What started off as a quiet morning drive, with nothing out of the ordinary happening in the bush, changed at a rapid pace. Our morning started off with a herd of impalas silhouetted against a pink sunrise, and the rest of the morning was the perfect example of how the bush can change in an instant. From a calm, peaceful, yet freezing cold sunrise, into excitement, pandemonium, and a memory for the ages. Safe to say the cold didn’t bother us for long.
A herd of impala silhouetted against a rosy pink sunrise as we head out for our morning drive.
After losing tracks of a female leopard relatively close to camp, we decided to change things up a little bit and head further south in search of some lions. And wow, did this decision pay off.
The Track
What began as a routine morning of tracking lions quickly unfolded into one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. Driving down our eastern boundary, Freddy stuck up his hand, his signal for me to stop. We jump off the vehicle and dotted along the gravel road were the tracks of the Kambula sub-adult lions, 10 of them, accompanied by one of the original Kambula lionesses. After a quick assessment, it was evident these tracks were VERY fresh.
Fresh lion tracks in the soft sand help us to determine the direction and intent of the pride as we begin our early morning game drive.
We looped around to the next road we thought the tracks would pass over, and like a well-written story, they crossed exactly where we thought they would. With a waterhole nearby, we thought they might go for a drink, but we were interrupted by another raised hand from Freddy. Buffalo tracks, with tracks of the lions right on top of them…
At this stage, I could feel Freddy’s energy start to change. His normal quiet and calm appearance was shifting into excitement and determination as we edged closer to finding the lions. As we rounded a corner, the bellow of a buffalo gave their position away. The buffalo were slowly feeding, unaware of any imminent danger in their vicinity. The problem we were facing is that we can now see the buffalo, the tracks of the lion still headed towards them, but there were no lions to be seen?
The Stalk
Knowing the lions can’t be too far away, we move around to view the buffalo from the crest above them so as to not interfere with any potential hunt. Sitting anxiously, we waited. All of a sudden, one lion appears, then two, then three and all 11 slowly show themselves as they stalk this herd of about 50 buffalo.
A Kambula Lioness stares across a drainage to where we had spotted the buffalo moments before seeing her.
For the next 30 minutes, nothing changed. The lions were trying to pick out a target. On the search for either a weak, injured, old buffalo or an unaccompanied calf as potential prey. What unfolded next I will never forget.
Two Kambula sub-adults watch carefully as the herd of buffalo gazes at the danger in front of them
The Hunt
Off they went. The lions had their mark. Chaos ensued as they pursued the stampeding buffalo as they tried to make a run for the hills. Myself and two other guides trying our hardest to keep up. As we approached a drainage line, two of us thought it would be a good idea to loop around, and in that instance, we heard the distinct bellow of a buffalo that had been caught. Rushing into the bush, we arrived at a scene with 11 lions on top of a buffalo cow. They had done it.
A young Kambula male sits aside, blood-covered face and a menacing look in his eyes, after just taking down the buffalo cow.
An exhilarating chase had ended in the most dramatic style. One side of you wants to cheer for the lions as they’re potentially having their first meal in a few days but the other half of you can’t help but feel sorry for the buffalo. I arrived back in camp that morning with a knot in my stomach. Mornings like this do not come around too often but when they do they remind you of the challenges both predator and prey face every day out in the wild, and in this case, in its rawest form.
Quite a day, but you always feel sorry for the prey species .
Hi Bryce, buffalo are renowned for the solidarity among them, but sometimes it happens, someone stays behind, too weak, ans still they come to rescue… perhaps they knew that time there was nothing they could do without putting themselves at risk, considering that it is not a favourite season for them, there’s no lush green vegetation to eat… it often happens with old bachelors staying alone. I appreciate so much those fierce animals, as I do with lions. Everyone has to eat and try to survive… beautiful dramatic pictures
Bryce, What an amazing sighting! The lion strategy was amazing and with their numbers, it was just a matter of time before they got one!
What an unforgettable encounter. I imagine it is challenging to hold so many opposing emotions all at once.
Hi Bryce, I am sure the excitement was high watching this whole episode enfold in front of you. Freddy was spot on with the foot print reading and got you there in time to see this successful hunt going down. I always feel sorry for prey or hunted, but in nature everyone has to eat and predators are ruthless. The sub adults have know experienced their first kill. So know they can hunt for the selves.
I loved the way you conveyed the suspense of this chase. Thank you!
Wow, quite a morning you had tracking the Kambula sub-adults, enough so that it makes it so worth the early morning cold drive. But the real thrill had to be the stalking and ultimate takedown of the Buffalo. They’re learning well from their mentor, the lone lioness, but one Buffalo doesn’t go far to feed 11 hungry lions. If they stay together, hunting large prey will need to be a daily activity, in order to continue to thrive.
I can understand the “knot in your stomach” very well, Bryce. One really always feels pity with the prey, a creature that just wants to live, feed and bring up their young ones. And one also feels with the predator who has the same goal with the crucial point that his food isn’t grass or leaves but another being.
The most interesting and exciting part of such encounters is the way the predators act and work together to achieve their aim.