Lion – Mbiri pride

We had 1 sighting of the Mbiri’s within the 2 days. We found one of the mothers with 4 cubs, on a Buffalo carcass just off Windi Windi. By the afternoon, another one of the younger females had joined, and was happily feasting on the Buffalo. She however got an earful from the mother when she approached the cubs too closely. As far as we know, this was a big day for the cubs, because its the first kill we know of that she’s taken them to.

Nharhu pride

The Nharhu pride was also found on a Buffalo kill on Mveve link, on the 26th. The Thanda impi male were also there, cashing in on the prides luck. Some of the pride moved off, vocalizing to the east, with Sizanani following closely. They returned and lay in the road for a while, allowing us to get some opportunities to photograph them with the spotlight.

Thanda impi male Lions

The thanda impi males were found twice in the 2 days. On the 26th, we had them feeding on a Buffalo kill with the Nharhu pride on Mveve link. The pride seemed quite uneasy, and some of the Lionesses moved east, vocalizing as they went. Sizanani joined them, but struggled to keep up, because of what looks like a hip injury. Skorro stayed at the kill, but it did look like he was more interested in checking up join the girls, and took every opportunity to have a smell. The next morning, we found them on Reedbuck plains, as a light rain moved over the lowveld. Sizanani was still struggling to move, but they both seemed quite content.

Leopard

Ntsuntsu male leopard

The only Leopard sighting we had over the 2 days was the Ntsuntsu male, with a Wildebeest calf kill on Wilderness, south of Khoka Moya dam. Luckily while we were there, he spent the entire sighting in the tree. He spent 2 days on the kill. While he spent most of the time sleeping, he gave us some beautiful photographic moments, especially if you were looking for them.

Other views from the bush