The story of the Southern Avoca Male continues to develop in ways few could have predicted. In a previous update, the fate of the Southern Avoca Male seemed uncertain. After a tense altercation near the Tsalala Pride and Plains Camp Males, he disappeared from Londolozi’s northern reaches. Speculation mounted about his whereabouts: was he injured, or worse, had he been killed?
But the resilience of lions often defies expectations.
The Southern Avoca Male is alive.
December Sighting: A Coalition Reunited
In early December 2024, reports emerged of a significant sighting on Sabi Sabi Game Reserve. The Southern Avoca Male, alive and well, was seen in the company of his coalition partner, the Kruger Male. The two seasoned males have ventured south, seemingly conceding the northern Londolozi to the formidable Plains Camp and Ndzhenga Coalitions.
It really is incredible how two large male lions can sneak across the boundaries of many reserves and avoid being detected or tracked down by the most skilful trackers on the planet!
Two ageing male lions stop and flehmen grimace, a mechanism to analyse the scent of another lion, working out who it is and if a female what reproductive state is she in.
This strategic retreat is not a sign of weakness but rather a calculated move. The southern areas of the Sabi Sands they now roam may lack the dense lion populations of the North, but they also present opportunities for stability and survival. For ageing males like these, securing less contested land could offer a reprieve from the relentless challenges posed by younger coalitions.
The Kruger Male in all his glory.
Navigating the strong territorial Coalitions
The Southern Avoca Male’s survival is a result of his ability to adapt and sneak through the territories of other coalitions. His long and storied life, from dominating the Sparta and Sand River Prides to navigating the volatile lion dynamics of the Sabi Sands, is a narrative of both triumph and endurance. Similarly, the Kruger Male’s journey has been marked by resilience, having survived the loss of his brothers and endured years of nomadism.
The Southern Avoca Male and Kruger Male resting after a long morning of patrolling.
Their decision to move south is influenced by the presence of the Plains Camp Males and the Ndzhenga Males, whose dominance in northern Londolozi and Singita remains unshaken. By shifting their focus to less demanding territory, the Southern Avoca Male and the Kruger Male have avoided unnecessary conflict, perhaps preserving their strength for future opportunities. Furthermore, the Msuthu Pride (formerly known as the Talamati Breakaway Pride), Styx Pride and Southern Prides are territorial in the South and offer these males an opportunity to further their genetic legacy.
So What Lies Ahead?
The dynamics in the southern Sabi Sands remain uncertain. While the Southern Avoca Male and the Kruger Male appear to have established a temporary territory, the pressures of the bush are ever-present. Rival coalitions, from the Ntsevu Males (aka the Kambula Males) to the up-and-coming Nkuhlu Males, loom large on the horizon. Let alone the two monumental Gijima Males currently dominant south of our boundary.
There is clearly a lot of pressure on them – In the middle of December, the Southern Avoca Male was seen again north of the Sand River deep in the Plains Camp and Ndzhenga Male Territory and the Kruger Male was sighted on the Southern Boundary of Londolozi.
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to follow the journeys of these two incredible individuals.
Thanks for the update. Never a dull moment, with the lion dynamics.
Great older coalition! There are several example that are renowned, like the last Mapogo (Makulu and Pretty Boy), the Majingilane but also the Birminghams and so many others… lions are the power. They are truly kings of the wilderness. Like the phantomatic leopards they can “resuscitate ” – for example the Inhyathini male… superb
Thanks, Nick, for this update on these male lions. There is always a lot going on regarding their dynamics and that of their competitors. Really fascinating.