This week’s Virtual Safari is a gentle reminder that some stories in the bush unfold on their own terms — and that patience is often part of the privilege.
Following on from last week’s episode, we set our sights on trying to find the Tsalala Female’s den and catch a glimpse of her cubs. The signs were all there. Tracks criss-crossing familiar routes, movement through areas she knows intimately, and repeated returns to Ximpalapala Koppie — a place that carries deep significance for the Tsalala Pride and one that has shaped so much of their history. Standing there, it’s impossible not to reflect on just how important this lineage is, and how closely we all hold it to our hearts.
Despite our best efforts and numerous clues pointing us in the right direction, the Tsalala Female herself remained elusive. And perhaps that’s exactly how it should be. A mother keeping her cubs hidden, safe, and undisturbed is often the best possible sign.
Rather than pushing further, we allowed the bush to guide us. Time was spent with elephants moving quietly through the area, we stumbled upon yet another tiny leopard tortoise, somehow even smaller than the last, and discovered a dice moth larva inching along amongst the vegetation. Small details, easily missed, but deeply rewarding when you slow down enough to notice them.
The morning ended on a note of intrigue. A large male lion was found at Ximpalapala Koppie, and at first glance, we assumed it was one of the familiar Plains Camp Males. Only later, reviewing the footage properly, did we realise it was a different male altogether. The question to you is — who exactly is he, and what does his presence here mean?
So while we didn’t find the den this week, the story is very much alive. The signs are encouraging, the moments were magical, and the search continues — exactly as it should.
Enjoy this week’s Virtual Safari…
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on The Search For Tsalala Lioness’s Den | Virtual Safari #309