We consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to show our guests what the wild is all about. It’s a responsibility and a privilege. Any game ranger and guide would agree. Each day there is something new to see, and we might not always see what we expect, but when we are watching lions stalking buffalo, things can only go one of two ways… This time we found ourselves bearing witness to nature at its finest as the two Ross Breakaway lionesses took down a young buffalo right in front of nThambo Tree Camp guests.
It’s not an easy sight for many people, and even the most hardened bush folk find the raw nature of the kill hard to watch. Ultimately, this is what the life of lions is all about, and survival of the fittest is what keeps the ecosystem functioning at its strongest and best. The two lionesses are currently looking after two 6-week old cubs, which were born to one of the females in a drainage line nearby. They have to stay well fed in order to bring up healthy cubs, and this was their opportunity.
What they didn’t count on was having to share that precious meal with 2 big males from the Trilogy coalition! The dominant males (one of the 3 having sired the new cubs) were hanging out around the corner when the females took their chance with a young buffalo, and soon joined them to take part in the feast. What an incredible sight to watch 4 lions feasting by spotlight.
Before the feeding festivities could begin, the herd of buffalo pulled a typical buffalo move and returned to the predators with a vengeance! The targeted buffalo was already too far gone, and the herd’s attempt to chase the lions off the victim were in vain. However, the buffaloes came back in the direction of where the nThambo vehicle was parked and guests found themselves even closer to the activity than they thought when the buffalo stampeded within centimetres of the vehicle. Serious action, and serious excitement. nThambo guests won’t be forgetting this in a hurry!
Africa on Foot entered the sighting soon afterwards and got to observe the aftermath of the feast. Buffaloes provide a lot of meat and the lions will stick with the carcass until its down to the bone. It’s nature and it is brutal, but we’re glad that the lionesses protecting the 2 tiny cubs are keeping well fed, fit, and strong. The cubs are fathered by one of the Trilogy males, so we are happy to see them continue to dominate the area.
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