Elephant thrills and lion kills

It was hot, the maputoland humidity drawing out the sweat and the sun draining the pride. It was around 5 PM when I arrived, the northern phinda pride was neslted in a small shady thicket, close to a dam, panting heavily and lethargically struggling to keep their eyelids open. The day wore on as the sun fell and the tepid shade inched closer still. Just before 7 PM, a herd of elephants appeared to the left, chasing the lions from their slumber, rushing in to drink and swim. The pride was awake now, hungry and motivated the big male, swung his heavy black mane and soldiered forward into the acacia savannah. The 3 lionesses trudged forward, the two young daughters followed by their elederly mother. Onward they panted as the dusk settled in and the cool breeze provided respite. The airstrip loomed closer to unveil a sprawling collection of impalas, wildebeest's and giraffes settling in for the night. The alarm call was swiflty sounded and upon hearing it, the pride settled down and patiently watched, waited, licked, nuzzled and then struck. Like clockwork, the younger female slithered into the bush and moved behind the herd of imapalas startling them into running towards the waiting pride. The murky dusk gave way to a stampede of herbivores running for their lives into the jaws of a pride in their peak physical, strategic and mental condition. A large lioness banked left for a wildebeest, whilst the older female growled at a young calve stunning it into the gaping jaws of the big black maned behemoth. The snap and crunch electrified the air as the sacrificial lamb was given and the dust settled to see the large male lion savagely feeding and tearing his nubile prey to pieces. The lionesses patiently waited, until their was nothing left but the scraps for them to fight over.

Posted: Phinda by Rich Laburn, Date: 26 February 2008