The Selinda Pride of 15 lions is still roaming through our remote but beautiful Selinda Reserve. On the night after they crossed through our camp they’ve killed a buffalo during the night. We heard the whole thing laying in the safety of our huge tent.

The next morning the pride was already on the move again. We tracked them for an more than an hour but we got rewarded for it. We found them near an old jetty station. They wanted to cross to one of the palm islands but the hippo’s in the water made them hesitate.

We watched for a long time, while they were “discussing” what to do. Walk all the way around the body of water or just jump in and swim across…?! Finally one of the bigger females took the decision and jumped in. All but one followed, anxious looking at the hippo’s.

Having made it safely to the island, they looked back one more time to see where the little cub was. It was all alone on the jetty, calling to its mother who didn’t give in. It took another 15 minutes for the cub to gain enough courage to risk his little life between the hippo’s and crocodiles to swim across as well. It really was a sight to be seen.

The Selinda Lion Pride is now heading towards Selinda Camp. We’ll hope to hear and see from them again, soon.

Text by Willem Bakhuys Roozeboom

Pictures by Manon Roux