We made an early start to be with the Nduna pride by sunset expecting them to be on the move early. But now there were only 5 members of the pride. Where were the other 3? Had they maybe killed last night and these 5 hadn’t found them?
Around sunset the lions headed north west and across the Mahande river only to rest up in an open area for several hours. Great time for us to get some rest too.
Around 23h00 they were on the move again moving west and somewhat south taking us through some terrible mopanie. How our vehicles survive all this bashing is a true miracle but they came out the other end unscathed after more than an hour of this treatment. Once you get into that stuff you wonder if you’ll ever get out the other end and as we were following the lions I wondered if an end would ever come of them traveling in there. Why move through that thick stuff as it’s also not easy going on them, and there’s no prey living in there. Are they trying to shake us off?
Then it was out the mopanie and back south across the Mahande river. They had now taken to heading due south, seeming to be heading back to where we had them last night. Were they looking for the other pride members? If so why weren’t they calling?
Then at last they picked up the scent of something. Manyari left the youngsters and started her flanking manoeuvre. The cubs waited briefly but seeing her move off to the side, ran off and joined her. You could almost see the frustration on her face. They were supposed to stay there and she would chase the wildebeest onto them as she has been doing all their lives. (It seems lions take a long time to learn.)
Manyari pressed on and the youngsters spread out following her on a wide front. There was little cover in the area and the wildebeest soon spotted them in the half moon and took off.
The youngsters loped after it with no chance of catching up. But then I saw Manyari already way ahead and at full sprint. She must have run some 300 to 400m which is a really long burst for a lion. And somewhere out there she managed to bring the wildebeest down. The youngsters soon joined her. Exhausted, she left the killing to them.
Some time later in the night the other 3 pride members arrived. They all pigged out on the carcass leaving nothing but bones by dawn when the lions headed north again to drink and rest in the Mahande river.
Hi Kim,
You said that Manyary left the killing to the young ones. I am assuming they are her cubs. Are they getting better at it, or do they still struggle?
Also, how long did it take them to actually kill the wildebeest?
Thanks!
No not all her cubs. They are more than big enough to kill even large prey but it’s the actual hunt and capture that they need to perfect. Manyari only left the killing to them as she was exhausted from the long chase.
No I haven’t had any further sign of Whisky but am still hopeful.