How do they get rid of it so quick?
The Nduna pride were some ways south of Chekwa resting up when we found them at dusk.
And amazingly those huge stomachs they had 36 hours ago had all but disappeared and some of the lionesses even looked hungry. How do they digest all that meat in a hurry?
They were on the move again about 10pm and of course on the hunt. Out there in the open mopanie veld I wasn’t very hopeful of finding any prey animals until the pride went into stalk mode. Ahead was a herd of eland. They missed. Next a herd of sable was on the menu and came running straight towards some of the pride members but they weren’t successful. And almost following after were some impala and zebra. But all managed to avoid landing on the cats table for dinner.
The pride kept moving south-west ending up on the Chiredzi river. I could just see it happening, them crossing the river and out of our reach. But thankfully they didn’t. After playing in the river for a while they headed back north-east. Going back home.
At dawn they took time out and rested to the booming call of some Ground Hornbills.
I too was dosing off at this stage and was suddenly awakened by the lions taking off. They’d heard 2 sable bulls fighting. An ideal target as the bulls are so engrossed in each other they don’t see danger approaching. But Manyari was too eager, and instead of biding her time till they were in full combat again, she just went running in and the sable got away.
I was glad they’d got away as these were 2 of the most stunning sable bulls I’ve seen.
That was the lions for the rest of the day.
On my way back to camp I passed by the buffalo carcass. It had been moved. Hyaenas had eventually discovered it and fed on what skin was remaining. They had left the scene when I got there but there were still vultures picking the carcass clean.
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