December 2000

8 adult lionesses
1 sub adult female
1 sub adult male
4 approximately 19-month- old female cubs

Location: SE FLOCKFIELD/ CENTRAL CHARLESTON

There were few encounters with the Windmill Pride during December and, uncharacteristically for this large pride, all sightings were of only a portion of the family. In the past the cohesion of this pride has been something of note, with all members frequently being seen together, something not really suited to an area where the prey most typically encountered is small to medium sized. The largest gathering of members of this pride seen this month was seven, comprising 6 lionesses (including youngsters) and the young male.

November 2000

8 adult lionesses
1 sub adult female
1 sub adult male
4 approximately 18-month-old female cubs

Location: SE FLOCKFIELD/ CENTRAL CHARLESTON

The Windmill Pride was seen several times over this game-report period, wandering up and down along the central-eastern parts of the reserve. It is thought that the grazing conditions for prey animals inside the Kruger National park adjacent to this central-eastern region of Mala Mala would be good, this due to a fairly recent fire in this area. This, it has been thought, would have attracted great numbers of animals such as zebra and wildebeest, causing the lions to stay there. So it came as something of a surprise that the members of the Windmill Pride spent so much time on Mala Mala this month. Soon after appearing on the reserve, these lions were seen killing an impala, an item of prey which would not last long with so many lions. Quite strangely, perhaps because they are still not particualarly comfortable with vehicles, the lions of the Windmill Pride do not seem to walk on roads as often as lions from some of the other prides do and this can sometimes make things more challenging to find them. On one occasion this month they were 'found' by some rhino which were being followed and, upon walking through the sleeping lions, chased them for a while. The younger lions of the Windmill Pride showed some sort of interest in the rhino, but most the others simply slunk away, apparently not too pleased at having their slumbers so disturbed. Later that same night the lions killed a young giraffe which had been seen earlier that day and for a few days prior to this being circled by hyaenas. The giraffe had been injured in some or other manner, perhaps in a heavy fall, and the wounds were festering. Although its mother was standing by to defend it, the end appeared inevitable and the lions of the Windmill Pride probably did it a favour.

October 2000

8 adult lionesses
1 sub adult femal
1 sub adult male
4 approximately 17-month-old female cubs

Location: SE FLOCKFIELD/ CENTRAL CHARLESTON

There were only three sightings of the Windmill Pride and these close to the boundary with the Kruger National Park. The lions were extremely fat when found, this almost certainly courtesy of an adult male buffalo, the remains of which were found nearby. It will be interesting to see if the Windmill Pride stays on Mala Mala over the next few weeks, this since the fire which burned inside the Kruger National Park some weeks ago should now be attracting a great number of animals, encouraging the lions to follow.

September 2000

8 adult lionesses
1 sub adult female
1 sub adult male
4 approximately 16-month-old female cubs

Location: CENTRAL-EASTERN CHARLESTON

After months of absence, the Windmill Pride made a return to Mala Mala and by all accounts has prospered over the last half-year or so. When found, all members were as fat as lions could be, evidently having eaten some really big item of prey. These lions probably spend most of their time inside the Kruger National Park adjacent to Mala Mala, but with the fresh green grass on the burned areas of Mala Mala attracting many zebra and wildebeest, the lions have no doubt followed. Although the Windmill Pride knows Mala Mala, they are certainly not very confident in the area in which they roam. This was seen this month when the Eyrefield Pride and West Street Males also entered the burned area in pursuit of buffalo, killing several and then spending a couple of days consuming the carcasses. During this time the four youngest members of the Windmill Pride were briefly in the area, but the adults were not seen to even try to chase the Eyrefield Pride away. This shows a definite lack of confidence, particularly in light of the fact that the Eyrefield Pride themselves were way out of their usual haunts. However, it may also have been the presence of the West Street Males which proved a major deterrent to the adults of the Windmill Pride. Male lions can be particularly intimidating and since there were none with the Windmill Pride, this too would have made them even more cautious. With the Charleston Pride moving back onto the eastern side of the Sand River towards the southern parts of Mala Mala, it will be interesting to see just how far west the Windmill Pride moves and of course how the Charleston Pride behave.

August 2000

8 adult lionesses
2 sub adult males
4 approximately 15-month-old cubs
2 approximately 20- month-old youngsters
1 sub adult male
( this count a rough estimate)

Locationd: CENTRAL-EASTERN CHARLESTON

There were no confirmed sightings of lions of this pride during August.

July 2000

8 adult lionesses
2 sub adult males,
4 approximately 14-month-old cubs,
2 approximately 19- month-old youngsters
1 sub adult male
( this count a rough estimate )

Location: CENTRAL-EASTERN CHARLESTON

There were again no confirmed sightings of lions of this pride during July.

June 2000

8 adult lionesses
2 sub adult males
4 approximately 13-month-old cubs
2 approximately 18- month-old youngsters
1 sub adult male
( this count a rough estimate)

Locationd: CENTRAL-EASTERN CHARLESTON

Continued lack of access and vehicle activity to the southern areas of Mala Mala has meant that much of what is happening amongst the lion prides typically expected in these regions has been missed. Hopefully this will all change in the near future when the renovated Kirkmans Camp opens.

May 2000

8 adult lionesses
2 sub adult males
4 approximately 12-month-old cubs
2 approximately 17- month-old cubs
1 sub adult male
( this count a rough estimate )

Location: CENTRAL-EASTERN CHARLESTON

Continued lack of travel in the areas often used by the Windmill Pride has probably been a major reason why there has been such little contact with these lions over the last few months.

February/ March/ April 2000

8 adult lionesses
2 sub adult males
4 approximately 11-month-old cubs
2 approximately 16- month-old cubs
1 sub adult male
( this count a rough estimate )

Location: CENTRAL-EASTERN CHARLESTON

Shortly before the closure of the reserve in early February, there was at least one sighting of a number of lionesses which were probably members of the Windmill Pride. This was on central Charleston. Subsequent to this there has been practically no access to this area for three months due to the wet conditions.

January 2000

8 adult lionesses
2 sub adult males
4 approximately 8-month-old cubs
2 approximately 13- month-old cubs
1 sub adult male
( this count a rough estimate )

Location: CENTRAL-EASTERN CHARLESTON

The Windmill Pride was encountered three times during January. They may have been on the reserve at other times, but a flooded Sand River prevented regular access to areas typically patrolled by these lions. There is still some confusion as to the exact status of the pride. At the one sighting there were definitely 8 adult females - some of these in the region of 4 or 5 years of age. On this occasion there was also a 4 or 5-year-old male with the Pride. At the other two sightings - when the lions were found chewing on the bones of a young giraffe they had killed - only 7 adult females were identified. With this number of hungry mouths to feed, it will be surprising if the youngsters currently with the pride make it to maturity.

MalaMala Game Reserve, PO Box 55514, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.
Telephone: + 27 11 442 2267 or 0861 SAFARI.
Facsimile: + 27 11 442 2318
e-Mail: reservations@malamala.com

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