In the pre-dawn hours, while most people are still lost in deep sleep, rangers and trackers are wide awake. My alarm cuts through the silence at the early hour of 4:30 in the morning. I groggily reach out to silence it, my mind still foggy from sleep. Yet, as the haze clears, a familiar thrill builds in my chest. Today, like every other day, I wake up to the excitement of tracking lions and leopards through the African wilderness.

I can’t help but feel a twinge of gratitude as I think about my unconventional life. While my friends are caught in morning traffic or stuck to desks, I navigate the wild in my trusty Land Rover, number 5, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. Turning up the radio, I feel the familiar anticipation coursing through my veins.

Morning drives are, in my opinion, the best part of my day. The action unfolds in the darkness of the night, and by dawn, new stories are ready to be discovered, whether it’s a pride of lions stalking a herd of wildebeest or a leopard announcing his presence while on territorial patrol. But this morning was exceptional; it vividly reminded me why I am incredibly fortunate to call this my life—my ‘job’ in quotes because it feels like so much more.

One recent morning was no exception. As I turned the key in the ignition, I knew something extraordinary awaited us. The previous evening, we had seen the Kambula Pride, lazing about with full bellies. Our aim this morning was to catch them in motion. When Ranger Patrick Grealy found the lions and called over the radio that the pride was on the move, we all cheered.

Arriving at the scene, we found the lions frolicking, climbing fallen trees, and playfully wrestling with each other. My guests and I marvelled at the contrast between the gentle lionesses nurturing their cubs and their fierce hunting instincts. They walked quite a distance until they reached a puddle of water, where they began to drink. They seemed to tire and started to settle down.

Our attention was soon diverted by a radio update about a small herd of buffalo not too far from the pride, walking in their direction. The five lionesses of the Kambula Pride are capable of taking down large prey like buffalo, but they often hunt wildebeest and zebra, so we were all curious to see what would unfold, especially with the 13 cubs present. The lions perked their ears and twitched their tails, signs they could hear or smell the buffalo approaching.

As they walked toward the buffalo, the hunt was on. One lioness charged, causing the buffalo to stampede in chaos. The cubs stayed back as one lioness bravely jumped onto a buffalo, attempting to suffocate it by clamping down on its mouth and nose, preventing a distress call that could summon the herd to its rescue. This may sound brutal, but this raw display of nature is necessary for the pride to survive and teach their cubs.

The cubs watched intently, absorbing vital survival skills. The lioness held her ground, avoiding kicks and dodging deadly horns until another lioness briefly joined to assist. Surprisingly, the cubs then got involved, leaping onto the buffalo’s back to help immobilize it. Despite their exhaustion, the lionesses persisted, with the cubs crucially aiding them.

Meanwhile, the Ndzhenga males, observing from afar, made their presence known, sending the buffalo herd into a panicked frenzy. The lionesses now having overcome the buffalo and brought it to the ground, and a meal secured, the males casually strolled in to join the feast. The cubs rushed to greet their fathers, adding a moment of lightness to the intense event.

I love how the tails of the cub and lioness are curved in a way that it looks like a shape of a heart.

Even though she was exhausted from holding onto that buffalo she had the energy to still greet two cubs. A true mother and a true huntress combined.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the determination and power of the lioness, the one who had clung to the buffalo single-handedly. From playful parent to formidable hunter, she embodied the raw power of nature. As the cubs romped around the carcass, greeting their fathers, we couldn’t shake the feeling of awe at the cycle of life and death unfolding before us. It was a reminder of the harsh realities of the wild, where survival depended on instinct and skill. And in that moment, I felt incredibly fortunate to witness it all.

What an incredible sighting, and here is a video to round it all off…