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The Bush Bar : Beat of the Bushveld

Hugged by crunchy thickets, overlooking a drainage line and protected by a canopy of trees rests the much-talked about Bush Bar. The location is hidden, and only our khaki-clad crew from nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot know how to find this magical bar that has seen plenty of gin tastings, clinking of glasses and hearty laughter since its inception. The Bush Bar experience is not a given while you’re on safari, but is rather an added value experience. If you’re part of the pot luck club that has been lucky enough to experience the Bush Bar, then we’re pretty sure you had a mighty fine time swirling your drinks and indulging in campfire chatter.

Guests are greeted with a handcrafted Bush Bar sign with a deeply etched font carved carefully into the wood. The structure of the bar counter has been built from fallen mopane and marula trees, which adds to the authenticity of the Bush Bar. Our rangers and trackers worked hard at clearing debris and ensuring an open area for seating was created. A wrought-iron fire pit is where the crackling campfire eagerly awaits its onlookers. If you prefer to be a bar fly, grab one of the bar chairs and chat to one of the camp managers or rangers guarding the bar!

There’s nothing better than watching that amber sun quietly sink in to the horizon while the darkness of night forces its way into play. While you’re listening to those ice-blocks in your craft gin and tonic jostling one another in that narrow glass of yours, don’t forget to listen out for the whooping of the hyena and the guttural contact calls of our many lions.

There’s no denying that the Bush Bar is the place to see – and be seen. If you were one of the lucky few from the recent group to have enjoyed this particular Bush Bar experience, then please share these photos and try spot yourself in the crowd! The Klaserie Bush Bar is the beat of the bushveld, and our wildlife the choir.

Massive Male Leopard Kills 6 Month Old Leopard Cub, Then Eats It

Warning : Sensitive content Up Ahead

There’s no easy way of delivering this heartbreaking message of a cruel and untimely death of a curious leopard cub. How this fluffy rosette patterned cat met its fate isn’t unusual, but was downright strange to witness. The event will certainly go down in the Klaserie’s history book of barbaric sightings. It was an event that made tracker Isaac say, “I’ve never seen something like this in my 35 years of guiding and tracking!”. This happened while on drive with Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp – a moment that broke our hearts, rocked us to the core, and unravelled both guides and guests. And yet, in the grand scheme of things, we understand why.

Last night, in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, a huge unknown male leopard spotted a 6 month old leopard cub exploring the confines of its territory. The powerful male was one side of the waterhole, and the curious cub on the other side. Leopards do tolerate others on the periphery of their turf – but not this beast of a male. The older Tom took chase, played and fought with the cub, then dragged it off and devoured it. A graphic moment in the wild that rattled even the most experienced of rangers and trackers. This was an absolute sign of sheer territorial dominance and with intent to wilfully inflict pain.

At first, guests from nThambo were excited to see a huge male leopard seemingly patrolling his territory on the outskirts of the waterhole. Out of the blue the large and burly male moved at the speed of lightning with the intent of pouncing on the youngster. He forcefully attacked the 6 month old cub that was exploring the opposite side of the dam, and with the greatest of strength delivered a few final blows to the unsuspecting cub. Tufts of fur were removed at a rapid rate, and dust clouds ensured guests and rangers were shielded from too much graphic violence, but the throaty barks and anguished cries could still be heard. It was showdown and one that left its onlookers speechless and yearning for meaning.

Lead guide Mauritz said that the large male even ate the paws of the cub, a visual which is pretty unbelievable. Leopards can be fussy eaters and often discard parts of their prey that aren’t favourable to their palate. This Tom was bloodthirsty. After inflicting death, he still did not walk away from the scene. Leopards can be opportunistic feeders, but to feast on one of your own seems like a scene from the movie Hannibal.

Ranger Elmar says, “First we spotted the big male leopard behind the termite mound, so I tried to position the vehicle correctly so that guests could get proper visual. Then I noticed the cub on the other side of the dam. The big male ran around the waterhole, chasing the cub deep into the bushes. The male pounced and the cub put up a brave fight for at least 10 – 15 minutes, before it finally slipped away.”

This moment is still being talked about at camp, and probably will be in years to come. Unfortunately, this is the wild. A place where we cannot – and do not – interfere in nature taking its course. It’s warfare out there and often we’re reminded at just how fragile the circle of life really is.

* We have two videos – one taken by a guest from the UK, Ali Degutis, and the second video is from Elmar – a ranger at nThambo Tree Camp.

#TalesFromTimbavati : Observing the Mbiri Male Lions Relaxing at a Waterhole

The two Mbiri male lions are a powerful coalition that traverse the rugged landscape of the both the Timbavati and Klaserie Private Nature Reserves. These are the two Mbiri males, often seen on our traverse. Guests were lucky enough to see these cats on the banks of a waterhole while out on morning game drive. The tawny cats were seemingly relaxed in the presence of the game viewer, and were quite sauvé in their mannerisms.

Lion pride dynamics are intricate, and understanding the movements of various individuals and prides can create much confusion. What we do know is the behaviour that is commonplace with this Panthera leo species. So, just why are we seeing two lone males?

Lionesses give birth to a litter of cubs, and the ones that have longevity stay within their natal pride until about 2 years old. Females will stay with the pride for life, while the young males will be ousted and encouraged to practice being a powerful kings. Not having the support of the pride can be brutal, so brothers of the same age or other solo travellers will generally form coalitions of 2 or more.

These coalitions patrol a wide range and often wander over into neighbouring reserves in order to establish new territories and find their own prides to take over. Coalitions come in search of females and territory. It’s vital that males continue their own bloodline and strong genetics. Heartbreaking is the fact that, the more burly and ruthless of males may even commit infanticide – which is the killing off of cubs in an established pride. This is so that they can dominate the females and procreate. Infanticide is one of the many reasons why lion cubs have such a high mortality rate in the wild.

In the wild, you will often see older lionesses with her growing cubs, lionesses with other females and then their male pride leaders with full manes and regal stature. A pride can be dominated by a coalition of two, or one male. If there are young males wanting to take over the pride they will attempt to dethrone the current kings. It’s a brutal and ruthless world out there in the lion kingdom!

Our Mbiri boys have been spotted hanging out with the Ross Pride lionesses on a number of occasions. A few cubs in the Timbavati would certainly be a welcome sight.

Walkers Bush Villa : Hire Out An Exclusive, Fully Catered Villa in Kruger

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve forms part of the revered Greater Kruger region, and is one of the most sought after reserves for a private and exclusive safari experience. The reserve is famed for its wild white lions, abundance of big game and presence of the big five that thrive in this area. Sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park and the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, the Timbavati certainly doesn’t lack for any wildlife activity.

It makes sense then, that with an exclusive private reserve experience, you’d seek an exclusive accommodation experience. That’s where Walkers Bush Villa comes in. Imagine traversing the endless landscape with your own private guide and vehicle. Imagine getting the private chef to tailor-make a menu suited specifically to your palate. Imagine taking the kids with on safari, and a host of children’s activities are arranged for their entertainment. There’s plenty on offer at Walkers – and it’s all catered to your personality and what you want from your safari experience.

This exclusive villa sleeps 8 people in 4 bedrooms. There is one master bedroom adjoining the main house, and three separate rooms dotted around the scenic courtyard area. There’s an expansive patio is the perfect place enjoy an al fresco dining experience, and the classic indoor dining hall is ideal for a more formal or celebratory dinner experience.

There are even two lounges – one for reading and chatting, and the other for watching a spot of television. Decor is eclectic, and modern art pieces adorn the walls while hints of Africa are carried throughout. Ingrid and Howard Walker own the property and have over two decades experience in the country villa and hotel industry in Dullstroom. The atmosphere of Walkers Bush Villa certainly reminds of fine country living evident in the previous lodges owned by the Walkers.

Daily game drives are a must, and a leading guide will ensure guests enjoy the ultimate safari in a sought after reserve. Although flexible in terms of guests’ needs, morning and evening game drives are recommended. Dawn and dusk are when the predators are most active – the air is cooler and provides the perfect conditions for cats to be on the move. It is customary to stop during the morning game drive for coffee and the evening game drive for a sundowner.

The reserve is rich with birdlife and activity from plains game, pachyderms and small mammals. There are high concentrations of game in the Timbavati and spotting various species congregated around the numerous waterholes in the area is not uncommon.

Walkers offers safari exclusivity from start to finish.
For bookings, click here : reservations@sundestinations.co.za
For images, videos and more info click here : www.walkersbushvilla.co.za

Leopard Lookbook : Umkumbe’s Finest Models

A lookbook is a collection of visual masterpieces designed to showcase the exquisite and smouldering looks of a particular subject. Historically, a lookbook is something photographers use as a portfolio for their work. We’ve decided to use the concept of a lookbook to highlight our ranger’s recent leopard photos, each of which brings something unique to the table. Ranger Geoffrey and Zanelle have taken advantage of perfect lighting to create exceptional compositions that capture the essence of our mysterious Sabi Sand leopards. These photos have all been taken over the past month while out on game drive, which means it’s fresh batch of images from our wealth of leopard sightings.

Here’s a quick intro into the leaps of leopards we’ve spotted while cruising the crunchy roads and bounding through lush vegetation:

Little Bush’s Cub (Natumi)

The slender Natumi female is Little Bush’s cub, and is in the region of 12 – 18 months, which means she’s on the border of being tied to her mother’s apron strings and leading a solitary lifestyle. She prowls the periphery of her mother’s territory and leopards of this age will occasionally meet up with their mother’s to conduct hunts. Natumi was seen devouring her own kill in the safety of a tree, and,when spotted on other occasions without without a kill in her jowls, she seemed completely relaxed and comfortable in our presence.

Little Bush

Little Bush is the mother of older leopardess called Kigelia and another youngster called Natumi. Little Bush is a firm favourite on our traverse, and is spotted regularly. She’s a graceful cat shrouded with the mystery of typical leopard behaviour, but does remain quite shy in her demeanour.

Inyathini the Male Leopard

Inyathini is quite an enigma and is quite a vigorous cat with a brazen attitude. Inyathini wandered over onto sacred ground. He does seem to have firmly established boundaries in the eastern region of the Sand River, which is good news. We believe that Inyathini wandered over from the Kruger National Park and has since settled into the Sabi Sand. Sightings of him are quite rare and he is seemingly more relaxed nowadays than when initially spotted!

Dudley Riverbank Female’s Cub

The Dudley Riverbank leopardess was, understandably, quite a neurotic leopard. During the course of her lifetime she gave birth to a number of cubs that never saw adulthood. The cubs were lost due to natural causes and the cruel twist of the food chain. Because of the prolific presence of big cats in the area, there are also numerous scavengers and other predators which pose a threat for vulnerable newborns.

The cub is somewhat more relaxed around game viewers and comfortable in its territory deep within the thickets. The cub allowed us to photograph him clawing his way up a tree – the perfect elevated place for a leopard to survey its landscape.

Maseke’s Chacma Bush Camp : Videos and Images of the Refurb

Chacma Bush Camp, the latest camp to emerge from the Sun Destinations portfolio, is our very own elephant paradise located in the lesser-explored and rugged Maseke Game Reserve. You’ve probably become quite familiar with the camp, and no doubt have seen the wealth wildlife and landscape images. Towards the end of last year we planned a soft refurbishment and did a quick reshuffle of decor and furniture. You’ve waited in anticipation for this day, and it has finally arrived.

The refurb was finished and we’re happy with how the camp is looking. A fresh lick of paint, muted hues in terms of decor, unique pieces and outdoor furniture have been perfectly positioned to take advantage of the views. It is her where you will see buffalo drinking and grazing camp, elephants soaking up water and dust bathing; and kingfisher’s dive-bombing their prey.

Below are all of the videos and images from our recent shoot of the Chacma Bedrooms (there are 3) and the main areas.

For rates please consult : https://www.chacmabushcamp.co.za/rates.html
For camp details, location and other info please click here to consult the Chacma Bush Camp Fact Sheet

Chacma Bush Camp : Camp Area

The main area of camp includes an outdoor dining area (covered), a swimming pool and a boma area. These areas form a strip in front of small waterhole /section of water that is a hub of activity for wildlife. Next to the dining area is the Steenbok Chalet which is next door to the indoor reception area.

Steenbok Chalet

This chalet joins the main part of camp and is adjacent to the indoor lounge and reception area. It has its own patio which is practically on the water’s edge at camp. It sleeps 2 adults and 2 children, or 3 adults. There is one double bed and a sleeper couch. It’s ideal for a honeymoon couple due to its location, but also great for a small family. Space wise it’s smaller than the other two rooms but does have an idyllic view and a spacious bathroom.

Grysbok Chalet

Grysbok Chalet is a 2 bedroom chalet with an en suite bathroom. It has a view of the swimming pool and looks downwards towards the main area of camp. This is ideal for 2 adults and 2 children. The main room has a double bed and the second bedroom has bunk-beds. The bathroom is expansive and there is also a large patio area for relaxation.

Klipspringer Chalet

Klipspringer chalet has a double bed, an L-shaped couch that can be turned into a 2 sleeper, and space for 2 extra beds. This is ideal for a family of 6. It is the only room with an outdoor shower which leads into the separate toilet area. There is a small patio and this is the furthest chalet from the main area, offering families a sense of privacy.

Chacma Bush Camp Videos

Chacma Lion Cubs Play with Barn Owl and No One Gives a Hoot

It’s not uncommon to witness our youngsters pushing boundaries and engaging in playful antics that, more often than not, ends in tears. The foolish behaviour of our species is no different to the array of wildlife that makes up our animal kingdom. Playtime is healthy for development and is more than just fun – even if it ends in floods of tears. Our boisterous lion cubs expend plenty of energy when they play, a time which is paramount to their development and success in the wild. Playing allows them to gain the necessary skills to survive out there in the unforgiving battlefield of the bushveld. It is during play that they establish dominance, hierarchy and practice their hunting tactics. Their clumsy tumbling, attempts at formulating attacks and ripping apart surrounding flora is all solid prep work for the tumultuous world out there.

Whether they practice and play with a fallen stick from an acacia tree, or an owl, it’s all fair game. A lion cub’s toy might be decaying flora …Or it might be living. Much like that owl we’ve just mentioned.

In the Maseke Game Reserve we’ve spotted the burly Maseke Male lions patrolling their home ground on numerous occasions, but mainly under the canvas of darkness. That’s when lions are generally on the move – in the cooler hours of the day. We’ve also seen a lone lioness together with her sub-adult cubs on a couple of occasions, but our recent sighting comes out tops and really is worth flapping our proverbial wings about.The inquisitive cubs made a callous decision to use a barn owl as their toy. Who needs Fisher-Price plastic animal sets when you have the real deal?

The sequence of events was chaotic and led to plenty of feathers, fluff and fury. It was like watching nature’s own action movie, the one where you hope that the unsuspecting target flees and survives its traumatic ordeal before the cruel hand of death whisks them away.

Lions have been known to clock 100 metres in 6 seconds during the final 100 m in 6 seconds in the final chase. Their agility and sheer ambushing power meant that this unsuspecting barn owl was too slow to take to the skies. While they were nosediving and tumbling in the muddy region surrounding the waterhole, they came across the barn owl that was hunting for prey (mice and shrews). And then the rough smacking and pawing from our Maseke cubs began. Playtime.

Was this a practice round for bigger things, or simply an opportunity to play with zero intent to kill? This young pride are still keeping company with their mother, which indicates that they’re not quite ready to leave the natal pride. Females will stay within the pride for life and males will lead a more nomadic lifestyle in coalitions with 2 or more males. Young lions are considered fully grown when they reach 7, an age at which they will cross over into territories offering high concentration of food sources and availability of females.

This snippet of photos from the wild really is based on true life events! Sometimes nature is kind, and other times cruel. This was an unusual sighting, and one that ultimately ended in tragedy.

Umkumbe Lion Update : Kambula Lionesses are Doing the Rounds !

When it comes to lion pride sighting updates at Umkumbe Safari Lodge, we’re way overdue – just like that festive season credit card payment. We have some edge of the seat stuff coming your way, so hold your breath as we beguile you with the latest tales from our powerful big cat athletes. We’re skipping the leopard update today and going to focus entirely on those tawny beasts that patrol our traverse day in and day out, scent marking and contact calling as they confidently strut their stuff on their home ground.

We’ll kick-off with an update about the Kambula Pride of lions. These lionesses were previously referred to as the Mhangeni Breakaway females, and were eventually renamed after considerable time lapsed . It was realised that the females would not rejoin the rest of the Mhangeni lionesses and needed an identification of their own.

The tight-knit group of felines seem at ease with just about any male, with numerous consortships witnessed over the past month. Whether its local lions pushing boundaries, or even nomadic males wandering across in search of new territories; the Kambulas will mate with all and sundry.

The reason? It is within their genetic make-up to want to reproduce and increase their kinship among individuals. It’s hardly slim pickings on our traverse when it comes to burly male lions, so the options of males to sire cubs are endless. However, a lioness’s desire to procreate is not just about continuing their bloodline and creating genetic diversity – it’s also about preservation and survival.

It is speculated that the more males they mate with during oestrus, the harder it is to identify paternity which could lead to less aggressiveness and less chance of infanticide. Males that want to take over prides or mate with receptive females may kill off existing cubs to thwart the continuation of another’s bloodline.

So yes, the Kambula’s are most certainly doing the rounds. Towards the end of December, ranger Geoffrey sent through a few short clips of one of the Birmingham males mating with the Kambulas. Our guests not only enjoyed a lion sighting, but also witnessed the rather tormented affair of a big cat mating session. The Birmingham males have a chocolate colour mane that carpets their upper quarters, and they’re rather a heavyset coalition of 4 lions easily recognisable by their powerful bodies and distinct colouring.

The Avoca male lions are a coalition of 2 males that wandered over from the Avoca Pride in the southern Timbavati region. They have 3 younger siblings, but seem to be staking claim on land within the Sabi Sand. The Avocas discovered the available Kambulas and were subsequently spotted feeding on the remnants of a buffalo kill.

The Avocas weren’t the only males the Kambulas were sidling up to, and one of the legends and favourites of the area – Scar Nose from the Majingilanes was also spotted in their company. The Majingilanes have quite the legacy on our parts, and it appears that the rough and rowdy Scar Nose also wanted a piece of the action. With his leathery nose and clearly marked jaw, he certainly looks like a soldier of his territory.

Sparta Lions were the apple of the Avoca’s eye towards mid last year, but the Avocas appear to have a new flavour of the month which is the Kambulas. The Sparta lionesses were spotted at a local waterhole replenishing their thirst.

The Matshipiri male lions, our resident warlords, have been involved in a number of scuffles over the past year and bear the battle scars as proof. There are now 2 Matshipiri males that are often spotted with the Kambula females, and they’ve been the longstanding companions of this pride of lionesses.

Our sightings of these various prides, groups and coalitions have taken place over the past 3 weeks. There’s clearly plenty of lion activity on Umkumbe’s traverse, adding to already confusing lion activity. What we do know is that the Kambulas are clearly needing to procreate.

Birmingham Male Lions

Avoca Lions

Kambulas and Matshipiris

Scar Nose with Kambulas

Sparta Females

Festive Week in Pics : 2017 is a Wrap!

2017 is drawing to a close, and the year has plummeted into oblivion as quickly as a pied kingfisher dive bombs its prey. The year has been an interesting one, with new camps climbing aboard the Sun Destinations portfolio and a marked shift in lion pride behaviour across all of the reserves.

The four seasons bring with it a deluge of changes. In 2017 we’ve observed eerie thunderstorms, biting cold, searing heat and intermittent heavy rains that provided plenty of scope for species to thrive, struggle and migrate. Recently, the contrast of arid, bland bushveld bursting with greenery during our summer season has made for exceptional landscape views. The biome in both Botswana and Kruger continues to fascinate us and will continue to do so during the course of 2018.

For “Week in Pics” this week, we will recap with a few highlights from the year and introduce a new set of images recently uploaded by our rangers. There’s nothing better than new beginnings combined with a bit of hindsight.

2017 saw the acquisition of a few new camps, one of which is Chacma Bush Camp. A camp that is fast becoming the place to see elephants. This quaint camp located in the lesser-known Maseke Game Reserve and has a waterhole in front of the patio. Breeding herds of elephant, buffalo and plains game constantly frequent the lodge grounds which is a huge drawcard for guests. Our favourite discovery was that of the Maseke male lions, a coalition of 6 burgeoning young male lions. The Chacma team have also spotted two lionesses, each with their own sub-adult cubs. In 2018 the Chacma rangers will attempt to unravel the mystery of the Maseke lions!

Umkumbe Safari Lodge, our rustic gem in the prestigious Sabi Sand has endured two huge tragedies during the course of 2017, namely the untimely death of two leopards- the Bicycle Crossing male and White Dam female. The 11 year old graceful beauty, White Dam, passed away unexpectedly. Otherwise known as the Calabash female, this leopardess was one of our commonly spotted cats on the Umkumbe traverse. The death of the Bicycle Crossing male left us heartbroken, torn at the seams and in tatters. We often spoke about “Bike” and “Max” being local contenders for being crowned our favourite male, but we actually loved them both equally! However, there wasn’t much rivalry due to them occupying different territories.

The highlight of the year was the discovery of a pangolin on numerous occasions and the prolific leopard sightings. Umkumbe also enjoyed many African wild dog sightings with guests getting up close and personal with the dogs. Both vehicles were in a sighting with the pack of African wild dogs frolicking in the water after devouring a kill. Ranger Geoffrey said they made the bushbuck kill right in front of the lodge and then wandered off to the closest waterhole to clean their blood-soaked, matted fur and replenish their thirst.

Africa on Foot Wilderness Trails was another new and exciting launch for 2017. After much success with Africa on Foot and its morning walks, we decided to focus purely on launching a product that was a trails only safari. The trail is a 3 day mobile “glamping” experience in 3 different locations in the Maseke Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger. The feedback has been positive.Experienced trails guide and bush legend, Luan, has led many adventurers through the bushveld on this trail. The highlight? The elephants visiting the camp! This is the Maseke after all.

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp have had an interesting time with lion pride dynamics, and recorded sightings of “new” lions on the traverse. The former part of the year saw ample sightings of the Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses, the Mbiri males and even a once-off Trilogy sighting. The later part of the year sightings shifted to more regular observations of the Ross Pride females, the Western Pride and the River Pride.

Next year will be interesting in terms of dynamics.

There have been a few unknown leopard sightings, with regular sightings of Bundu and Cleo. There really have been far too many rewarding wildlife sightings in the Klaserie so it’s difficult to list them all.

In terms of lodge life, the highlight has been the construction of our Bush Bar – a place for special sundowners and craft gin tastings.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Ezulwini set up a camera trap in an area popular with wildlife, and the results were astounding. The camera trap delivered results of leopard, elephant and plenty of plains game exploring the area. Currently, the lodge is undergoing a soft refurb at River Lodge which includes a number of changes to the standard rooms. We look forward to plenty of fresh changes at this luxury lodge in the Balule.

Our Trails of Botswana camps have added a few more camps to their authentic trail route offering the best that Botswana has to offer. Xaxaba Island Camp and Mankwe Tented Retreat are the latest additions to the rustic trails route, while RAW Botswana Motswiri Camp has injected a bit of luxury into the Trails route. Camp Linyanti, Camp Savuti, Xobega Island Camp and Tuskers Bush Camp continue to provide us with epic wildlife sightings. On a recent educational to Tuskers, agents were lucky enough to spot a leopard at the waterhole in front of the lodge. Motswiri seems to have a steady flow of predator sightings, with guide Witness reporting cheetah sightings and wild dog kills in front of Tent 5.

Let’s take on 2018 and make it a good one. Stay safe over the festive season, learn from the past and start the year on fresh footing! All the best from the Sun Destinations team!

Lions of the Maseke : Lionesses, Sub-adults and The Bushveld Kings

A couple months back we introduced you to a coalition of 6 burly male lions that we know as the “Maseke Males”. These lions patrol their turf with vigour and appear to be in elite physical condition, with two older males seemingly dominating the rest. Our sightings have included the full pride of boys, and then of the four younger males dining out on a kill. The Maseke have certainly made their mark on our reserve, but there came a time when we were wondering about our lack of lioness sightings. We needed to establish the whereabouts of the females, and ranger Luan spent plenty of time tracking the lions of the Maseke.

Male lions are generally drawn to an area that boasts a high density of prey and availability of females. It is in their genetic make-up to sire cubs and continue their elite bloodlines. With so many boys around, there had to be females in the area – and it was up to us to find them.

Lo and behold, we discovered the female of the species! Immersed deep within the mopaneveld in the pockets of knob-thorns and general shrub close to the Lamai gate, we spotted the lionesses. The females were tucking into a meaty feast of wildebeest, but it was tricky to get 100% visibility due to the sheer density of the surrounding thickets. At least we know there are females in the area, but they already have growing cubs. Were the sub-adult cubs perhaps sired by the Maseke males? In time, Luan and the team will find out. We are slowly establishing the history and the lineage of the lions of the Maseke Game Reserve, but it can be a complex task given the wide range a lion patrols.

After spotting the lionesses we were also lucky enough to witness the Maseke males take down a buffalo. This coalition of brute force is quite the dominant power on our reserve – good luck to any other males pushing boundaries and overstepping their mark. These males rule the land with an iron fist!

We sat with these males for ages, watching them tear into cartilage and gorge themselves on ripe, fresh flesh. The scene was brutal, but necessary for the survival of our bushveld kings. Lions will eat until they cannot move, and will lie on their backs to let their stomachs expand and cascade over their limbs. After observing the final morsels being devoured in a lion feast, you might notice that their breathing becomes laboured. This is because their enlarged stomachs press on their diaphragm.

After indulging in the ultimate lion sighting of the Maseke males, we came across yet another set of lions. This time the pride was spotted quite a distance from the Lamai Gate, and were hovering around the Olifants River area close to Nyati. We noticed an older lioness with 3 sub-adult cubs, two males and one female, with one of the cubs being somewhat older than the other. Because they were so close to boundaries we speculate they wondered over from Excellence farm. These lions certainly weren’t sedentary – the older lioness attempted to take down a warthog, but was unsuccessful in her attempts.

To recap. We spot the Maseke deep in the heart of our traverse on a regular basis – that we’ve established. We’ve spotted the female with the older sub-adult lions close to the gate on a kill, and now we’ve just seen another lioness with 3 sub-adult cubs close to the Olifants river. Have any of the Maseke sired these cubs? Who are the lionesses close to the Olifants? Who is the other lioness we saw at the gate? Our quest is to find out how these lions are connected to the Maseke. A complex but worthwhile task that allows us to monitor lion behaviour in the area.