KENYA: Simba on the Savanna

Exploring the Maasai Mara, we were fortunate to enjoy fantastic views of Africa’s most famous predators – Simba – the king of the beasts. These majestic cats rule their land with strength and patience. Twenty different prides roam the vast grasslands of the Mara, and we were lucky to find two of them. We saw over 40 individuals during our time, from two large and healthy prides. Languishing in true feline style, lions spend most of their time sleeping in the shade. During migration, their main prey are wildebeest and zebras, but now they are relying heavily upon the fierce resident Cape Buffalo to feed such a huge pride.

During a morning exploration of the Burrungat Plain, we spotted a pride of 20 lions, counting 3 mature males, 5 females, 3 younger males, 6 cubs and 3 others further away. They were clustered around a buffalo carcass, likely killed overnight. Usually the females do most of the hunting, but such a large kill might have required help by the males. Lions are among the most social animals, requiring tight-knit cooperation to be successful. This group was no exception, as we watched the fascinating interactions between multiple generations, male and female. The adult males lazed near the kill – likely already sated – while the females and cubs crowded around the oversized carcass. The females ate patiently, one eye on their food, one eye on the pride’s offspring.

The cubs appeared carefree and energetic as they clamored around the buffalo, scrambling over the horns and standing on the body.

Approximately 3-months in age, the young were beginning to get their first taste of meat, and snatched food from every angle. We were astonished to see one or two emerge entirely from the carcass after feasting from deep within, their faces completely covered in blood! Soon their bellies bulged in fullness.

Some of the cubs wandered over to the lazing males, eager to bond, and curious about the more aloof members of the pride. The patriarchs regarded them with mild interest, mostly baring their teeth in a show of strength. Occasionally they tolerated a youthful tug on the ear or cheek-nuzzle – all part of the socializing system for a successful pride of lions.

In the Opelagonya pride, the cubs were only about one month old, and still suckling (above). We saw two females looking after 12 cubs, all energetic and demanding. The young suckled indiscriminately, switching from one mother to the other. Mothers, aunts and older sisters all take responsibility for helping to raise the young, and the coupling is timed so that offspring are born around the same time, to facilitate communal upbringing.

The young cubs (above) are playful and inquisitive at this tender age. But what appears to be playful antics – walking stealthily, simulating attacks, nipping body parts, displaying boldness or picking on the youngest – are all important practices to learning the ways of survival in a successful lion pride in East Africa.

With a dozen hungry cubs to feed, lions are always on the look-out for food (above). When an Impala buck walked within a couple hundred yards, the predators could not resist the opportunity to hunt. One female caught our attention as she moved down a gully and out of sight. The Impala kept walking towards two others hidden in ambush, oblivious of their presence. The cats were downwind when we saw the Impala stop and sniff the air – did he smell something? One female began walking towards the antelope, closing the gap and completely in the open. The Impala seemed to look straight at her, and she froze. How did he not see her? Soon he continued on his course towards her. She moved forward and positioned herself to the side of a shrub. The Impala stopped 20 yards away, surveyed the area, scratched himself, and moved on. 15 yards…..10 yards…… the lioness sprang (below).

The Impala instantly turned 180 degrees in his tracks and bolted in the same direction from where he came. The lioness pumped out 5, 6, 7 strides, then ran out of breath. Within 15 yards it was over; the Impala’s great speed had put enough distance between to save his life. The second ambush lioness never gave chase; the original female seemed long gone. One in 6 chases results in a kill, and even at 10 yards it is never a guarantee.