The Tsalala Pride is also known as the Marthly Pride on Mala Mala.

In 1997, 2 females broke away from their original pride of the Castletons AKA Ximungwe Pride. They became known as the Tsalala Pride named after the Tsalala Pan they frequented early on. These two Tsalala Lionesses mated with the 5 West Street/Sparta males (who also sired the Mapogos) and produced 7 cubs early in 1998. Sadly, only 2 cubs survived a male and a female. Eventually the male was killed by poachers leaving only the female cub that is the Oldest of the Tsalala Pride today known as BB.

One of the two original first Tsalala females died in 2000 from a zebra kick leaving the remaining adult female and her sub adult female cub, BB.

By 2002, the cub, BB, had matured and remained with her Mother. Both Mother and Daughter mated with the remaining 2 Split Rock/Marthly Males and both produced cubs in December of 2002. Unfortunately, the Mother was killed by Hyenas and her cubs were lost. Her daughter, BB, remained along with her two female cubs that are known today as the "Young" Tsalala lionesses or the "Sisters".

BB, mated again with the Split Rock/Marthly males in 2005 and produced a litter or 4 (3male, 1 female) and her two 30 month old daughters remained with her. Only one male cub survived, "Solo".

BB, the oldest Tsalala lioness has no tail. It was bitten off in an attack by Hyenas in Dec. 2005. Her two daughters had 6 cubs with only one sub adult lioness still surviving. This young female has now joined the Ximungwe pride. BB's independent Son, the Tsalala Male/Solo, was accepted into the Eyrefield Pride towards the end of 2008/beginning 2009. This was good news as his Mother, BB, had spent a great bit of energy keeping him alive and clashing with one of the Mapogos that wanted to be rid of him. His older sisters many times kept him with them and provided him with meals and safety until he could make it on his own.

BB and her two adult daughters now have eight cubs born during the course of 2009 and sired by the Mapogo Coalition. They are frequently in the company of the two younger Mapogo males, Kinky Tail and Mr T/Mohawk.

Throughout the first half of 2010, the pride and cubs flourished. The three adult lioness are exceptional hunters and the youngster grew strong and big. Towards the end of June, the pride was in Londolozi with Mr T. With the death of Kinky Tail, Mr T was on the run from the four young males that had killed his brother. He could offer little protection to his pride.

The four young males of the Majingilane coalition, found Mr T and the Tsalala pride in Londolozi. A fight broke out leaving the Tsalala pride scattered and two youngsters dead, one male and one female. Mr T ran to the West to rejoin his coalition brothers. On July 9th, a report came from Arathusa that the Tsalala pride had reunited and were on their property near the Lodge.

*Please remember the information is pieced together from Sighting Reports and Newsletters from Mala Mala , Londolozi, Djuma, Savanna, Nkorho, Elephant_Plains, Singita, Exeter, Arathusa, Ulusaba, Inyati, Wildwatch, Idube, Leopard_Hills, Simbambili along with helpful Rangers and staff at the various lodges and reserves answering questions sent their way. Some of the information may be conflicting.

Written by Colleen and Karen