The big kitties were lying up where we’d left them at dawn but with the cool weather were already getting active before sunset. They seemed to be on a mission heading north. But after about 15mins they suddenly veered east. It was only about 10mins later, now dark, that I realised they were on to something. Then Manyari did her flanking manoeuvre. We followed her. She kept going maybe for half an hour in a semi-circle and then the mad dash. We dashed to stay with her across country, but lost her briefly and found her panting and out of breath. She’d missed whatever it was.
She headed back in the direction of the rest of the pride only to find they hadn’t moved an inch. Probably hoping Manyari would chase the prey all the way back to them.
With the pride back on the hunt Magwaza took off after a herd of zebra. There was no stalk involved, just a mad dash and she plucked a foal from the herd. The death cries brought the boys running in and trying to hi-jack the carcass for themselves. Magwaza hung on determined to get a share of her hard won kill but eventually Sjambok’s brute force got him the lions share, leaving Magwaza and Chahwihwi to fight it out over the few remaining scraps.
This fighting is pretty real stuff and full on aggression. So much so that about all scars that lions have are caused during fighting over kills. Not a very regal thing to do!
Mark found the dogs at Nyari pan last night, and with the lions well fed we picked up on the dogs at dawn. They were looking well and all still surviving.
Off on the hunt around sunrise and I was quickly reminded that following dogs hunting is hardly a sedate affair compared to lions hunting. It’s frantic and fast.
The alpha male killed a pregnant impala and soon the pups were running around with the foetus. Of course mom and dad hardly got to feed as the pups are now needing a full carcass just to sustain them.
Then it was back to Nyari pan where they’ll spend the day. But they were again nervous to approach the water. Maybe it’s cos of the weed growing on the surface.
I hope to check on them this afternoon before following on after the lions.
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