Iconic. Majestic. Awe-inspiring. Finding just one word to describe an intimate encounter with a lion in it’s prime is a near impossible task. For most people lions provide an intoxicating mixture of fear and fascination. The powerful emotions that lions evoke in people almost act as proof that us as humans still have some connection to our primal ancestors who lived alongside these animals for thousands of years.
You only need to hear a lion’s roar to truly understand your place in the ecosystem.
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Today truly wild lions are only found in a few isolated wilderness areas but despite this, people all over the world still have huge admiration for these amazing animals. Thankfully, Londolozi is is one of the last refuges for the African lion. So today, on World Lion Day, it seems fitting to look back at Londolozi’s relationship with lions and look forward to what the future has in store…
For it was lions that led us out of hunting into conservation and now towards restoration and a fundamental shift in consciousness about how we live on this planet and relate to the creatures with whom we exist. – Dave Varty
Since its inception, lions have always been at the core of Londolozi’s existence. When Charles Boyd Varty and Frank Unger first stepped foot on the land that would one day become known as Londolozi, the year was 1926 and lions were at the forefront of their minds.
Back then, lions were feared terribly and were fundamentally misunderstood and as such, they were hunted. Fast-forward to the nineteen seventies where people’s attitudes towards lions were changing. Slowly but surely people were beginning to understand the ecological importance of lions and the invaluable role that they played as apex predators in the African bush.
The Varty’s were among these early visionaries and made the revolutionary decision to shift away from hunting to photographic wildlife safaris where lions were to be protected for generations to come. This decision proved to be a stroke of genius.
The Original Male Lion – Big Black (circa 1979)
Over time the concept of safari and spending time viewing animals in their natural environment caught on. The mere thought of seeing a wild lion was enough to convince people to travel from all over the world to stay at Londolozi. The experience of tracking lions in the past had equipped the Varty Brothers and the other early rangers with the skills required to find lions in the thick bush. Always guided by local Shangaan trackers, like Winnis Mathebula who were legendary for their ability to track down lions. The Ranger/Tracker combination has been the winning formula for finding lions at Londolozi ever since.
Legendary naturalist and tracker, Winnis Mathebula
Tsalala Pride on Camp Dam Wall. (circa 2011)
Since those early days, the rangers and trackers at Londolozi have tracked, found, viewed, photographed, and filmed innumerable lions. Collectively we have watched lion dynasties rise and fall. We have witnessed the arduous passage from tiny cub to fearsome adult. We have been so fortunate to have been given an intimate glimpse into the lives of so many lions over the years. The stories of famous lions like Big Black, the Mapogo Coalition, the Majingilane Coalition, the Sparta Pride, and the Tsalala Pride live on through their descendants and new stories are constantly being written as lions continue to thrive at Londolozi.
Majingilane Coalition in front of Varty Camp. (circa 2014)
Today we are able to share stories of the Lions of Londolozi with people from all over the world, whether it be on a game drive or via the blog or social media. The importance of these stories cannot be understated. With less than 20 000 lions left in the wild, these stories are more important than ever because they help to raise awareness about the uncertain future these incredible animals face.
Conserving and expanding protected wilderness areas is the key to the survival of the lions.
By visiting Londolozi or engaging with us through the blog you play an important role in lion conservation and for that we thank you! Thankfully lions in the Greater Kruger Transfrontier Park, in which Londolozi falls, are thriving and it is our hope that we will be able to be a part of their stories for many years to come.
One of the best tribute to lions! I was eagerly looking forward to it… oh all the legendary prides and single individual stories, they are incomparable, as an umbrella species they have even more significance. Luckily they are not in the situation of their asiatic cousins, which may be deleted as a species by an illness or a bushfire, as just a handful of them is left.
I read the moving description of the last days of Majingilane made by James Tyrrell. It pulled my heart ‘s strings. I wonder how many Majingilane are left nowadays. The saddest thing is watching a powerful invincible force of nature fading away. I hope there will be more Majingilane, Sparta, Birmingham and Tsalala , now ready to raise.
Thanks Francesca! I’m sure there will be many epic prides and coalitions that will grace us with their presence in the years to come.
Lions are beautiful and up close a but intimidating . On our first visit to Londolozi we came across a group of 4 lions all asleep. We stopped and Jess said “just sit quietly, it is safe. Just then one of the lions woke up and seeing the car decided to say hello. My husband was sitting right in front of the seat where the lion stopped. I give Phil credit , he sat there and they looked at each other for a minute, whereupon the lion turned around and flopped down on one of his brothers and went back to sleep. I have huge respect fir lions, beautiful and just a tad intimidating! Thank you Victoria
What an amazing first sighting!
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!!! Or Dorothy, maybe just the excitement of Lions is enough as we majestically view them, hear them roar or crunch on the bones of a kill. Sharing our lions’ safari stories in the Boma or remembering later when back home is truly a gift from the Varty family. Thanks for ALL your visions!
Happy World Lion’s Day! I am so proud to share my birthday with this special day! God bless the lions that are still here for all of us to enjoy!
A very happy Birthday!
Thank you so much!
My birthday too!
Happy birthday a couple of days late!
We have had incredible close-up experiences with these lions over the years. Each has inspired the emotions you mentioned, Nick: fascination and fear. Our most recent was an evening when entire pride of 12 walked single file directly next to our stopped vehicle, each making eye contact and moving on. Unforgettable! Friends are in disbelief when they view the video.
Thanks so much Vin!
Thank you, wonderful overview. I was just wondering, years back, in Kruger Park, there was this bovine illness which didn’t kill the buffalo, but it did kill a lot of lions. I can’t remember the name of the illness, but is it under control now? Or did it never reach the Sabi Sands?
Hi Irene, yes the bovine tuberculosis did affect the lions but thankfully both the lions and the buffalo populations seem to have recovered.
Thanks Nick, that is great to hear. Lions looked really awful and very sick, not like they are today. Happy to hear that that is in the past.
Seeing and hearing a lion roar in the bush is an experience I shall never forget, and one I hope to repeat soon. Watching an entire pride pass by your safari vehicle one at a time and looking them in the eye is an emotional experience. I was completley taken by surprise at the total lack of aggression or fear in their eyes and their demeanor which is so different than the demeanor of those I had previously viewed in zoos/rescue centers. They truly are majestic in every sense of the word.
With the ecological systems of our world under continued intense pressure to be able to celebrate Lion’s Day is a gift. Not just a gift to the lions but, a gift to humanity. Keeping places like Londolozi open and available is one of the best ways to continue preserving our planet and its many interwoven systems.
Thank you William, we plan to play our part in protecting lions for many years to come.
In the 1980s there were 10,000 lions in Kenya now down to 2,500
I remember all the lions I have seen so far in my life. From the very first ones, two brothers sleeping all day long, to the legendary Tsalala pride of Londolozi and 15 lions who passed our car single file once, to countless cubs seen again after a year or two as sub-adults or adults. All awe inspiring, very impressive! I am grateful that I have been able to watch and admire these wonderful animals.
It is a pity indeed that they are so endangered and that maybe our grandchildren won’t be able to see such amazing animals any more in the bush. Let’s hope that this can be prevented.
Happy world Lion day. They deserve to be feared and at the same time admired for their majestic strength, agility and determination. Their roars go right through you and then you begin to realize that this is a formidable predator to be reconed with. Thank you for protecting these majestic cats for all to see and admire. That foto of the original lion Big Black is stunning. Trackers and Rangers working together to track and photograph them is so rewarding to us and the guests that travel kilometers to come and see them.
Thanks Valmai!
Nice write up Nick. It would be interesting to read a piece on Big Black sometime too.
Nic, this was an excellent bit of history on the lions on Londolozi. You gained moment with that wonderful roar. There is nothing more spectacular in the bush than the feel of the lion’s roar. I do like James Terrel’s black and white picture of the lions. It really stands out to me. I would hash tag it as #Paws for life, now playing live at the Londolozi Reserve.
A fantastic tribute to our magnificent lions. I’ve been fortunate to be up close and personal with thick/maned males, with sweet faced females and the rambunctious cubs throughout Southern Africa. Honestly, I’ve been in awe but never experienced fear as I knew I was safe in the vehicle. Coming face to face, eyes locked with a mature male, I wondered what he was thinking – I couldn’t take a photo as he was next to me, his rancid breath polluting my space and my lens was too long, even at 35mm. It didn’t matter as I just wanted to experience that several seconds of eye to eye, his golden eyes gleaming in the morning sun- one of my best safari moments ever! I hope this recognition of World Lion Day continues to inspire all readers to support these wonderful animals.
Thank you! Let’s hope many people are inspired to protect Africa’s lions.
A really nice blog and tribute to the Lions of Londolozi Nick. They really are magnificent creatures and I really liked the diagrams and info you included. It is sad to see the figures of how they have decreased over the years. I take my hat off to the Varty Family for doing what they do – far better to shoot with a camera than a gun. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks Leonie, I couldn’t agree more – better to shoot with a camera than a gun.
Thank you for this story. I can’t look upon that beautiful face of Othawa male and not have a tear in my eye!! He was what got me, into the lions, and wanting to go on safari!! The most beautiful lion in Africa, in my opinion!! I would wake up in the morning and search to see that beautiful face of his. Search for anything to make sure he was still roaming the area with his girls. He was so awe inspiring for me. I fell in love with this male lion at first sight. Hoping one day to go on a safari so I could witness such beauty and power in person!! He was truly a ladies man, his ladies loved him, if such a thing exists in lions. The way, when they were together, they looked as if there was respect for one another. Their bonding moments was, what looked as love to me. I hoped he would stay with his ladies and be close to them at all times but he was a lover and wanted maybe to expand his territory. He was playing with fire is what was said. Then that awful morning came, the news I so much was hoping would be wrong. Othawa male is no more!! Tears filled my eyes and all I could think was they have to be wrong. For me, Othawa male, was invincible. I should have been more prepared, is all I could think, but nothing can prepare you for news like that, no matter how much you rehearse for it. Till this day, I have a hard time gazing upon his face without tears. Now, I look for any information I can find on what two cubs he has left out there. The information doesn’t come fast enough for me sometimes. I said I would never again put heart and soul into another lone lion but I can’t help myself looking and searching for news on Red Road and the Young Birmingham male. Both of these beauties happen to be lone lions. For me there will never be another Othawa male. He has a special place in my heart no other lion will fill!! I can’t help but think that him accepting the birmingham daughter set his fate. I wonder if he thought that was his daughter, therefore, the scent of the others, did he think they were his as well? I don’t know all there is about lions I’m still learning. However this would make more sense to me if this is the case. Thank you for letting me be a part of such beauty and power as the Othawa male. I would not have been able to witness such magnificent and majestic beauty as this if not for you all. I enjoy all of the post, videos, and letters that are sent. I appreciate everything you all do. I want to thank you for letting me feel as if I was right there with you all. Africa is a beautiful place and you have some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets ever. I would still love to visit sometime. However I would have to win the lottery to be able to afford it.
We were also heartbroken when we learned of the Othawa Male’s demise. Sadly these moments do happen out in the bush, however we are so happy that we are able to share all of the lion stories with people like you and that you too can enjoy watching the lion sagas unfold.
Seeing lions in the wild is a moment of pure awe and admiration!
Nick, Thank you for the wonderful way you are bringing attention to these endangered animals. It is truly amazing that because of the pioneering efforts of the Varty family, we are able to get so close them. The mutual respect between humans and the many lion prides and coalitions over the years is incredible to watch!
When a ROARS sounds, one should listen..
Thank you Nick for this wonderful tribute to the most iconic cat of Africa. Long may they thrive and be protected for our children’s children to enjoy 🙏💕