuhuma Pride and the Styx Pride, and 2 of the 3 Styx Breakaway’s cubs sired by Hairy Belly. The 3rd cub hasn’t been seen in a few weeks, not since the BB’s have killed the last Nkuhuma sub-adult lioness in early Sept. The Matimba’s were sticking close to the Styx Pride while still north of MalaMala but south of Djuma, but now have seemed to gone different directions from the Styx Pride once they went further south into MalaMala and now west onto your property. The Matimba still have offspring in the Djuma/Arathusa area, the young male lion from the Nkuhuma pride is one and he will soon distance himself from the pride. As of today his exact location in unknown, but was last seen in Simbambili with a young buff kill just a few days ago. HB and Ginger have not been back on Djuma property since the BB’s have moved in and for all appearances seemed to have taken over what once was Matimba territory. In my opinion, the Matimba’s have downsized their territory and because of the numbers involved did not stay to protect their northern territory, but instead have relinquished it to the Birmingham Boys without a confrontation. Needless to say, the BB’s are certainly making their marks and are now patrolling this area in and around Djuma.
To Ricardo: those two male lions seen on Djuma on Sept 13, were confirmed by Cheetah Plains to be the two remaining Selati Males, #1 and #4. They ARE NOT the Northern Matimba’s out of the Manyeleti.
Thanks very much for your detailed info.^^ I haven’t caught up the recent info. about north. You are very helpful^^ Please, let us know here, please write as much as you can^^
Thanks Joyce. I suppose I was kind of hopeful there would be a Matimba reunion and perhaps together could get some of that lost territory to the BB’s. Here’s to hoping Jr. fro the Nkuhuma finds some buddies to unite with in the future. Thanks again for the clarification about the Selatis. I guess they’ve grown some.
Thanks for the update. I really enjoy reading your writing. The thing I have worried had happened there. Sometimes Majings remind me of the Mapogos, sometimes the two of Matimbas remind me of the Mapogos,and sometimes the 5Birminghams remind me of the notorious Mapogos. The confrontation makes me excited but the serious war makes me worried. I wish there were enough area to go around and enough prey to feed on. Sometimes I feel very sorry for lions, because human beings have pushed them into the small area…Anyway, thanks for letting me know what happens there^^
To James
I think, maybe you don’t have enough time to reply all the questions, so I replied some questions as far as I know if you don’t mind^^ I hope you don’t mind it^^ If I am wrong, please correct what I said.
Hi Tim,
Thanks very much. I am often out in the bush all day so don’t always get a chance to respond, so your input is definitely helpful!
Thanks, James^^
Hi James, Could you let me know what happened to the Fourway males? They got injuries on their back legs and rumps. Maybe you can keep in touch with Sabi Sabi and let me know what happened???
I got answer from the Sabi Sabi. They guess that the injury was from the run-in with the Charlestons.