Rarely has there been a more consistent time to view lion cubs on Londolozi.
For a few weeks now, the latest cubs of the Tsalala pride have been denned in a beautiful section of the Manyelethi riverbed, just over a kilometre north of the Londolozi camps. The two adults in attendance – the older tailed female and her daughter from 2011 – have been spending a considerable amount of time with the litter, which means that most times when the den is visited, the cubs will usually be outside either nursing from their mother or playing in the sand.
With bellies full after nursing, playtime is usually next on the agenda. Rough games in which instinctive stalking and pouncing are practiced are all part of the cubs’ development. Photograph by James Tyrrell
The Tsalala pride are well renowned for hunting in the daytime, and a pattern we’ve been noticing over the last few weeks is them leaving the den in the late morning only to be back there by evening with full bellies. I’m sure the extra cover provided by late vegetation growth has aided them considerably in their hunts.
The Manyelethi River has lush vegetation along its banks; a perfect habitat for nyala and kudu, which the lionesses have been hunting with much success recently. Although the cubs have yet to properly start eating meat, they do nibble a bit at the kills to the kills near the den to which they are taken. Photograph by Sean Cresswell
The Matimba males have been seen with the lionesses near the den on a couple of occasions, but over the last couple of weeks have been seen in the southern parts of the property far more frequently. As of this morning they have just finished a buffalo kill and have started to make their way back north. It is a hot day today and they probably won’t move again until this evening, especially having full bellies.
Their mother’s tail forms a regular play-thing, and she will often indulge them by flicking it back and forth for them to chase. The cubs’ little teeth are already sharp though, and they can sometimes bite painfully, inviting a snarl and a cuff from their mother. Photograph by James Tyrrell
Although the roars of the Birmingham males are regularly heard to the NE of Londolozi, they have yet to make a serious incursion onto our land. Possibly they have enough territory to satisfy their immediate needs, but being five young males just entering their prime, they certainly represent a significant future threat to the Matimba coalition’s current occupation on central Londolozi, and their offspring.
With jaws that could crush a zebra’s skull, the mother gently picks up one of her cubs to return it to the den. Photograph by Trevor McCall-Peat
For now the cubs remain in their little enclave of the Manyelethi. The den is pretty secure against large predators, providing a number of small cracks and crevices into which the cubs can scurry should danger threaten.
We hope for more amazing viewing over the next few months.
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Thanks so much Jim on the update!!! The MATIMBAS & TSALALAS are my all time Favorite and thankful they are safe for now! Love the photos!
Wonderful, thank you James 🙂
For years I’am registered to your newsletter. And for years I try to be your guest without succeding. THERE ‘S NEVER PLACE! What a pity! Because I love all this and all that you let me see.
Thank you, this made my day.
Thanks James, for the great update on the adorable new cubs and really fantastic pictures!
Thanks James for the wonderful update and photos of the Tsalala cubs.
I do hope they have the opportunity to reach full maturity and look forward to following them with you.
Hard to believe you can hope for more amazing viewing ..these pics are amazing especially mom holding baby in her mouth! Mom looks gorgeous in this picture! Thank you
What fantastic photos and viewing. Looking forward to seeing them again in a few months.
Sensational photo Trevor !!
Hey James, Do these Matimba Males snatch kill from Tsalala females? Or they hunt for themselves most the time?
Hi James, do you think the Majingalanes pose any threat or with the Den site being North it would just be too far ? Did I read there was a recent altercation between the Matimbas and the Majingalanes with the Matimbas chasing them back West?
Hi Mike,
There have been a couple of altercations recently but from the looks of it it has been the Majingilane that have generally had the upper hand. They would certainly be a threat to the cubs as there were signs of a scuffle between the coalitions less than a kilometre from the densite…
Great update! They are so precious. I can’t wait to come back and see these new babies.
Can u update us on the Matimba Males progress
Hi Ramone.
Unfortunately not, we haven’t seen them for months.
Those babies are just too cute-
I love the dappling on lion cubs. They are my favourite animal to see at Londolozi. I was grinning from ear to ear as I read through the blog.