A Fearsome Foursome

AfricaHeartfelt EndeavoursWildlifevisual storytellingWildlife Photographylionsconservation

Sep 12

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. Frederick Buechner

It was a cool 10C as we descended the steep slope of the escarpment to the Rift Valley. Layers of mist outlined the contours of the land below. A lone hot air balloon rose silently in tandem with a bright orange sun. Every day is a new beginning on safari. Who survived the night? What stories would be revealed in the light?

As we trundled down a dirt track in our Land Cruiser we came across four adult lionesses snuggled together to ward off the night chill. They looked at us with curiosity. One, I nicknamed Split Nose, had a recent looking injury. Inflicted by a nasty claw on a night raid? By a hyena? Another lion? She wasn’t telling, but none of the lions looked like they had eaten last night.

The felines were in no hurry to start their day. It was still too cool to search out a shady spot to snooze. Lions sleep and lounge a lot; about 16-20 hours a day. My Maasai friends remind me “lions are lazy”. That’s true, until they’re not. Conserving energy during the heat of the day or after gorging on a high protein feast allows them to remain efficient and powerful hunters.

Lions have exceptional vision, especially in low light. Their night vision is 6-8 times more sensitive than ours. Their round pupils allow more light in and white stripes below their eyes help reflect stray light into their eyes. They can spot prey and movement from up to 2.4 kms away in good conditions. The females do most of the hunting, they are slimmer, and more agile than a male (he usually shows up for the meal).

A group like this foursome would make a fearsome team. Lions are patient stalkers. They work like undercover border collies herding unsuspecting prey toward hidden sisters who will sprint for a take down when the prey is within 30-100 feet. None of that action seemed on the agenda this morning, we lingered for some portraits then moved on.

The following morning, we heard via the “jungle news” that the four lionesses had killed a Cape buffalo. We set off in pouring rain to check out the story. We followed a narrow path through the bush along the edge of a river and found a huge carcass of a cape buffalo, eviscerated and stiff in death. The smell was unbelievable – I don’t have the words …..

Cape buffalo are considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. They weigh up to 900kg and can inflict fatal injuries with their horns or by trampling an opponent. They are renowned for their grumpy dispositions, unpredictable and aggressive behaviour. I’m often asked if I’m afraid a lion will leap on us in a safari vehicle. I’m not. In truth, Cape buffalo are responsible for more safari injuries and fatalities than any other member of Africa’s “Big Five” (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo).

This feline team killed a Cape Buffalo! The body lay near a cliff edge. How did they keep it from toppling into the river? It must have been an extraordinary battle. We came across one of the cats comatose on the road. Her swollen belly told the story of a big feast. Memories of post-Thanksgiving dinner came to mind.

We didn’t stay long, the smell was just too much. We returned at the end of the day to check the larder. The lions were still there, guarding their meal from competitors like hyenas, jackals and vultures. The buffalo was too big for the smaller predators to do a snatch and grab. They’d have to wait their turn. It was remarkable how much of the carcass had been consumed in 24 hours. These cats wouldn’t need to hunt for a while. Another couple of days and there would be no sign of this event ever happening, the circle of life.

Here's a short clip of a lion enjoying buffalo brunch.