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May 2025 - Week 1 Roundup
- Vikram Nanjappa
- May 7
- 1 min read
Lion
Sighted on: 06.May.2025
During our morning game drive, as we were traversing the road from the lodge to our airstrip, we were fortunate to encounter a black-maned Kalahari lion lying down and facing west, towards the airstrip. He soon stood up and let out a deep roar, seemingly responding to an intruder call not far from his position. Alert and focused, he began walking briskly in that direction, determined to investigate who had entered his territory.
We followed him closely but soon lost sight of him as he disappeared into the bush on the other side of the airstrip. Anticipating his next move, we repositioned ourselves to wait near the opposite side of the water pan, hoping he might emerge there.
Within seconds of our arrival, another male lion appeared, running from the same direction. He paused at the waterhole, where he began scent-marking and rolling in the mud—clearly leaving his presence behind. Not long after, the dominant male arrived and lay down not far from him, as if asserting dominance by his presence alone.
The tension between the two males was noticeable. The dominant male eventually got up and approached, prompting the intruder to stand and move further away. The dominant then scent-marked the same spot where the rival had marked earlier, almost as if to cancel or overwrite the intruder’s scent.
Both lions kept a considerable distance between them, seemingly avoiding direct conflict. This kind of behaviour often reflects a strategic decision to avoid injury—especially if the rival male isn’t openly challenging for dominance.
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