Not so long ago I wrote a blog highlighting some of the incredible sightings that have been witnessed on the Londolozi Airstrip over the years. And following on from the latest This Week in Pictures, in this blog I only add to that list of memorable moments!
Just the other morning, whilst having coffee on deck before drive, the distinctive “whooping” and laughing calls of hyena reverberated through camp as the sun began to rise. As a team of guides and trackers, hearing this noise so close to camp is always exhilarating as we know there must be some action close to camp! Not wasting any time, the first few vehicles out of camp headed straight towards the direction of where the noise was coming from.
Sure enough, not 2 minutes from Varty Camp the Styx Pride was found with a zebra kill at the northern end of the airstrip.
Arriving at the scene. The Styx Pride lying up full bellied on the northern end of the airstrip finishing up a zebra kill, surrounded by more than 20 hyena.
Three young cubs of the Styx pride panting full bellied after a feeding time
Surrounding the full-bellied lions were at least 20 hyena desperately hoping to get a share of what little was left of the meal. Not only were the hyena encircling the pride and trying their luck to creep closer and closer to the carcass, but we have also had two lionesses from the Nkuhuma Pride roaming around Londolozi recently and they too had heard the commotion and had arrived at the scene.
It ended up being an incredible morning where we were lucky enough to watch a number of different interactions take place. Hopefully the video clips and images below can transport you to the scene and share how our morning unfolded.
Interaction between Two Different Prides
With so much activity, vocalising from the hyenas, and responding growls from the lions, we didn’t know where to look!
What first caught our attention was two lionesses from the Nkuhuma Pride that slowly crept towards the Styx Pride surrounding the carcass in their attempt of trying to get a portion of the meal before the hyenas.
Given they are from two different prides, at first the Styx Pride responded with resistance to the Nkuhuma Females in a very similar way they were snarling and pushing back the many hyena when they got too close. After some time, however, as the Nkuhuma lionesses continued to slowly crawl closer with their heads down to the ground in a very submissive manner, the Styx Pride seemed to relax a little bit, eventually allowing these two unknown females to join the circle of final feeding.
Outnumbered by Hyena
Shortly thereafter, with full bellies and rather exhausted from fending off a large number of relentless hyena, the Styx Pride slowly left their guard and moved towards the thicket line to find some shade.
This meant the two Nkuhuma lionesses were free to finish feeding on whatever meat was left. However, it did not take long for the 20 or so hyena to notice that the shift in power was now heavily in their favour. Within seconds of the Styx Pride moving off, a gang of hyena advanced again. After a few resistant growls, the lionesses knew they were completely outnumbered and we watched in a fury of commotion as the hyena chased them right off the airstrip.
An aggressive growl and snarl from this lioness isn’t intimidating enough for these hungry hyena
Still trying to feed on what was left of the kill, a Nkuhuma lioness was suddenly outnumbered by the encroaching hyena.
A few hyena managed to successfully break and steal the leg of the zebra kill as they successfully chased this lioness away from the carcass.
Outnumbered by the hyena, this lioness runs for cover towards the thicket on the other side of the airstrip.
After the lions had moved away from the airstrip to seek some shade, a tawny eagle arrived at the scene flying low to the ground to scan for any any last scraps of meat amongst the hyena that were still milling about.
Within 20 minutes of the lions moving away from the scene, between the hyena and approaching vultures and other scavenging birds (Tawny Eagle) there was no evidence remaining on the airstrip – as if nothing had even happened that morning! It was a morning I will not forget.
Thanks for that, Kate. I always find the sound of hyenas whooping quite spine-tingling.
It would have been a very interesting scenario if a plane had been due to land!
Thank you Suzanne!
Thank you Kate for the great videos of the scene at the airstrip. The interaction between the lions and the hyenas was something to see.
Thanks William – it was a very exciting morning!
Are the two Nkuhuma lionesses related to the Styx pride? It seems awfully risky for them to approach the kill of another pride and that many hyenas without any back up of their own. I wonder how often sharing amount prides actually happens. I can’t imagine very often, so what a treat to witness it. Glad it worked out and everyone got a piece of the carcass.
What an eventful morning. And, wow, so many hyena. I always wonder how they dare to attack the lions. The lions seem to be so much bigger than hyenas. But it’s probably the number of the latter ones that make them so successful, isn’t it?
Great photos and videos.
Thanks Christa! Yes I do think that there is an advantage when numbers are in their favour.
Kate your images are beautiful of all the commotion going on there. The lions and hyenas are indeed enemies and just look how the hyenas out numbered the lions so that the would be able to feed on the carcass. Even the Tawney eagle made an appearance. The airstrip is a busy part of the reserve, open and full of activity.
Thanks very much, Valmai!
WOW! What a great catch!!! The hyena made me laugh when they got the leg.
Thanks Anita! Agreed – the hyena were rather amusing throughout the various interactions.
Absolute incredible photos and video!! Hopefully no plains was due to land!
Thank you Gawie!
Remarkable recap Kate! Were all these hyenas part of the same clan (presumably the Sparta Clan given the location)? Also fascinating lion dynamics as well!
Thank you Michael! Yes, it is likely that majority of them are part of the same clan on central Sparta.
OMG! What an amazing sighting! The pure rawness of the moment…
Thanks Barbi!
Thanks for the memorable write up and photos which we were fortunate enough to view! No need to edit my pics as you have captured the scene so well.
Thanks Patsy!
Hoe fortunate to witnedd these encounters. The stealthy approach of the Nkuhuma lionesses was almost hunrous.
Thanks Vin!
How exciting to witness this incredible sighting – your story, images and videos truly brought the encounter to life! It was interesting to see the Nkuhuma females approaching the Styx pride in the submissive stride, hoping for an opportunity to share the kill. I believe if their numbers were greater, the Styx would have chased them away.
Thanks Denise! It really was an exciting morning with a lot of action!
Wow Kate, what an intense encounter between and hyenas and the lionesses! And an amazing array of video and still images. Brava!!
Thanks very much Paul!
Wow great pics, what an amazing sighting. I love watching lions and hyenas battle it out. True eternal enemies.
You can really see the size advantage the Nkuhuma lioness has over the them, not to mention the muscle definition on the forelegs and shoulders.
Thank you Tony. It is really an incredible experience to witness the interactions between lion and hyena, especially around a carcass.
Kate, What an incredible sighting! The faces of the lions filled with anger or fright are just amazing. The videos are epic too! We are sure it may have affected any flights coming in too! 😉
Thank you so much! Luckily there were no flights that morning, but nevertheless by the end of game drive there was no evidence on the airstrip – as if nothing had even happened!
Inter- and intra- species interactions are some of the most amazing moments on safari that one could ever wish for!
Just wow. And, so very close to ‘home’ — Londolozi
oh wow – intense video and pictures – these lions must just be thinking these hyenas are out of their minds, but in the end persistence pays off.