The Plains Camp Males and One Ntsevu Lioness Meet – Londolozi Blog

The mating rituals of predators can be a captivating spectacle, one that we consider ourselves fortunate to witness on occasion. In about 95% of these instances, we encounter these animals already paired up, indicating that the mating process has likely commenced, and we’ve missed the initial encounter between the male and female. However, recently, luck was on our side as we were treated to the extraordinary sight of a pair of lions coming together for the very first time, allowing us to observe the fascinating process of their initial meeting and bonding.

We had found one of the three lionesses from the Ntsevu Pride, steadily moving west and calling. Her behaviour hinted at a predetermined quest, whether it was to reunite with the rest of her pride or encounter other males remained unclear to us. However, judging by where she was, the direction she was heading and the determination in her movements, we were fairly convinced that something interesting was on the verge of unfolding. Unaware of her proximity to the two Plains Camp Males, a subtle shift in her confident demeanour alerted us that something was nearby.

Up ahead of us tracker Freddy from the back row of the Land Rover spotted the two large males approaching. As they came together, it was fascinating to witness the lioness’s blend of submissive yet alluring behaviour toward the two brothers, but just as interesting was the rivalry and dominance displayed by the larger of the two males towards his brother. Male lions often depend on each other extensively to defend their territory against rival males. However, when it comes to determining mating rights, there can only be one victor.

The larger of the two Plans Camp Males gaze towards our vehicle. This particular male’s mane and muscular body make him possibly the largest male lion in the Sabi Sand at the moment. A gene that any lioness would be happy to pass on through her bloodline.

Before the actual mating occurred, the lioness engaged in a charming courtship dance, making sure to captivate the male and convince him of her readiness to mate. She darted back and forth in front of him, rolled playfully in the grass, and executed a gesture known as lordosis, the technical term for courtship enticement. We observed from a distance as the lioness performed these courtship rituals for about 20 minutes until finally, the two lions mated for the first time.

The smaller of the two Plains Camp Males watches on as his brother and the Ntsevu Lioness begin the courtship process. Even though just a little smaller this particular male is absolutely beautiful. His mane is extremely dark, yet on this particular occasion he had to take the back seat.

The following photographs capture some of the moments we witnessed as the male lion responded to the female’s successful courtship. He would chase her, attempting to mate while ensuring he remained close to her side.

Lion mating can extend over several days. For me, the most exciting aspect of this sighting was finding the lioness and following her until she met the Plains Camp Males. As mentioned earlier, such encounters are rare, making them particularly exhilarating. Now that the Plains Camp Males have mated with the Ntsevu Lioness, it raises the question of whether their territories will start shifting further east, potentially intensifying pressure on other coalitions of male lions.