CAST AND CREW // Animals // Africa
Majingilane Pride – lions
Named by Greg Posthumes from the Djuma Bush Lodge. Majingilane means security or marching on the line.
Estimated age as of July 2010 is four to five years.
First seen in the Djuma area during the latter part of 2009. Some reports of there being six. First thought to be the three Nkuhuma sub adult males and the three Windmill young males. That was later found to not be so even though a Nkuhuma young male was reported to have joined them in the Djuma area in May but later they were seen chasing the same young male and other members of the Nkuhuma pride all the way to the Manyeleti border to the North.
The Majingilane coalition is thought to have come into the area from either Kruger National Park or Manyeleti. Manyeleti has a coalition of five young males that were accompanied by their mother until early in 2010 when she was injured by a buffalo and presumed to have died. Their descriptions match that of the Majingilane males but it has yet to be determined exactly who they are or where they come.
Being young males, they traveled the area in silence. Usually staying off the roadways and not roaring to alert other lions in the area to their existence. They frequent MalaMala, Torchwood, Chitwa, and Nkorho areas as well as Djuma.
They were 5 strong on June 8th 2010 when one of the young coalition member was killed by two Mapogo/Mlowathi Males, Kinky Tail & Mr T. Later that evening, they got their revenge by killing Kinky Tail, injuring and sending Mr T on the run.
Since then, they have found a new confidence. They tracked Mr T to Londolozi where he was with the Tsalala pride on June 28th/29th. The four Majingilane males launched an attack that scattered the three adult Tsalala lionesses along with their eight youngsters. Two of the youngsters were killed.
Mr T was slightly injured and ran West to join up with his four coalition brothers. For the first time in a very long time, the surviving Mapogo males came East and were seen in the Marthly area of Londolozi on July 5th roaring loudly as if to reclaim the territory. They eventually headed back into the Western sector. Had they come in search of the Majingilane males?
Again a few days later, the five Mapogo males were seen heading back East towards North Central Sabi Sand. They seem to be on a mission to meet up with the Majingilane males.
Is this new young male coalition strong enough and confident enough to take on the five seasoned Mapogo males? Only time will tell.
Information/background has been gathered from various sites (Mala Mala , Londolozi, Djuma, Savanna, Nkorho, Elephant_Plains, Singita, Exeter, Arathusa, Ulusaba, Inyati, Wildwatch, Idube, Leopard_Hills, Simbambili) and their sightings databases along with helpful Rangers and staff at the various lodges and reserves answering questions sent their way.
By Colleen and Karen