The Lion Dynamics at Londolozi is currently moving at a breakneck and often brutal pace. This week, we found ourselves at the intersection of powerful lion beauty and the cold, biological reality of lion survival.
We began with the Gijima Males out in the open, in the soft, golden light of the early morning. These two dominant males then marched through the epic open clearings of Monzo Sheet Erosion, allowing us to try some higher frame rates and essentially slightly slower silky smooth shots. open clearings with unhurried confidence. Such an awesome sighting of these two large males.
However, the narrative shifted from power to the harsh reality when we found the blonde Gijima male mating with both Kambula lionesses later on in the week.
While the sighting itself was exciting, the context is far more complex. We know that one Kambula Female has already lost her litter to the dark-maned Gijima Male. This brings us to the harsh reality of infanticide; new males often kill existing cubs to ensure the next generation carries their own genetics. Sometimes, even if the cubs are his own.
The question remains: What about the second female’s litter? She was seen mating, yet she still carries the suckle marks of a nursing mother. So this might be a classic, high-stakes survival strategy. By mating with the Gijimas again, she is likely attempting to confuse paternity—convincing the Gijimas that the cubs hidden in the boulders of the Sand River are their own. Hopeful, but I think ultimately perilous.
Between the lion tension, we found a moment of composure with the Xinkhova Female leopard. High in a Schotia tree with an impala carcass, she remained completely indifferent to the hyenas below. It was a serene contrast to the lion saga.
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Born 2021, daughter of Nkoveni. Young dynamo actively claiming territory near camps, showing promise as next generation's dominant female.
Love the follow-up on the gijima males it seems they have found their females if one of the lionesses has cubs I hope the males accept them
If one of the gijima males sires cubs to these females would the brother kill his brother’s cubs
Thank you Sean, I could watch Xinkhova grooming in the tree all day long.
Regarding the Kambula cubs, would these be the very young cubs, some of which you saw when they were newly born? I’m wondering about the 2 Kambula females with the six cubs that are older (I saw them in November). I’m guessing they would be keeping a very low profile now.
Naive question from an iPhone photographer. Do the larger cameras have a ‘silencer’ so that the clicking is not audible? Leaving the birds and bugs to provide the audio content and keeping the calm of a safari sighting?
Sean, thank you for all that you provide us. Counting down the eight months until I’m back at Londolozi.
Sean, we think you are right that the female may still have those cubs hidden given the suckle marks. Fingers crossed! What do you think would’ve caused that gash on the females hip?
Hi Sean, well,let’s start with the great lady Xinkova, in the middle of perilous lions and marauding hyenas,apparently indifferent to both (as lions couldn’t definitely detect her!), a perfect out-of- trouble character. Then to the Kambula lioness… what a dark shadow of sadness on her delightful litter. Her sister may be blessed by fortune and cleverness… the Gijma males are to be followed in their steps over there, certainly the first actions aren’t as good as the Birmingham and Ndzenga males. Luckily they left many offspring and the Birmingham males were so handsome… are the Styx male and the daughter to the Birmingham (the Breakaway Female) still together?
Terrific footage of these handsome Gijimas, although it appears the dark-maned brother still walks with a small limp. Since I last saw them in 2023, they have grown in stature and walk with confidence, assuming their role as the new kings of Londolozi. It is amazing that their takeover has happened without injury to themselves or the other coalitions in the area, good for all parties. One question that looms is that supposedly the Kambula lionesses had mated with the Gijimas, as well as the Talamati, and so I would think the cubs would be safe, yet one litter was killed – had not enough time passed for them to believe the cubs were theirs? Fingers crossed the other litter is safe.
The Xinkhova female seems to be a carbon copy of her mother – as i watched her in the tree, it could have been a younger Nkoveni. She seems to be comfortable in her territory so hopefully she will mate soon and add to her family’s gene pool.
Hi Sean, the Gijima males are taking over the territory and now also mating with the Kambula females to make sure their genes go forward. It is a pity that the cubs are killed from the Gijima male. Let’s hope the other female still has her cubs. Nature is Taking its course with the lion dynamics.
Thanks for the video, Sean. As always so interesting and beautiful. Have you ever seen the Xinkhova Female mating with any of the leopards? I wonder when she will have cubs.
The lions’ story is really is really dramatic at the moment with the Gijima Males’ take over of the Kambula pride and the probable killing of all these cute cubs. So sad. However, as you said, this outcome was pretty certain because the mothers are coming across these males quite often.
Let’s hope that their next litter will be more successful, protected by the new fathers.