Lion Sands and Mala Mala

What an exciting day. Our last game drive at Lion Sands we saw a rhino with a baby nursing. Giraffe, zebra and other plains animals and we topped that off with a leopard sighting. The leopard was mobile but by the time we got there she was grooming herself. She had her paw on her head, talk about flexible. She is the mother of the first leopard we saw.

Then Mala Mala arrived to pick us up. We piled in looking forward to our next adventure. Going through the gates of Mala Mala I always feel it is like coming home. Alex, Nerrine, Fritz and Jacque were there to meet us so nice to see them all again. We had two new Rangers Theo and Daniel. We ran to our rooms to check them out, had lunch and we were off on our game drive.

We all had outstanding drives. Starting with a big herd of Cape Buffalo, the only big five animal we had not seen. After last years drought so many Buffalo were lost. Only a few young ones in the group. It is going to them a while to recoup to their usual numbers.

We were with Fritz and he was determined to find three large male lions that had just arrived on their property. So we headed off in the direction of the last sighting. There was a large herd of Cape Buffalo and lion tracks on top of the Cape Buffalo tracks. So the lions were stalking the Cape Buffalo. The Cape Buffalo moved onto a watering hole. It is always greAt to see a herd of buffalo drinking. It was just starting to get dark. Good time for a kill. We waited anxiously but no lions.

Fritz was not giving up and he started driving where he thought they may be. SUCCESS he found them. All three were laying down but with their heads up. One of the lions became mobile and joined the lion closest to us. They greeted each other and gave a lion version of " hugs and kisses". So neat to see. They were making the preliminary sounds of roaring and I was hoping for a show. But alas they never roared.

All three males started to move but not to the Cape Buffalo. Then we heard the other two vehicles were with a pride of females and one year old cubs. Those vehicles were staying with the females we were staying with the males. The males were moving in the direction of the females. The ranger is spot lighting the lion, driving in the dark off road, talking on the radio and talking to us. Amazing!

We stayed further away than normal as these are new lions and they do not know their tolerance for vehicles. We had called in other vehicles so there were three tracking the male lions. Staying away did not work as these massive lions walked right next to the vehicles. Fritz said that these were the biggest lions he had seen let alone this close to his vehicle. You could hear them breathing and walking and they gazed right at you.

The issue is these are new males, they would want to kill the Cubs and mate with females. The females will want to protect their Cubs. If these three males settle down here they would rule this pride for years to come. There are two more male lions in this coalition. Five of these big males can ward off any threat from other males.

It was now very dark so the vehicles with the female lions came to take our place and they saw the males. Everyone was so excited it was a thrilling experience.

A truly amazing day. I just hope these lions stay around for the next two groups