As dawn approached, the first light painted the sky in delicate shades of pink and gold. There was excitement in the air, specifically for one reason: about five weeks ago, rangers and trackers had seen that one of the lionesses from the Kambula pride had given birth (indicated by prominent suckle marks).

Nothing beats driving out of camp at sunrise and not knowing what each corner may surprise you with today.

Since then, we have been following her movements closely, seeing her tracks going in and out of the dense thickets along the banks of the Maxabene River, not too far from the confluence with the Sand River. Each day, we anticipate catching a glimpse of these cubs, but for now, they remain hidden little treasures.

Fresh suckle marks show that this lioness is nursing her cubs.

A couple of weeks back, we had heard soft mews and grunts from the thickets, which kept our anticipation growing. We knew exactly where they were, but seeing them was almost impossible through the impenetrable spikethorn and bushwillow thickets. Speculation ran wild about how many cubs there might be.

Every track was like a silent promise, that one day we would see them. On this particular morning, we set off early from camp. Excitement levels were high with the prospect of finally witnessing the latest litter of the Kambula Pride.

Fresh lion tracks.

The morning air was crisp, carrying the fresh smells of wet earth and dewy grasses. In all but the most harsh of weather, Mother Nature never fails to provide her morning symphony, from the distant rasp of a leopard, to the soft chirps and whistles of birdsong to the rustles within the tall grasses.

Bearded Scrub-Robins are plentiful along dense riverine areas, filling the morning air with beautiful melodies.

Arriving at the Maxabene Riverbed, we came to a halt and began looking for any tracks of the mother lioness. We knew that it would be almost impossible to see the cubs if she was not around, as they would be very well hidden. We could see many different sets of her tracks going to and from a particular clump of thickets. What got us really excited was that there were very fresh tracks of her going to the den, possibly not even an hour old. We could see how her large paws had broken through the dewy crust, exposing the dry sand of the riverbed underneath.

Knowing the dangers of tracking on foot in an area like this, we began to search from within the vehicle.

A lion leaves a strong, deep impression in the soft sand of the riverbeds across Londolozi. It is one of the most forgiving tracking experiences.

After a short while, as we rounded a big white berry bush, a flicker of movement caught my eye. Tucked beneath a sprawling spikethorn tree, I caught sight of the large tawny coat of a lioness. Slowly, I turned my head, and right beside her — four tiny cubs, gently moving around in the deep shadows. What an incredible moment it was.

This is the first time the newest Kambula cubs were seen.

Then, as if almost to greet us, the little cubs emerged from the spikethorn, one by one. They moved with delightful clumsiness, yet had an unmistakable confidence that came from their mother being nearby. The pure innocence they displayed as they wrestled around and played with one another filled our vehicle with a beautiful balance of laughter and periods of deep stillness. Mother Nature had finally unveiled this precious moment to us, a gift we would all carry with us for the rest of our lives.

The first of the four cubs to emerge from the den. What an incredible moment this was for us.

Hidden in the thicket, the Kambula Lioness kept a watchful eye on her playful cubs. Her acute sense of awareness always ensured that these youngsters were safe as they explored the nearby vicinity of their den. A lioness is one of the most fiercely protective mothers of the animal kingdom.

Three of the cubs sat together and watched us with an intent curiosity as their sibling lay with the mother inside the Spikethorn thicket.

Time seemed to stand still as we sat watching them. We were all so captivated by such an incredible spectacle. This sighting was a first for me. In all my time in the bush, I had never seen lion cubs this young. And throughout our time there we were able to confirm that there are 3 males and 1 female.

One of the little males takes a rest after a short bout of play and exploring.

Eventually after making our way out of the den, the grin on my face mirrored that of Tracker Terrence and all of our guests in the vehicle. It was a collective joy that cannot be put into words. Bearing witness to the Kambula Pride’s newest generation reminded us of the continuous cycle of life that unfolds each day in the Londolozi wilderness.

 

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This was definitely right up there with one of my most special sightings to date. I can only hope that all of these cubs survive and thrive. We’ll be sure to continue posting updates on their progress going forward.