There are moments in the bush that feel heavy when you are living them, moments that remind you that lion society is not built on sentiment but on survival and strategy. A while ago, the arrival of the Gijima Males marked one of these moments.
Their takeover marked a new chapter in the dynamics of the lions of Londolozi. As with so many new coalitions asserting dominance, their arrival came with consequences. As many of you know, their arrival resulted in the killing of the cubs of the two Kambula Lionesses that decided to hang back when the rest of their pride decided to move further north to stay under the protection of the Ndzhenga Male Coalition.
A single Gijima male strolls down the road on a late morning on a patrol.
At first, the future of the Kambula pride felt unsettled. There has been a three-way split of the pride since the arrival of the Gijima Males. The oldest of the lionesses decided to part ways with the pride and move out with the 11 sub adult lions that would have likely also been killed if they had stayed around. As mentioned, the two other lionesses went north to follow the Ndzhenga Males and the other two decided to chance their luck and stay behind. Although their decision at first seemed to be the wrong one, recent news suggests some light at the end of the tunnel for them.
When a new coalition takes over and eliminates existing cubs, it accelerates the return of the lionesses into oestrus. It is brutal, but it is nature’s mechanism to ensure the incoming males can pass on their genes before they themselves are challenged. Within two weeks of the cubs being killed, we started to see a shift. Knowing that the Gijima Males were now here to stay, the lionesses knew the only chance of a rebuild was to mate with them and so they have…
A Gijima male and one of the Kambula lionesses mating in the recent heavy rain we have had.
A few days ago, the two Kambula Lionesses were found resting with both the Gijima Males in the southeastern parts of Londolozi. At first it was not obvious, but as soon as one of the lionesses got up to move into some shade, we immediately saw it. The swollen abdomen and the low-hanging belly of a milk pouch starting to form told us everything we needed to know. She is pregnant. A few moments later, the second lioness got up to move into the same shade as her sister, and she too showed the same symptoms. Both of them are pregnant.
The Light Mane Gijima male mating with the Kambula lioness. The potential of new additions to the Kambula pride has created some excitement in the air.
Just a few months ago, they were facing the harsh reality of a lion’s life, having all their cubs killed. Facing the tension that comes with a takeover and now, the quiet anticipation of new life. This reminds me that following the lions of this amazing space is not always about the sightings; it is about understanding the reasoning and layers beneath each event. And in this moment, we realised we could be witnessing the first steps in rebuilding the legacy that the Kambula Pride once held dearly onto.
The old Kambula Pride resting on our strip, will they restore themselves to the numbers they once were? Time will tell…
There is a long road ahead. Although there is much excitement around the possibility of having some brand new cubs around the reserve, dominance is not permanent. The Gijima Males are going to have to defend their tenure, and the lionesses will need to successfully hide and raise their cubs in an ever-changing dynamic of lions. But for now, there is excitement in the air at Londolozi. In the next few months, if all goes well, the next generation of the Kambula Pride may begin their story.
Thank you for the update on the Kambula pride. Talking about lionesses, what is the latest status of the Tsalala lioness?