After fending off their “reflective” competition the lions were back to their normal self last night.
Of course they didn’t budge until after sunset when as usual Manyari took the lead taking them south onto Banyini.
She had acquired her target, a herd of wildebeest and was waiting it out watching their movements. Slowly she snuck off to flank the herd, but then gave up and continued south. The males followed at a distance. Suddenly she was trotting, came round a bush and surprised a leopard on its impala kill. The leopard bolted and Manyari claimed the carcass. Now she kept quiet and didn’t feed hoping the males wouldn’t find her. They rushed right past probably chasing after the leopard.
But it wasn’t long and one male found her, only to then make doubly sure his brother wasn’t getting any.
Only when the meal got nasty did the brother take the opportunity and climbed in the rumble over the carcass with the other 2. While the males held on, Manyari fed. She and one of the males each split with their prizes and the other male was left searching for scraps.
While this was all going on a herd of elephant hearing the commotion approached but never actually threatened the lions, probably because of us being there. But normally they’d have chased the lions off the kill.
For the rest of the night the lions rested on and off and made several attempts at hunting only to rest up west of Banyini.
I left the lions at dawn to go flying looking for wild dogs. If they do den here this year this is the time they should be denning. I’m hoping I’ll find them in the early morning on the hunt and then be able to follow them back to the den.
Unfortunately I didn’t have any joy today. But the flying was good! Gives one such a great perspective from up there and suddenly all the places seem to fit together.
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