Etosha Elephant 1: Pride of Lions 0

Location: Klein Namutoni waterhole (Etosha National Park)
Ranger: Thimo Tjiramanga

On a recent visit to the Etosha National Park with guests on a private expedition, we conducted our first afternoon game drive to the eastern Namutoni Region of the reserve and the Klein Namutoni waterhole. The highlight of the sighting was a pride of four lionesses with seven cubs varying in age between 5 months to 1 year. Reports from the Etosha Park wardens indicated that the pride of lions had killed a Black Rhino the previous night and they were evidently still guarding the carcass.

For two days we viewed the interaction of the pride at the waterhole. On the second day while watching the lions still feasting, we noticed a "cloud of dust" approaching the waterhole. We soon realized that this was a breeding herd of elephants.

As the elephant herd got closer to the waterhole they noticed the "big object" amidst the pride of lions and headed deliberately towards it. This action was followed with a chorus of trumpeting as the elephants chased the lions away from their kill.

The pride of lions retreated to a safe distance while the elephants spent over an hour investigating and standing guard of the Black Rhino carcass.

Posted: Namibia Expeditions by Peter Sawyer, Date: 4 October 2007