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Lions of Sabi Sands, Manyeleti and Ngala as of March 2025

Lion Dynamics of Sabi Sands, Ngala and Manyeleti as of March 2025 Sabi Sands: In the south, the Gijima males still continue to rule with an iron paw, their grip on the Msuthu, Styx and Southern prides is immense, and it seems like the Nkuhlu males have also learned their lesson not to invade. Speaking of the Nkuhlus, they have started to recalibrate and regroup, they are for now at least not interested in the Gijimas’ territory, but rather in in their Sand River pride. The Nkuhuma males (born in 2019 and Mohawk and Blondie’s sons) and their father, the legendary Mohawk Avoca male, are still holding strong just south-east of Sabi Sands, they control the Mantimahle breakaway pride and the Nkuhuma males have sired at least 2 cubs, sightings are unfortunately rare, as usual in Kruger, but in the latest sightings all 3 males seemed in good condition, let’s hope for all the best. In central Sabi Sands, the Ndzhenga males keep holding on to their territory and their Kambula and Ntsevu pri...
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Lions of Sabi Sands as of January 2025

  Lions of Sabi Sands as of January 2025 In the north, the Nkuhuma pride remains dominant male-less, but the Mantimahle males seem to be the main contenders after the Kambula males slipped away. Former king of the north, Mohawk is with his two sons in Kruger and they control the Mamtimahle breakaway pride, although sitings have been few and far between, (as usual in Kruger) a recent sighting showed the Ridgenose’s son Nkuhuma male (one of Mohawk’s sons) with the Mantimahle breakaway pride and although not shown, it was stated that Mohawk was also present in the sighting. More exciting news is that one of the Mantimahle breakaway females gave birth to 2 cubs (Mohawk’s “grandcubs”). In central Sabi Sands, the Ndzhenga males are thriving, despite being more or less  10 years old, they still seem in peak physical condition and their status unchallenged. Things for the Ndzhenga males’ prides are also looking up, the Kambula pride is still thriving and the Ntsevu Pride, who suffer...
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Lions of Sabi Sand as of November 2024

Lions of Sabi Sands as of November 2024: Northern Sabi Sands has become a circus of lion activity. The Kambula males are all over the North and have been seen mating with lionesses from the Nkuhuma and Imbali prides, unfortunately K4 of the coalition has suffered some injury, but is recovering. Another competing coalition of the North is undoubtedly the Mantimahle coalition, they are most likely the reason for K4’s injuries and have also been seen mating with Nkuhuma females. Speaking of the Nkuhumas they recently attacked and killed an Imali lioness, showing extreme aggression. The Black Dam male and Nkuhuma male of 2021 have both been seen either with the Nkuhmas or together, but the 2021 Nkuhuma male was recently seen alone, let’s hope that he finds his pride or partner in the near future.                                  After losing their Nkuhuma cub(s) the Plains Camp males have started spending...
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The Northern Avoca male lions

  Five male lions were born into the Avoca pride of Timbavati in early and late 2013. The two older brothers left their pride in early 2016, conclusively breaking the coalition of five, these two would later be known as the Southern Avocas. The three younger males started their nomadic journey in late 2016. Their search for territory and prides brought them south to Sabi Sands, there they clashed with a few of the dominant coalitions, including the legendary Matimbas, the fathers of the Mbiri coalition of Ngala (the Northern Avocas would win this fight). In mid-2018 they found the area abandoned by the Birmingham coalition, the Northern Sabi Sands, the Northern Avocas kept a low profile before announcing themselves as the new rulers of the area. The previously dominant Birmingham coalition tried to push the Northern Avocas out, but the Avocas persisted, it was a combination of the Birmingham coalition finding new prides and the Avocas being unwilling to leave, that lead to the Birm...
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The Lions of Sabi Sands as of October 2024

  Due to the Plains Camp males’ expeditions north ( which are quite successful ), the western sector of Sabi Sands has become quite the hotspot of lion activity. The injured Tumbela male spends most of his time with the Mhangeni pride, which is the pride the Plains Camp males visit the least. Everyone thought that this was very dangerous for the Mhangeni cubs, because the Tumbela male is unrelated to them, but Tumbela proved everyone wrong, he has become quite a favourite amongst the cubs, especially those who were in bad condition when the Plains Camp males were around. The Plains Camp males have finally decided to return west and now are seen with their favourite pride, the Ximungwe pride, and they are spending a lot of time trying to take over the Othawa pride, which is going well for them. The Plains Camp males’ son and daughter, the Nkuhuma Breakaway pride is still doing well in the west.   The Ndzhenga males continue their reign in central Sabi Sands, they rule the Kam...
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