There are certain animals in the bush whose presence is felt long before they are seen. Sometimes it is a set of tracks in the soft sand, a distant roar carried across the river, or simply the knowledge that somewhere beyond the next ridge, a particular animal is moving through the landscape. The Styx Male has become one of those animals at Londolozi.

Now around five years old, he is no longer the young male we first watched finding his way through an increasingly complicated lion landscape. He is developing into a formidable adult, and although he does not yet hold a clearly defined territory of his own, his presence is becoming difficult to ignore.

What makes his position interesting is that he is navigating a landscape already occupied by established males. The Plains Camp Males remain a significant force to the western side of our camps, while the Gijima Males have established themselves as dominant territorial holders in their own right. Without a coalition of his own to back him, moving through this landscape requires an extraordinary degree of awareness. He cannot simply march into another coalition’s territory and expect to take control. Instead, his movements appear to be measured, opportunistic and, at times, almost deliberately inconspicuous. He moves between the spaces these established males occupy rather than challenging them directly, and perhaps that is exactly what survival requires at this stage of his life.

The Styx Male walking intently down the road towards us. On this morning, lions were roaring across all of Londolozi and he did his best to navigate the confrontation by avoiding the distant calls of potential rivals.

Male lions are often portrayed as animals constantly seeking dominance, but the reality is far more nuanced. A coalition has strength in numbers. Two or three males can patrol together, defend a territory and challenge rivals with a confidence a lone male simply cannot match. The Styx Male, without brothers or coalition partners of his own, has had to navigate this period of his life differently, and that makes his recent movements particularly interesting.

Rather than forcing an immediate confrontation, he appears to be making use of opportunities within an already occupied landscape. He can move through an area when the resident males are elsewhere, investigate females, vocalise and search for food, all while avoiding unnecessary conflict. It is not necessarily a sign of weakness. In fact, there is something remarkably calculated about it. A serious confrontation between male lions can carry enormous consequences, and a broken jaw, damaged limb or deep wound can mean the difference between surviving and starving. Without a coalition partner to assist him, an injury is even more dangerous, and so the Styx Male appears to be playing a longer game.

In my opinion, he is probably the best-looking male lion we see at Londolozi at the moment. An unscarred face, an impressive blonde mane and beautiful eyes. The question is how long he will be able to continue this somewhat nomadic life.

One of the more fascinating aspects of his recent behaviour has been his scavenger-like approach to feeding. Hunting successfully is difficult for any lion, but perhaps even more so for a single male. He is capable of bringing down substantial prey, but his size is not always an advantage when it comes to pursuing fast, agile animals. His bulk means he is not as quick or nimble as he would like, and his mane is difficult to hide when he is trying to stalk.

Scavenging, then, can be an incredibly effective strategy. A carcass left behind by another predator, an animal that has died naturally, or the remains of another lion’s kill can all provide a valuable meal without the physical risk and energy of a hunt, and for the Styx Male these opportunities are particularly important. There is something humbling about watching a powerful male lion search through the landscape for whatever food he can find. We tend to associate lions with dominance, strength and successful kills, yet survival in the wild is rarely so straightforward. Sometimes the most successful animal is simply the one willing to take an opportunity when it presents itself, and the Styx Male seems to understand this.

The Styx Male letting out a large sequence of roars in the early morning light as he tried to relocate the Kambula Breakaway Female.

Perhaps the most noticeable change in recent months has been his vocal activity. He has been roaring more and more often, and lately has been calling almost nightly around camp. There is something particularly evocative about hearing a male lion roar after dark. The sound travels enormous distances, carrying through the landscape long after the lion himself has disappeared from view. For the Styx Male these calls may serve several purposes at once: advertising his presence, communicating with females, responding to other males, or simply reinforcing where he sits in the landscape. Whatever the motivation, his voice is becoming another way his presence is felt, and perhaps an indication of growing confidence.

That confidence may owe something to the company he keeps. For the past couple of years the Styx Male has ranged alongside the Kambula Breakaway Female, and the two have become a genuinely unusual pairing. His presence affords her a degree of security in an ever-changing landscape, while her hunting ability helps keep the pair of them well fed and in good condition

The Styx male and Kambula Breakaway female have found great strength and unity in their bond. His presence affords her great security in an ever-changing landscape, and her prowess and hunting abilities ensure the pair of them remain well fed and healthy.

The most intriguing question is what comes next. Lion dynamics around Londolozi are constantly changing. Established coalitions age, younger males mature and new alliances form. The Gijima and Plains Camp Males currently represent significant obstacles for any lone male trying to establish himself, but time changes everything, and the Styx Male is reaching an age where the decisions he makes could shape the next chapter of his life. The pair have recently been seen mating, which adds another layer to the story, particularly in a landscape where the constant presence of other territorial males makes raising offspring a considerable challenge.

A magnificent looking duo of lions, that have been drifting around the southwestern parts of Londolozi. The Styx Male is no moving around unannounced though, we often hear him calling, advertising that this is his territory. Hopefully, this doesn’t land him in hot water with any other large coalitions in the future.

For now, though, the Styx Male seems content to exist between worlds. He moves through established territories rather than openly claiming them, takes food wherever he can find it, announces himself more often in the dark, spends his time with the Kambula Breakaway Female, and all the while continues to grow into the imposing male he is becoming. There is always a temptation, when watching lions, to want to know what happens next. Will he find a coalition partner? Will he challenge one of the established males? Will he carve out a territory of his own? The truth is we simply do not know, and perhaps that uncertainty is one of the most compelling parts of following a wild animal over time.

For now, the Styx Male does not need to dominate the landscape to make his presence known. His tracks are there. His voice is there. And increasingly, so is he. The next chapter has not yet been written, but judging by the direction this young male is taking, it promises to be a fascinating one.