Lions bring productivity down.
With the lions all well fed they weren’t going anywhere. Manyari was still with the 3 youngsters resting up to the south of Bandama.
The elephant herds were in the area too. I expected them to come and hassle the lions some time through the night but they never did.
Instead strong winds slammed into us from the east. What was this all about? There was no weather on the horizon, no storms brewing? But then the wind has picked up like this for the last 3 nights.
It was only in the early hours that the clouds rolled in and a gentle drizzle descended on us. We got our covers up, but the lions had to sit it out in the open.
At dawn the weather lifted briefly and we ducked back to camp before it came down again for the rest of the day.
25th October 2000
The Mala Mala rangers had Tjololo and Tjellers mating all day still being shadowed by the unknown female. We let them be for the day while searching the rest of the property for other activity.
Heading out from camp we had a brief showering, but that was it for the day. Unfortunately this pattern of early morning rain is a reminder of last season and it’s all becoming too similar. It sure looks like some serious rains are on the way this season.
Many of the opportunities we had to film today just weren’t worth it as the light was bad all day. This is something we’ve come to enjoy and appreciate when filming at night, where we have light where and when we want it thanks to Dale.
The lions weren’t wasting any time in getting on the move in the evening and had me searching for some time looking for them.
I’d expected them to continue heading north west as they were in the morning but found them heading north east back onto the burn.
There didn’t seem to be much game around and with little cover, because of the area being burnt, the lions lost out quickly when stalking a herd of impala.
Some time later they encountered a herd of Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest. The herd were feeding on the fresh green flush.
Seeing them the lions split up to circle the herd but they didn’t go all the way round. 2 lionesses that circled then lay down seeming to give up. Not being able to see any of the other lions I thought it was all over.
But little did I know they had their strategy all planned.
I wasn’t aware the boundary fence was right there, just behind the hartebeest.
The lionesses lying down were waiting for the charge from the rest of the pride and then as the hartebeest fled they cut them off against the fence, catching this big bull.
Even with 9 lions on it, it took about 8 minutes to die as a lioness tried suffocating it by smothering its mouth. And even trying to get through the bull’s tough skin was hard work, especially with the bull thrashing around all the time he was still alive.
(When looked at in monetary terms, this was a hugely expensive meal the lions had. Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest today will sell for about $10,000 on game auctions in southern Africa. A quick thousand dollars a head for dinner for the Nduna pride.)
About 3 hours later all that was left were a few bones and the skull and the lions marched on to Bandama pan to drink.
The 2 lactating mom’s then left and headed back towards Nduna to feed their little cubs that they’d been away from for nearly 48 hours.
Manyari had stayed behind with her 2 cubs and another young male. Where was her 3rd cub? Her female cub was calling constantly for a couple of hours, presumably calling her sibling, but she never came. Again she’s probably headed off with the rest of the pride.
24th October 2000
Heading out in the afternoon we were hit by our first little thundershower of the season and while walking around the vehicle covering up the camera gear with a tarpaulin, an elephant bull decided to wonder over to investigate our goings on, but soon moved off.
Tjololo and Tjellers were exactly where we’d left them and the other lurking female was still there too.
By sunset they were back into the full swing of mating, but as it got dark we had to leave back to camp as Dale is away for the week receiving a photographic award in the UK. Well done, Dale!!!
Many say a change is as good as a holiday. Well this change in operating times sure makes it feel like one.
Manyari and her youngsters on a marathon walk.
(No wonder we couldn’t find them if they’re walking these sort of distances most nights)
Manyari and the youngsters were on the move at dusk heading southeast making a b-line for Nduna dam. They maintained a brisk pace all the time sending us scattering around hills to keep up.
Just before Nduna dam they all took off after something in the rocks running too and fro and falling over each other on the steep rock face. They disappeared ontop. Then we heard growling. They must have caught something small.
Manyari and her 2 youngsters left the rocks leaving the other young male in the hills presumably feeding on the small kill. We didn’t see him again all night.
At Nduna dam Manyari was roaring continuously. Eventually we heard a response from lots of lions to the far south. In earnest they headed south.
On the burnt area they picked up a trail and followed it for some time before losing it. Manyari called again but softly. No response. They kept heading south.
Across the Mahande river they stalked a female giraffe and running in for the kill one of the youngsters tried to ankle tap her but she didn’t falter and got away.
Then at dawn still on the move, a herd of Sable were on the menu but the lions blew their cover on that one.
Soon after sunrise while resting up looking a little dejected they were suddenly surprised from behind by 6 lions. The Nduna pride had re-united. Well most of them. Nduna wasn’t there as well as a couple of the younger males.
I left them in the south soon after dawn resting on the burn.
After a long night constantly on the move it was home early to rest.
What a pleasure it always is driving home from ‘work’ and encountering all these other animals. This white rhino bull was using his midden.
The giraffe was taking the morning in his stride.
And the klipspringer was there in the hills close to home.
23rd October 2000
I don’t know what it is about Tjololo but he’s always in great demand.
A couple of days ago he headed east on the trail of Tjellers and now tonight they are mating. It is quite likely that the courtship started back then. Regardless of when it started, Tjellers isn’t slowing down. Following after Tjololo all evening he was hardly able to rest without her being all over him, pretty impressive for a granny of her age. It was rough going on us, not giving us much time for a rest, never more than half an hour.
After midnight having been at it the whole night so far and having moved about kilometer north, another female suddenly called close behind the couple. Tjololo was quick to follow up on her, but Tjellers adopted a more aggressive mode and stood her ground. Tjololo chased this other female up a tree on several occasions but even when the pair were mating she would return to within about 15 meters.
On one occasion while moving round she walked straight into Tjellers crouched in the grass. Tjellers charged out at her sending her packing, but again only for a brief while and she was back.
At dawn the other female was still in the area and seeming to have had enough Tjellers headed back south. Tjololo wasn’t going to miss out on his prize and followed. The tables were reversed as the females usually follow the males.
The other female followed the couple and when it started getting hot and we left, she was still in the area.
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