I am woken at 03h30 by a single male lion calling. It does not sound that close, so being woken by these calls surprises me as I am normally a deep sleeper.
Is it my subconscious alerting me to the presence of the lion, knowing that my guest’s dream is to hear a lion roaring? I am in a panic to try and find the phone to call my guest’s room. It is 03h30 though, and I am in my own room – no lodge phone there. The only way to get hold of Brad would be to radio reception and get them to call him, by which time the lion would be quiet and may not even call again…
It’s our last morning drive together. We’ve had a great couple of days and feel confident that the magic of the Lowveld will deliver something special as a send-off this morning. We don’t hear it but someone else does – a male lion roaring, north of the camps. This is our chance! I mention to the team on the vehicle behind me that I had been woken up by a lion roaring – maybe it was the same one? We had also spoken of the story of the Tsalala lioness and her lone surviving cub. Could it be her?
As we bounce across Finfoot crossing, we see the fresh tracks of a male lion that had walked down the sandy beach early this morning. Our excitement levels grow. Tracker Bennet Mathonsi directs us along the roads as he follows the trail that the male lion had walked just hours before. Eventually Bennet steps off the vehicle and follows the tracks alone, on foot, as they had gone off the road now. At this same time, another two trackers – Euce Madonsela and Life Sibuyi – find tracks of the Tsalala lioness and her cub about one kilometre further north. The tracks of the male were headed in the same direction. Were the lions calling to each other? Was the male the father of the cub and if not, what will happen if they meet up?
We had been searching for close to 40 minutes by now. Bennet radioes that he was still following the tracks and that the male lion had been running. Moments later, Rob Jeffery gives the call that we were hoping for… “Pete and Nick, I have found them. The Tsalala lioness and her cub are with the male.” Bennet has also just got view of them and has to make a quick retreat back where he’s come from so as not to disturb them.
The male exhibits the flehmen grimace – used to analyse pheromones in the female’s urine and possibly assess her reproductive condition.
The lioness maintains her vigil over the Manyelethi riverbed, where nyalas and bushbuck in particular abound…
It is the father of the cub. Luckily! A Birmingham male.
We have not seen the male with the lioness for many weeks now. The two remaining Birmingham males spend so much time with the Ntsevu pride (understandably so as their opportunities to acquire food from them are much greater due to the hunting success of the lionesses) that very little time is devoted to patrolling their territory and checking on the single Tsalala female.
The cubs goes wandering in the riverbed.
We watch as the trio greet each other and move in and out of the Manyelethi River. Even the cub rubs up against the male lion, completely dwarfed by his sheer size!
It’s comforting to know that in this enormous reserve, where intruding male lions are the biggest threat to the cub’s survival, at least one Birmingham male is still maintaining a vested interest in this lioness and their progeny.
This is great news Pete. It is wonderful that the Tsalala female and cub is doing well.
SOOOO exciting to know the Tsalala female is alive and well with her cub! In our last visit, this union was all the talk of Londoz. And we were witness to the other Birminghams with the Ntsevu pride as well, so this blog was a nice to read. Thank you again!
Thats really a great news, she is not alone anymore, and hopefully her cub will have better future now
Oh I’m so glad this male is still interested in her. With her losing two of the three cubs that she had she really needs to have more cubs to build up her pride. She is truly an amazing lioness to have to had endured all that she has.
Delightful to hear this
Pete, what a great find, Tsalala lioness and Birmingham Male!
There’s nothing quite like the roar of a lion, day or night. That deep guttural sound resonates into your being, conjuring up images of brother to brother or male to female communications. To be in the presence of a male lion roaring is on another plane- his massive head tilted back, mouth opening wide and then the low, deep sounds that seem to shake the vehicle, seemingly lasting for minutes. Thrilling to say the least!! Good to know Tsalala and her cub are thriving and still in contact with the Birmingham male who must likely fathered her cub.
Birmingham “Nhenha”. He is her father, otherwise he would have killed her ! 🙂
So glad to hear this! Nice shots! I especially loved the one of the three together with the male in the background! Perfect!
So nice to see he is still patrolling that part of the territory and glad the cub has exposure to an adult male. Pete, he is the male that mated with the Tsalala Lioness (or at least the one who was known to have mated with her) isn’t he? Also wonder how his brother would react or if he has contact with the cub and the female?
Sweet story, from the roaring to the tracking to the finding. So glad all’s welove with the Tsalala lioness and her cub…
So heartwarming to see that our courageous Tsalala and cub do have a male lion, a Birmingham one no less, compatibly watching over them since the female pride would not accept her. What a journey she has had….but so far, so good! Great images!
What wonderful news! Mama lioness looks wonderful and healthy! I’m so glad to see her cub also alive and doing well! Seeing the three of them (papa Lion with Mama and cub) is such a lovely thing to see.
Thank you for this update, and as usual, LOVELY PICTURES!
Thank you for the update on the Tsalala’s and Nhenha Birmingham.. I have followed the Tsalala Pride for many years and am always thrilled to see this lone survivor doing what they do best, surviving!
Pete, What a great story. How lucky for your guests that you found him with the Tsalala lioness and her cub. So happy there was no drama and we are sure it was a great send-off memory for your guests!
This news is tremendous; #TeamTsalala
Amazing news!! Glad to see the two Tsalala lions are doing well!!
Wish I could see a story of these beauties every day : )