This week’s Virtual Safari takes us on an incredible journey with the resilient Tsalala Female Lion and her growing connection with the dominant Plains Camp Males. Since returning to Londolozi, the Tsalala Female has become a regular feature, and we’ve been fortunate to observe her in breathtaking settings atop Ximpalapala Crest. Having recently lost her cubs, she’s likely to come into heat soon, explaining why the Plains Camp Males are sticking close by. But the highlight of this sighting? A surprising little visitor managed to sneak right past the nose of the Plains Camp Male without being noticed!
The magic doesn’t stop there. While exploring the northern parts of Londolozi, we spend time with a majestic elephant bull and a flock of Southern Ground Hornbills. And finally, the morning ends with a heartwarming sighting of the Ximungwe Female Leopard and her cub. Could you tell if the cub is a male or a female? We think we know, but we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
Having been viewed by vehicles from an early age, this leopard is supremely relaxed around Land Rovers.
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Gorgeous footage of the cub, thank you Sean. I’m going for a male, simply because she seems to have had more of those, unlike her half sister Nkoveni. Either way, let’s hope she can bring it to independence.
Thank you so much, Suzanne. Either way let’s hope she can raise this one to independence.
Dear Sean, thanks for that amazing clip, love the small dung roller in front of the majestic lion. And such a cute cub of Ximungwe, a small girl ?
It was awesome to see the dung beetle rolling right past the male.
Hi Sean, so very glad to see the Tsalala female and the huge Camps male together. I really do hope they will mate and that she falls pregnant and has her cubs on Londolozi, so that we can see them. Both of them are beautiful lions so the cubs will surely be good specimens. Oh my word the Ximungwe females cub is to gorgeous, I am saying it is a little female. To precious for words. That clip on the buffalo is beautiful.
They are both stunning looking lions so if they were to have some cubs together I have no doubt that they will be beautiful.
Hi Sean, great to see the Tsalala female so fit as ever, and the spectacular Plain Camp male. His brother is maybe less spectacular but I think he’s really handsome. I was saddened by the fact that the hornbills are so endangered, I didn’t realise it. They must take care for so long of a single chick… it was nice to see them. Poor dungle beet! They are among the great workers of the small animal world. Also so pleasant to look at. The Ximungwe female and her little treasure are incredible. Sometimes I forgot how beautiful she is, as her half sister the Nkoveni Female is so spectacular and steals the scene… too adorable, both of them. The cub moves like small children… tumbling and falling asleep. What a final!
Thanks so much, Francesca. Yes, sadly the hornbills are endangered in South Africa. Hopefully, with all the initiatives they can bounce back. The dung beetles are amazing, such hard little workers. I agree, the Ximungwe Female is a beautiful leopardess.
Watching the Tsalala female and the Plains Camp male was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. But a question: this male and his brother were unable to protect the 3 cubs they fathered with her – why is she willing to have further cubs with them? They haven’t proven themselves good fathers…
I don’t think that lions have the ability to consciously know that they were not good fathers in the past and so that they would not be good in the future. I think lions act purely on instinct and the Tsalala Female possibly coming into heat not means that these males (being the dominant males in the area where the Tsalala Female is found) would want to mate with her to sire another litter of cubs.
The downfall with her last litter was that it is believed that maybe only one of the males mated with her and that the other male then killed the cubs. We are not sure exactly what happened but going forward we are hopeful that she will mate with both males and that they believe the cubs are theirs. It would be an extra insurance for the cubs if she were to also mate with the Ndzhenga Males and any other of the younger males moving through the area.
Thanks so much Sean for this special virtual safari featuring my favorite lioness, Tsalala. It is wonderful to see her roaming through her natal territory, but even more so, with the possible father of her next set of cubs. She looks extremely healthy and without obvious scars of battle that I’m sure she incurred during the battle with the Kambula pride. My only concern is that if she does have another litter, will she retreat to the west again, seeking to protect her cubs from the Kambulas and Ntsevus who have more of a presence within Londonozi, and the mighty Ndzhengas. It seems however that with the advances of other younger males, the Ndzhengas may encounter more conflicts than just with the Plains Camp males. And then you included Ximungwe with her adorable little fluff ball, resting somewhere safe at or near her den. I willl point out however, that the grasses around her and her cub seemed to be artfully growing so that determining its sex is rather difficult, at least on my computer screen. As carefully as I could determine, I think it may be another male, although the important bits seemed to be invisible. I’m just basing my guess on the fact that this cub is very active, curious and almost constant moving and that reminds me of her first two successfully raised males who were also extremely gregarious from a young age. If I’m wrong, no matter, as successfully raising a female is equally important, if not more so. And so you with binocs, know the answer, and I will await the announcement of its sex sometime soon. I just hope she keeps it healthy and away from danger as best she can. Happy holidays!
The Tsalala Female is looking so fit and strong at the moment. The concern about her potentially retreating westward to protect future cubs is very valid, given the territorial pressures from multiple strong prides (Kambulas, Ntsevus, and Ndzhengas). Time will tell.
As for Ximungwe and her cub, you’re absolutely right that successfully raising either a male or female cub is crucial for the population. You are going to have to wait and see.
Another great virtual safari, I particularly loved the footage of the little dung beatle. All that effort only to have his dung ball squashed by the Tsalala female. I do hope the Tsalala female mates and is successful in raising some cubs to maturity, that would be awesome. She is one of my favorites. I’m not sure but I think the little leopard cub might be a male (an uneducated guess) beautiful little thing either way. Thanks again.
It must have been so frustrating for the dung beetle but oh well, I am sure it would swiftly form another ball and be on its way. We all are holding thumbs hoping that the Tsalala Female falls pregnant again and we get to see a bit more of her this time round with cubs.
I’m guessing male 🫶🏽
Possibly! I will share it with you soon.
Me thinks Ximungwe has a little boy…correct?
Possibly, I will share what it is soon.
Another fantastic video Sean.
Brilliant footage of the Tsalala female accompanied by the magnificent Plains Camp male, Sean! It’s such a treat to see so much video of her, and I’m always rooting for her to find support and success. Here’s hoping that this relationship is fruitful in terms of producing offspring and she is successful raising the cub(s) to maturity. I’d really love to see the great line continued forward!! And of course thrilled for the Ximungwe female and wishing her the best of luck with her new cub!!