This week’s Virtual Safari begins with one of those incredible moments that sticks with you forever. After a call came in from Melvin and Milton about a newly discovered lion den, we raced down there, eager to see for ourselves. What we saw left us speechless: four tiny lion cubs, still covered in soft downy fur, lying huddled together in the open.
With the mother away, we kept our visit brief, just long enough to capture some footage and confirm the cubs’ age. At this early stage, their survival depends entirely on the mother’s ability to remain undisturbed, so we made the call to zone off the den area for the next three weeks. That time will allow her and the cubs to settle, grow stronger, and adapt in peace before we return.
A few days earlier, we were treated to another side of the Kambula story, the other two lionesses and their six older cubs, now around ten months old and brimming with energy. They were full of beans and tumbled, tackled, and played their way through the end of a windy afternoon.
It certainly is a privilege to witness both the fragility of new, tiny, little, few-day-old cubs and the confident chaos of young lions learning their place in the pride. The Kambula Pride continues to thrive, but how long with this last with the Gijima Males’ presence in the area?
Enjoy this week’s Virtual Safari…
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Hi Sean, those tiny little fur balls are so cute and absolutely gorgeous. I can sit and watch them all day long. I hope their Mom finds a better den for them, so that they are not so in the open. The other cubs are so playful and really very busy. It is a privilege to watch them playing and having the best time ever. Stunning video Sean thanks so much.
Thank you Valmai! I could sit and watch them all day too. Hopefully the mother chooses a safer, more sheltered den soon, they are very vulnerable out in the open like that. The older cubs always bring the energy though! Glad you enjoyed the video.
Dear Sean, how beautiful is that ? Never ever saw so small cubs of lions. Thousand thanks fpr sharing.
This was also my first time seeing lion cubs this small. Something I will never forget.
Great lion video!
The tiny cubs are so cute; good that you have blocked that site so that the mother can look after the little ones in some peace and quiet. I hope that they will make it; looking forward to meeting them some time in 2026.
Thanks Christa! They really are adorable at that age. Giving the mother some peace is the best thing we can do now. Fingers crossed they all make it, and who knows, you may well meet them in 2026 when they’re slightly bigger.
Sean, I can only imagine what it was like to see those tiny, helpless days old cubs in that very exposed den, and I c0mmend you all for zoning it off limits for the next 2-3 weeks. I was actually surprised the mother chose to leave them alone, but perhaps she is a first time mother…. anyway, I was immediately smitten. Given this recent birth, is it possible they are the offspring of the Ndhzengas, prior to those two males moving northeast? If so, then they are certainly in danger as the Gijimas will know they are not theirs.
The second part of your video was pure fun, watching these six bundles of energy pounce and rumble with one another – certainly more active then when I saw them in March, tucked into the sandy den surrounded by the palm fronds.
Thanks for another great Sunday armchair safari!
Thanks Denise, seeing them that tiny and exposed was interesting, I won’t lie. Zoning the area is the only responsible choice. And yes, they could be Ndhzenga offspring, from a mating bout just before the shift north, which does make things tricky if new males move in. Or they could also be from the Talamati Male or possibly the Gijima Males. So it will be very interesting to see what happens with them. The six older cubs were a treat as always.
what a great virtual safari – must be cool to see that IRL – all those little “simbas” just playing around. Hard to believe they grow up to be such fierce predators.
Thank you so much, Karen. Seeing them in real life is truly remarkable.
Thank you Sean for the great photography especially the new cubs and zoning them so no-one can bother their growth and learning Loved the mothers and their cubs the more I notice is when the cubs were playing they always go for the neck which is natural instinct to bring the the animals down when they are hunting but even in play at such a young age one can see their hunting instincts coming into their play I think its amazing and I believe in God so therefore his creating these beautiful animals he gave them every instinct to survive absolutely amazing and thank you for your great team of photographers who respect these beautiful animals from the lions leopards dogs birds hyenas elephants rhinos all of them thank you Lyn
Thank you Lyn, really appreciate your kind words. It’s amazing how early those instincts show, even when it’s all just play. The little neck-grabs and pounces give us a glimpse of the hunters they’ll become one day.
Thank you Sean, I’m delighted you filmed the Kambula cubs playing – I was lucky enough to see the 6 of them with their mothers last Thursday morning. It was joyful to watch them playing and now I will have your video to remind me, rather than just my photos!
It’s good that you were able to zone the very young cubs, though it’s scary the mother didn’t hide them away better. It’s certainly a huge advantage of owning the land to be able to give them this protection.
Thanks so much Suzanne, I’m glad you got to see those six little cubs in person! They really are a joy to watch. And yes, zoning the tiny cubs was the safest call we could make. It’s unusual for a mother to leave them that exposed.
Every new life is a welcome surprise, but I must say that newborn lion cubs are among the most irresistible creatures one can expect to see! Absolutely one if the best edition ever