Recently I sat going through some old photographs from my SD cards which was certainly a trip down memory lane and a reminder as to just how much has changed over four and a half years. From the shift in territories of dominant male leopards to reminiscing over the lion pride dynamics and ever-changing wildlife that we are privileged to bear witness to. I then stumbled on my first sighting of the Nkuhuma Breakaway Pride and their first litter with the Plains Camp Males. I remember ranger Barry Bath and myself searching through the open grasslands following lion tracks in the area and then stumbling upon them on a waterbuck kill.
One of the Nkuhuma Subadults as a cub back in 2022 with one of the Plains Camp Males finishing the remains of a waterbuck carcass.
One of the Nkuhuma Breakaway Lionesses in 2022 who successfully mated with the Plains Camp Males. Unfortunately, both she and her sister were killed by presumably the Mhangeni Pride.
Over the past few years, the Nkuhuma Pride has endured pride splits, as they continue to adapt to the ever-changing male lion dynamics in the Sabi Sands. During 2020 and 2021 we would often see the Nkuhuma Pride in the northern parts of the reserve, but since the arrival of the Ndzhenga Coalition and Plains Camp Males, it seems this pride has pushed further north with the remaining Northern Avoca Male.
Nkuhuma is the Shagaan name for Brown Ivory Tree
A lioness from the Nkuhuma Pride leads seven of the pride’s young cubs down the road in 2021.
The arrival of the Plains Camp Males and Ndzhenga Males certainly led to some uncertain times for the prides of female lions within the area and over time two of the Nkuhuma Lionesses (Ridge Nose and Amber Eyes) broke away and established themselves in the western territory. Soon after they were seen mating with the dominant Plains Camp Males. These two lionesses were born around December 2012 sired by the Matimba Males. Fast forward to 2022, these two lionesses were seen raising two young cubs.
One of the Nkuhuma cubs fixates its gaze on several hood vultures as they begin to descend towards a waterbuck kill the Nkuhuma pride had made earlier that day.
Sadly, in recent months both the lionesses were killed, presumably by the Mhangeni Pride who were seen near the pride the evening before. The two youngsters who were about two and a half years of age were left to fend for themselves while avoiding the other prides in the area. Fortunately for them, they are sired by the Plains Camp Males and were one of these coalition’s first litters in the Sabi Sand.
The impressive Plains Camp Males who are continuing to control the western sector
At the time of my first sighting of these cubs, I can’t say I would have predicted that both the adult lionesses would have died and these youngsters would be roaming nomadically in a lion-dense area. It is remarkable to know that these two cubs have defied the odds and are continuing to survive on their own showing their resilience and I can only hope that they survive for years to come. I have only had a handful of sightings in the last year, but it seems that while they are still biding their time in their father’s territory they will only grow from strength to strength.
Watch the video from ranger Dan Hirschowitz of when they successfully hunted and killed an impala.
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Hi Kirst, I’m so sorry to hear that the Breakaway lionesses were killed! They had been so brave and smart! The picture of the cub looking at the vultures is one of the best I’ve ever seen. I know lions suffocate their prey and the brain’s oxygen supply is cut so they don’t suffer like others, none the less a ram has a lot of strength to fight, it’s hard. What will happen to lionesses and cubs now, that the Ndzenga males will likely find themselves again the Plain Camp males… even breaking away often pays a too high price, as you describe. So sorry, they were fantastic. At least the Breakaway lions are fine, aren’t they? And the sister?
Thanks for this interesting blog, Kirst, on the remaining Nkuhuma lions. It is indeed a difficult and dangerous life for lions with so many different prides and male coalitions around. I hope that they will survive and have their own cubs one day.
By the way, has anybody seen the Tsalala lioness’ cubs? Do they and their mother still exist? Or did they have the same fate as the Nkuhuma mothers?
They look to be handsome youngsters, Kirst! I’m looking forward to getting a glimpse of them soon!
Looking at your SD cards brought back good memories and lots of stunning photo’s. The two Plain Camps male are two stunning lions and are my favorites. It is a sad story that their mothers were killed, but they are fighters and all the odds against them, they are know two very impressive males. Just like the Tsalala female that had to fend for herself, these two lions did the same.
After reading this, it made me wonder how often females from one pride kill females from a different pride. Is it jealousy/territorial that drives the killing? I’m assuming the sub-adults were not nearby or they might have been killed or injured. At 2 1/2 years, and two of them, it seems they might have a good chance of survival. I look back to Tsalala who lost her mother at three years of age, and alone has survived. Seemingly survival is based on luck and experience, especially knowing where danger and rivals lurk in your territory. I hope they survive.
Amazing pictures of the lions. Thanks for sharing Kirst. It will be interesting to see if the two sub adults can continue to survive.
Is it unlikely that these two will rejoin the other part of the pride from which their mothers split?
I love this little Pride and hope when he gets old enough and leaves her she can find another pride to join, maybe he moms pride? Thank you for this blog
I hope that the Nkuhuma Subadults thrive!