Nkulhu Lion Coalition on the Rise at Lion Sands

When it comes to lion dynamics in nature, we never know when things are going to change, so we tend to absorb as much stability within the prides as we can.

As we know, Mother Nature often plays her own game, usually with good intent. However, within lion prides and coalitions, whenever a new group of males moves through an area, the story can turn into a nasty affair.

Over the last couple of months, we have been fortunate enough to witness a coalition of seven male lions. Six of them are known as the Nkuhlu males, and one is referred to as the Delaporte male. It is not uncommon to find an unrelated male join a coalition; one of the most famous coalitions of the Greater Kruger National Park was the Mapogo's, who also had one unrelated individual among them. This, among a few other traits, made me ponder how similar these coalitions are.

The Nkhulhu coalition seemed to have set up base in the Kruger National Park, spending most of their time around Lion Sands Tinga and Narina Lodge area and further east into the Kruger. However, this decision has been to their detriment, as the Delaporte male had a near-fatal encounter with the well-established Southern Avoca Males in this area.

Nevertheless, the Nkuhlu coalition remains undeterred and has ventured west over the Sabie River into the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, where the Gijima Males have been holding a strong fort in the southern Sabi Sand.

Venturing west has its benefits for this upcoming coalition, but so far, the Gijima Males have held their ground and, on numerous occasions, chased the intruding males back over the river. This might seem unlikely when you look at numbers, but confidence is key here, and it is something the Nkhulhu coalition lacks, and the Gijima Males have plenty of.

Unfortunately, crossing the river has influenced the prides, leading to a few interactions with the Sand River pride, resulting in the death of two members—a harsh reality that often plays out when a new coalition moves into a territory.

By no means have the Nkhuhlu coalition established themselves yet, but they have certainly made some waves in the battle for dominance. Now, we wait and see if they will continue to put pressure on the Gijima Males or decide to move east, further into the Kruger National Park.

One thing is certain: seven male lions are a force to be reckoned with, and if history is about to repeat itself in the Sabi Sand, we might witness the rise of a large coalition.

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