Since the season’s start, we’ve had a strong run of big cat sightings.  From lion prides with new cubs, to leopards on the hunt, here are some May highlights…

19th May

On an evening game drive, Yoram and his guests found two female lionesses from the Mwamba-Kaingo pride. One of the females had a collar, and the other had no tail. They were lying down and resting.

Later that evening, they spotted Chipazua near Mwamba Extension. She was hunting in the dark and heading toward Lion Plain.

20th May

During a morning drive, Yoram and his guests saw a large male leopard at Numbu Lagoon. He was trying to hunt impala but didn’t succeed.

22nd May

In the morning near Numbu Plain, Elias and his guests came across seven members of the Mwamba-Kaingo pride feeding on a young giraffe. After eating, they lay down with full bellies and slept.

Later that morning on Mwamba Plain, they saw the Hollywood pride scavenging a zebra carcass from vultures.

23rd May

On an evening drive, Yoram and his guests found Chisomo by Lion Plain. Not far from him was Taonga, resting in the bushes. Another female leopard was seen nearby, and there were hyenas around. It’s likely there was a kill hidden in the bushes.

Later, Chisomo spotted one of the females and chased her up a leadwood tree before she ran off.

That night, Sly and his guests saw Chipazua again, stalking puku and impala near Lion Plain, but the hunt didn’t work out.

Chisomo

Taonga

Chisomo chasing female leopard away

24th May

In the morning, Yoram and his guests watched Chipazua hunting in a gully by Fish Eagle Lagoon. Although unsuccessful, she continued walking in the direction of Lion Plain.

25th May

During an afternoon game drive, Elias and his guests observed 11 members of the Hollywood pride at the East Mwamba crossing point, feasting on a buffalo kill. The group included adult females and cubs. Elias noted how great it was to see the cubs learning to handle larger prey.

26th May

On an afternoon drive, Elias and his guests found Mwezi relaxing under the riverbed at Mwamba Extension. She was seen in great lighting, making for a fantastic viewing.

27th May

During a morning drive, Yoram and his guests watched Chipazua stalking puku by Fish Eagle Lagoon. Later that evening, they returned to find her near Acacia Loop, this time attempting to hunt baboons—again, without success

28th May

On a morning game drive, Yoram and his guests spotted a mating pair of lions. As they continued toward Gedion Loop, they came across two lionesses—one collared, one tailless—with four tiny cubs, estimated to be just two weeks old. These two females reportedly came from the Mfuwe area a few months ago and are not currently associated with any established pride in the region.

29th May

Yoram and his guests returned in the morning to the same spot and once again saw the two lionesses and their cubs. Not far off were two male lions—one with a striking mane, known as Zeus, and another with a distinctive scar on his nose who has yet to be named. These two males have been observed moving between the Hollywood pride females and the Mwamba-Kaingo pride females, appearing to assert influence across both territories.

Nearby, they found two subadult males and three females from the Mwamba-Kaingo pride. The lions looked bloodied, suggesting they had made a kill, although no carcass was visible.

Later at Leopard Loop, they encountered two male leopards. One, an older male with a noticeable scar and a kill stashed in a tree, is a candidate for naming. The other, on the ground below, was Fundi—a younger male around three years old. Formerly referred to as “Baboon Sniper,” he was renamed Fundi, which means “expert” in the local zambian language. Fundi had lost his kill to the older male and eventually walked off in the direction of Kaingo Camp.