Shumba Camp Lion Kill
Location: Shumba Camp, Kafue National Park, Zambia
Date: 22 July 2010
Observers: Ulrike van der Hoven, Caroline Culbert
Photographer: Caroline Culbert
A day to remember at Shumba Camp
From Shumba Camp one often does not have to go far to find wildlife. On the morning of the 22nd of July we realised just how close to camp sightings can occur. The Busanga Pride, comprising two males and four adult lionesses, killed a red lechwe antelope right alongside Tent 6 – in which we were staying. We woke at around 05h30 in the morning to the sound of lions roaring, thinking we had been dreaming when in fact we had been woken by the sounds of lionesses hunting and killing a red lechwe, as well as the ensuing spat when the bigger of the two males took over the kill.
Arriving at the main area we decided to delay the obligatory first cup of coffee and the classic Shumba sunrise to drive out in a vehicle in search of the lions. Driving out not even 100m from camp we came across the dominant male crunching into the skull of the lechwe and growling at the rest of the pride to keep their distance. The females lay off to one side, dejected, but his coalition mate lay close by, patiently waiting for any scraps. Eventually the male sauntered off across the Busanga Plains after a little bonding with the females. We left the sighting, allowing other guests from the neighbouring camps (Kapinga and Busanga Bush Camp) to come and take a look.
Finally we could enjoy our cup of coffee but instead of a sunrise we enjoyed the companionship of a nearby foraging herd of uncommon roan antelope – uncommon in many places but not on the Busanga Plains!
Later in the day, on the way back to Shumba for lunch, our guide Lex suddenly stopped the vehicle and asked if we could see the lioness. This female, belong to the same pride we had seen earlier, was lying in the grass, perfectly camouflaged, and was trying to hunt puku – another common antelope of the Busanga Plains. She afforded some wonderful photographic opportunities as she honed in on her prey but failed that attempt, perhaps being a little too impatient.
All in all, we can look forward to many more such amazing sightings on the Plains for the rest of the 2010 season.
hope these hard working lionesses did find better prey or meal to eat all by themselves before the big males came in and took over. one little lechwe is hardly enough for one male ;let alone the whole pride.
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poor girls who do all the hard and risky work ; yet their hard way is rewarded with nothing. besides, a little ewche is not big enough for one lioness. so forget the two large male and the hungry working girls.
28 August 2010 @ 6:59 pm