What an awesome week we have had, great sightings, Stacey our newest guide who joined the Vuyani Family, and our first Rains to feed the parched undergrowth.
On Saturday our guests were indeed very fortunate to Witness an amazing spectacle with our resident Pride of Lions. Jesse and Stacey headed out at the crack of dawn under the blanket of a very threatening and dark sky, it was cool with the lightest of drizzle dampening their faces, but they were confident on finding something special on this day’s safari.
Not far from the lodge our two guides picked up on some very fresh signs of Lions and decided to follow up. Speaking to Jesse the tracks were fresh but he was apprehensive about seeing the pride as the weather was not playing its part, but decided to follow the 5 sets of tracks anyway.
About fifteen minutes into the tracking expedition, they lost them at a rocky junction; this is when luck took over. After deliberating with Stacey and the guests as to which way the Lions had gone he decided to turn right, and “BANG” there they were.
Lions sleep for up to 18 hours a day and are usually active from Sunset to Sunrise…THIS was not one of those occasions. Jesse noticed the Male of the pride walking round and round a small termite mound, continuously sniffing the ground looking very much like a cat devising a plan. Suddenly he started to dig, sending wet earth flying in all directions. Excitement rose, as Jesse and Stacey explained to the guests that these mounds made by Termites are often used and accommodation for various animals such as mongoose, and very commonly warthogs. With his digging this male Lion was obviously hunting for such a prey species.
He dug for around five minutes when suddenly there was the white flash of tusks, indicating the presence of a Warthog, leaving the Lion leaning back and standing to attention to avoid the dangerous defensive weapons. The Warthog at this stage must have panicked and decided to make a break for it, probably because he was being pushed from the rear by other members of his family and had now become exposed. He shot out of the hole, sending the lion reeling backwards as the fleet footed animal dodged a very large clawed paw and made a hasty exit from the scene. The Second Warthog was not so lucky as the lion had now recovered from his shock of a meaty breakfast running straight at him and grasped the animal in his jaws. To Jesse’s and Stacey’s amazement the pigs kept on coming out of the hole , 5 in all and just like a greedy child he wanted all of them, with warthog in mouth he slammed his feet on the ground in an attempt to catch another but with the confusion missed every single time.
The Lion had his prize and his meal for the morning and after one look at the vehicle, made his way across the road and into the bush to enjoy his meal…..or so they thought. After a minute the warthog came running out into the road followed closely by the male Lion, its spine seemingly broken and sat down in front of the car. Suddenly the two cubs of the pride appeared and after a few glances from the Male decided to try and make the Kill, this was obviously the plan of the morning’s tutorial playing out in front of their eyes. Commonly this is seen as a cruel way to get food that the pride requires but is necessary in order for the cubs to learn to hunt efficiently, Jesse explained. After a few attempts and what seemed like an eternity the male lion became impatient and thankfully ended the ordeal, once again taking his prize into the bush to eat in leisure but not before warning our guides and our guests of his ferociousness by giving a very vocal charge.
To be part of a sighting such as this is very rare (even by the standards of seasoned rangers) and could be seen with the excited chatter around the breakfast table, the guests knowing that they have witnessed the brutality of nature but a true once in a lifetime experience.
Craig Carnaby