Finding tracks of lions in the morning or afternoon is always exciting. Not knowing which pride you may find is always something to look forward to and this is because of the location of Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. We form part of the Greater Kruger National Park, with no fences in between which enables animals to move freely between our reserve and the Kruger National Park.

On this particular morning, we set out on safari earlier than usual as we had heard some lions vocalising in the early hours. We found the tracks of a pride of lions, and we started following them. It seemed to be only one female and some cubs based on the tracks were following, but as we kept following, we started to see a lot of other tracks going in different directions. We followed on what seemed to be the fresher tracks and what we found was more than we expected.

We first saw a journey of giraffe that was looking suspiciously in one direction and staring down not far away from where they were standing. We rushed to check why, keeping in mind we were diverting from the lion tracks.

When we got closer and we found the Mhangeni Breakaways with one cub, on a buffalo kill. It seemed they had made the kill early in the morning because they were still trying to open the carcass. Visiting the area a couple of times that day we noticed a little progression on the carcass.

We sat there for a while with our guests and suddenly the pride of lions on the carcass became so active and aware there was something approaching. We were not sure as to what was happening and then we saw the Southern Pride female and her two cubs approaching the area. They seemed to know what was happening as they were hesitant in their approach. Four females took off after the Southern Pride who stood their ground and only ran when they got very close. No major contact was made, and they separated. For a long time, the Southern Pride kept on trying to get closer and closer, but the Mhangeni Pride kept on chasing them away.

As the chasing was happening, two young males arrived, and they displaced the Mhangeni Pride. As we were still confused, more lions arrived and took over the buffalo kill. This we later discovered to be the Kambula Pride. There was total chaos in the area for a long time before the bigger pride, the Kambula Pride, started enjoying the kill they did not hunt. The fighting continued for some hours before the Southern Pride and her cubs moved off. The Mhangeni Pride was dispersed around the reserve but regrouped a day after and made their way to the north.

The dynamics of lions around this area have always been exciting since the Mhangeni Breakaways have seemingly been looking to take over the territory around our western part of the reserve. This kind of clash made them aware that they are not the only lions in the area. Over recent years, we have seen lionesses succeed in changing or extending territories, but we are not sure if the young males in the Kambula Pride would survive the wrath of the N’waswishaka males who have thus far been dominant in the area.

Since this incident, we have, on several occasions, seen the Kambula Pride and Mhangeni Breakaways close to one another. Could this be a new order into the lion dynamics on our reserve?! We are all waiting to see what happens next...