Lionesses 2, Sean 0. That was the situation by the end of our second attempt to find the Kambula Females, and I am not too proud to admit that the bush had thoroughly handed me my lunch.
The first morning was lost to mist so thick we could barely see past the bonnet. The second attempt ended with us soaked to the bone, our beach umbrella having abandoned its waterproofing somewhere in the first ten minutes of a downpour we definitely did not see coming.
But the Kambula Lionesses had been seen about a week earlier looking heavily pregnant, and we knew it was only a matter of time before they tucked themselves away to give birth. The plan was simple: find them, determine where they were denning, and try to piece together the next chapter of their story. The bush, of course, had other ideas.
The first attempt gave us a herd of elephants that loomed out of the grey mist like ghosts and then disappeared again, and not much else. A few days later, we tried again, this time running straight into the Gijima Males flat on their backs in the middle of the road, doing what lions do best — absolutely nothing. We left them to it and pushed on, only to get caught in the rain that finished off the umbrella and very nearly finished off us.
Then Megan called it in. She had found the cubs of one of the lionesses that morning, and we set off that afternoon with renewed hope and only slightly damaged pride. What followed is one of those drives that reminds you why patience is the most underrated skill in this job, and why sometimes the best sightings start with you switching the engine off and watching a fly fight a spider on the bonnet of your Land Rover.
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
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Wow, Sean, what a video today! One surprise after the other!
So good to know that the Ximungwe Females’ cubs seem to be fine. I was worried after reading yesterday’s blog that something might have happened to them. And the Three-Rivers Female’s cubs are also fine. Fantastic!
Londolozi seems to be teeming with leopard cubs at the moment.
I am also so relieved that the Xhinkova’s cubs are also fine. We were so worried the other day that one of the cubs might have died.
As an additional bonus there are these new lion cubs, the styx male plus partner and the Pangolin. I am wondering if this might be the one we saw three weeks ago because it was also so relaxed and walked around in the grass and bush.
What incredible sightings you are having at the moment.
There was one surprise after the next. We have been having some incredible sightings.
And, PS, I hope you didn’t catch a cold, Sean, when you were out there in the rain.
Thankfully we are all still strong and healthy, no cold after that rain.
Hi Sean, I can’t wait to getting to know more about all cubs! What a surprise the Three Rivers female! They look absolutely amazing! The fly was so big, it gives such a feeling… oh, a pagolin…. a victory against the trade of protected species and a symbol of rich biodiversity. The Styx male is getting more and more handsome, and the Kambula lioness is an utmost beautiful companion. A video full of cubs is the best thing you can think of. Many thanks to you all! Cheers to all new lives!
Thanks so much, Francesca. I am glad you enjoyed.
Hi Sean, so incredibly excited to see the Ximungwe female and her two cubs, and seeing for a brief moment the Three Rivers female with her two tiny cubs. So very precious and such a privilege to see them. Then off course the lioness walking a cross the road with one tiny lion cub her mouth is absolutely stunning. All in a day’s work even if you had to get soaked with the rain. Thanks so much for this stunning content, much appreciated.
Thanks so much, Valmai. It was a great week.
Great video Sean, think it’s time you got a new brolly!
I think I heard a woodland kingfisher during the video, are they likely to be heading off soon?
Also you mentioned at the end about Ximungwe and Three Rivers new cubs. Is Maxim’s the likely father of both?
I think it is definitely time for a new brolly. I will say, I haven’t been expecting to use it until I was caught in that downpour. But we are in process of getting a new one, I just hope I don’t have to use it any time soon.
OMG, phenomenal video Sean! Although the Kambula lionesses managed to evade your attempts to peek into their den, Tayla’s video of the lionesses carrying her cub is priceless. There’s such excitement around all these new lion and leopard cubs and during my stay last week it was palpable each day. Fortunately for us we did see the cubs of Ximungwe and Xinkhova- a first for me seeing cubs that small. Definitely PATIENCE is the key to sightings like those.
An extraordinary view of the Pangolin and then more lions – Styx and the Kambula breakaway. So sorry about the rain……. we opted out that day! Now I’m glad we did as it didn’t look as though it was worth the soaking you got.
Looking forward to more news about Three Rivers cubs….
Thanks so much, Denise. I am so glad that you managed to see the cubs.
I was a bit bleak after being caught in the rain but it is how it goes and thankfully all the camera gear was alright.